1 COR 6:13 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) You might say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food,’ but God will eventually abolish them both. Also, the body is not meant to be used for sexual immorality, but rather, for the master, and the master for the body.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both this and those. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.

UST Some of you say, “Food exists for a person’s stomach to digest it, and a person’s stomach exists to digest food.” Indeed, I also say that God will make food and stomachs unimportant. While it is true that food exists for a person’s stomach, the human body does not exist for a person to have improper sex with it. Instead, the human body exists to serve the Lord, and the Lord has worked to save the human body.

BLB "Foods for the belly and the belly for foods," but God will destroy both this and these. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

AICNT Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

OEB Food exists for the stomach, and the stomach for food; but God will put an end to both the one and the other. The body, however, exists, not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body;

WEBBE “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both.” The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

LSV the meats [are] for the belly, and the belly for the meats. And God will make useless both this and these; and the body [is] not for whoredom, but for the LORD, and the LORD for the body;

FBV “Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy both of them. Also, the body is not meant to be used for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

TCNT Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with them both. The body is not meant for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

T4T Some of you may also say, “Food is just for us to put in the stomach, and the stomach is just for us to put food in. And since God will do away with food and stomachs when he gives us our new bodies, what we do with our bodies sexually does not affect us any more than eating food does.” But what you have concluded is wrong, because the Lord does not want us to use our bodies to do sexually immoral things. Instead, the Lord wants us to use our bodies in ways that please him. Also, the Lord wants us to do what is good for our bodies.

LEB Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food, but God will abolish _⌊both of them_⌋[fn]. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

6:13 Literally “both this and these”

BBE Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will put an end to them together. But the body is not for the desires of the flesh, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:

Moff "Food is meant for the stomach, and the stomach for food"?
⇔ Yes, and God will do away with the one and the other.
¶ The body is not meant for immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body;

Wymth Food of all kinds is meant for the stomach, and the stomach is meant for food, and God will cause both of them to perish. Yet the body does not exist for the purpose of fornication, but for the Master's service, and the Master exists for the body;

ASV Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:

DRA Meat for the belly, and the belly for the meats; but God shall destroy both it and them: but the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

YLT the meats [are] for the belly, and the belly for the meats. And God both this and these shall make useless; and the body [is] not for whoredom, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body;

Drby Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats; but [fn]God will bring to nothing both it and them: but the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

6.13 Elohim

RV Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:
(Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to naught/nothing both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body: )

SLT Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods: and God will also leave unemployed this and them. And the body not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Wbstr Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for lewdness, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

KJB-1769 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

KJB-1611 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meates: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Meates are ordeyned for the belly, and the belly for meates: but God shall destroy both it, and them. Nowe the body is not for fornication: but for the Lorde, and the Lorde for the body.
(Meates are ordained for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it, and them. Now the body is not for fornication: but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.)

Gnva Meates are ordeined for the bellie, and the belly for the meates: but God shall destroy both it, and them. Nowe the bodie is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the bodie.
(Meates are ordained for the bellie, and the belly for the meats: but God shall destroy both it, and them. Now the bodie is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. )

Cvdl Meates are ordeyned for ye bely, & the bely for meates. But God shal destroye both it and them. The body belongeth not vnto whordome, but vnto the LORDE, and the LORDE vnto the body
(Meates are ordained for ye/you_all belly, and the belly for meats. But God shall destroy both it and them. The body belongeth/belongs not unto whoredom/prostitution, but unto the LORD, and the LORD unto the body)

TNT Meates are ordeyned for the belly and the belly for meates: but God shall destroy bothe it and them. Let not the body be applied vnto fornicacion but vnto the Lorde and the Lorde vnto the body.
(Meates are ordained for the belly and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Let not the body be applied unto fornication but unto the Lord and the Lord unto the body. )

Wycl Mete to the wombe, and the wombe to metis; and God schal distruye bothe this and that. And the bodi not to fornycacioun, but to the Lord, and the Lord to the bodi.
(Mete to the womb, and the womb to meats; and God shall destroy both this and that. And the body not to fornication, but to the Lord, and the Lord to the bodi.)

Luth Die Speise dem Bauche und der Bauch der Speise; aber GOtt wird diesen und jene hinrichten. Der Leib aber nicht der Hurerei, sondern dem HErr’s und der HErr dem Leibe.
(The food to_him bellye and the/of_the belly the/of_the food; but God becomes this and those execute. The body but not the/of_the fornication, rather to_him LORD’s and the/of_the LORD to_him body.)

ClVg Esca ventri, et venter escis: Deus autem et hunc et has destruet: corpus autem non fornicationi, sed Domino: et Dominus corpori.[fn]
(Esca ventri, and belly escis: God however and this_one and has will_destroy: body however not/no fornicationi, but Master: and Master to_the_body. )

6.13 Esca ventri. Propter hæc non sunt repetenda, tamen esca debetur ventri. Per hæc nota necessaria naturæ, et ideo licet repeti. Sed non multum pro his laborandum, quia destruentur, et ideo licet de his fieri judicium vel prætermitti.

6.13 Esca ventri. Because these_things not/no are repetenda, nevertheless food mustur ventri. Per these_things note necessary of_nature, and therefore/for_that_reason although repeti. But not/no a_lot for his workandum, because they_will_destroyur, and therefore/for_that_reason although from/about his to_be_done judgement or besidesmitti.

UGNT τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν; ὁ δὲ Θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος τῷ σώματι.
(ta brōmata taʸ koilia, kai haʸ koilia tois brōmasin; ho de Theos kai tautaʸn kai tauta katargaʸsei. to de sōma ou taʸ porneia, alla tōi Kuriōi, kai ho Kurios tōi sōmati.)

SBL-GNT τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν· ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ ἀλλὰ τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ κύριος τῷ σώματι·
(ta brōmata taʸ koilia, kai haʸ koilia tois brōmasin; ho de theos kai tautaʸn kai tauta katargaʸsei. to de sōma ou taʸ porneia alla tōi kuriōi, kai ho kurios tōi sōmati;)

RP-GNT Τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν· ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ κύριος τῷ σώματι·
(Ta brōmata taʸ koilia, kai haʸ koilia tois brōmasin; ho de theos kai tautaʸn kai tauta katargaʸsei. To de sōma ou taʸ porneia, alla tōi kuriōi, kai ho kurios tōi sōmati;)

TC-GNT Τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν· ὁ δὲ Θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος τῷ σώματι·
(Ta brōmata taʸ koilia, kai haʸ koilia tois brōmasin; ho de Theos kai tautaʸn kai tauta katargaʸsei. To de sōma ou taʸ porneia, alla tōi Kuriōi, kai ho Kurios tōi sōmati; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Holiness and Sexual Purity

The Bible emphasizes the importance of being holy in our sexual relations. God created humanity as sexual beings, and the first command that he gave Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28). But after sin entered the world, the good that God had created—including sex—became prone to distortion, and the pages of Scripture are filled with examples of sexual sin. God’s people were called to holiness, and the Israelites were given numerous commands that connected sexuality to their holiness (see, e.g., Lev 18:1-30). The sexual purity of God’s people would be seriously tested in the land of Canaan where illicit sexual practice abounded. Over and over again, the Israelites would fail to live up to God’s standards for sexual purity.

The believers to whom Paul wrote likewise found themselves living in environments where illicit sexual activity was commonplace. In contrast to the so-called sexual freedom of the Greco-Roman world, the sexual life of God’s people was to be characterized by faithfulness and purity (1 Thes 4:3-8). Sexual relationships are to be restricted to marriage alone (1 Cor 7:1-9, 36-37).

God has made Christians holy by the work of his Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:11; 2 Thes 2:13). They are therefore called to live as his own holy people (1 Cor 1:2). God has given them everything they need to live a holy life in this world (2 Pet 1:3-4). As a result, their way of life is to be distinctly different from that of the unholy world around them. Every part of their life is to reflect the transforming work of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:2).

It is inappropriate for anyone who is united to Christ to have sexual relations with anyone outside of marriage. Such relations violate the Christian’s body, which has become a sanctuary of the living God and therefore belongs to God (1 Cor 6:12-20).

Though homosexual activity was accepted in Greco-Roman culture, it is condemned throughout the Bible. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, homosexual activity is viewed as a perversion of God’s intentions for men and women (Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:25-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:8-11).

Paul strongly warns that those who freely give themselves to illicit sexual relations, whether homosexual or heterosexual, will not inherit the Kingdom of God but will suffer God’s judgment (1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5-6; see also 2 Pet 2:1–3:13). As with all sin, though, forgiveness and cleansing are available for those who turn to Christ with faith and repentance (Acts 2:38; Rom 3:21-26; see 1 Cor 6:11). In every way, God’s people are to live in holiness and godliness (see 2 Pet 3:11-13), in accord with the desires of their Creator and Judge.

Passages for Further Study

Gen 2:18-25; Lev 18:1-30; 20:10-24; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:9-20; 7:1-9, 14; Gal 5:16-24; Col 3:1-6; 1 Thes 4:3-8; 1 Pet 1:13-16; 2 Pet 1:3-4

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:12–20: Believers must live pure lives because they belong to the Lord

In 6:12–20 Paul talked about another problem in the church in Corinth. He had heard that some people in Corinth were behaving immorally. It appears that some of the Christians there were saying that it was all right for them to live as they pleased, because God would save and forgive them. They were saying that it did not matter what they did with their bodies. Paul said that they were wrong. In this section he told them why as believers they should honor God in everything they did.

Paragraph 6:12–17

In this paragraph Paul wrote that it is wrong for Christians to behave immorally, that is, to disobey God’s laws about sex. It seems some believers in Corinth had misunderstood what Paul had taught them. Paul had taught that a believer does not have to obey Jewish rules and rituals in order to become acceptable to God. But the Corinthians thought that since Christians do not have to keep the Jewish law, they could do whatever they wanted. Paul said that immoral behavior is wrong because our bodies belong to the Lord and he sent his Spirit to live in our bodies.

6:13a

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,”

Some are saying: “Things to eat exist only for the stomach. And the stomach exists only for the foods we^(incl) eat.”
But maybe someone will say: “God made food for our stomachs, and he made our^(incl) stomachs to desire food.”
Some of you say, “Our^(incl) bodies want food, and food is there for us to eat.”

Food for the stomach and the stomach for food: These words are in quote marks in the BSB. However, some English versions do not use quotation marks here. The two interpretations are:

This is a quotation. For example:
Someone else will say, “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.” (GNT) (BSB, NIV, NET, GNT, RSV, NLT, REB, ESV, CEV, NCV)
This is a simple statement, not a quotation. For example:
Foods are for the stomach, and the stomach is for foods. (NJB) (NJB, KJV, NASB, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions. Some people may have used this saying to argue that sexual intercourse outside of marriage is not wrong. They meant: “Eating is just a physical activity. We do it because our body desires food. Sex is the same way: it is just physical, and we do it because our body desires it. It is not sinful.”

In many languages it may be natural to supply verbs in this verse part. For example:

Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food. (NET)

Food was meant for the stomach and the stomach for food. (JBP)

the stomach: The Greek word that the BSB translates as stomach refers to the inner parts of the body that digest food. It includes both the stomach and the intestines. Since it refers to any and every human stomach, in some languages it may be natural to use the plural: “stomachs.”

Here Paul used this word to stand for our body’s need for food. In some languages it is more natural to translate this verse without using the word for stomach. For example:

Food is good for our bodies, and our bodies need food.

6:13b

but God will destroy them both.

But I say: but one day God will do away with both stomachs and food.
My answer to that is this: I agree, but in the future he will change things so that we^(incl) will not have stomachs and we will not need food.
Granted, and/but in the future life God will bring an end to these stomachs and their food.

but God will destroy them both: Paul agreed with the statement in 6:13a, but he wanted to correct or limit the way the Corinthians applied it. Here is another way to translate this:

True, and one day God will put an end to both. (REB)

Paul did not say whether he was thinking of the time when we will die or the time when God will give us new bodies. Try to translate this in a general way. In the future God will bring to an end our present way of life. Then we will no longer need food or our stomach.

destroy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as destroy means to abolish or set something aside. Paul knew that God will abolish our present earthly bodies that need food. He will change our bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51–53; Philippians 3:21). The new body God will give us will not need food as our earthly bodies do.

6:13c

The body is not intended for sexual immorality,

Our^(incl) bodies are not made/intended for sexual sin
God did not make our^(incl) bodies so we can behave in immoral/promiscuous ways.
But it is wrong to use our^(incl) body/bodies to have sex with someone we are not married to.

In Greek this sentence begins with a connecting word that is often translated as “but” (as in the NJB). In this context it introduces the contrast between what Paul had said before and what he is going to say now. The stomach is made for food but the body is not meant for sexual immorality. Introduce this sentence in a way that is natural in your language.

The body is not intended for sexual immorality: This clause part indicates that God did not make the human physical body so that people could behave immorally. That is not its purpose. Since Paul was referring to any and every human body, in some languages it may be more natural to use the plural. For example:

But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. (NLT)

We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. (CEV)

6:13d

but for the Lord,

but for serving the Lord,
Rather, God made our^(incl) bodies to serve the Lord Jesus,
No, we should use our^(incl) body to work for the Lord

but for the Lord: These words are not a complete sentence. In your translation you may need to make this a complete sentence. For example:

But the body is meant/made for the Lord.

Paul probably meant that God made our bodies so that we could serve the Lord Jesus. We can honor and serve the Lord with our physical human bodies here on earth. After the Lord returns, we will be able to honor and serve him with the new bodies he will give us. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:50–54.

6:13e

and the Lord for the body.

and the Lord is concerned for our^(incl) bodies.
and the Lord cares about our^(incl) bodies.
as the Lord works to help our^(incl) body.

the Lord for the body: This also is not a complete sentence. The Lord is for the body in the sense that he cares about our physical bodies and provides for them. One day he will raise them from the dead. If you need to translate this as a complete sentence, you may be able to say:

the Lord provides for the body (GNT)

the Lord cares about our bodies (NLT)

General Comment on 6:14c-e

In the Greek these verse parts do not have any explicit verbs. There are various verbs that can be supplied in one or more of the verse parts.

Here are some English versions that use different verbs:

But the body is not for fornication; it is for the Lord—and the Lord is for the body. (REB)

We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies. (CEV)

The body is not to be used for sexual immorality, but to serve the Lord; and the Lord provides for the body. (GNT)

But out bodies were not made for sexual immorality. There were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν; & δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τά βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ καί ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν ὁ δέ Θεός καί ταύτην καί ταῦτα καταργήσει τό Δέ σῶμα οὒ τῇ πορνείᾳ ἀλλά τῷ Κυρίῳ καί ὁ Κύριος τῷ σώματι)

In this verse, Paul quotes what some people in the Corinthian church are saying, just like he did in [6:12](../06/12.md). The ULT, by using quotation marks, indicates that this claim is a quotation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food and think that Paul is claiming this by clarifying that some of the Corinthians are saying this, and Paul is saying the words that occur after but. Alternate translation: [You say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food,’ but I respond that]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν & τὸ & σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ Κύριος τῷ σώματι

In these two sentences, Paul omits is multiple times. If your language does not need to state is to express the idea, you can omit is throughout these two sentences. If your language does need to state is to express the idea, you could: (1) include is the first time it is needed in each sentence. See the ULT. (2) include is every time it is needed. Alternate translation: [Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food … the body is not for sexual immorality, but is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

καταργήσει

˓will_be˒_nullifying

Here, will do away with refers to making something ineffective, useless, or irrelevant. What Paul means is that God will make food and the stomach unimportant and without function. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express will do away with with a word or phrase that indicates that a God has acted so that food and the stomach are no longer important, useful, or effective. Alternate translation: [will render ineffective]

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα

Here, this refers to stomach, and those refers to food, since food is plural here. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express what this and those refer to with the names stomach and food instead. Alternate translation: [both stomach and food]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

(Occurrence 2) δὲ

Here, Now introduces a development based on what Paul has said about food and the stomach. While food is indeed for the stomach, the body is not for sexual immorality. Paul agrees with the Corinthians about food and the stomach, but he disagrees that sexual immorality and the body should be understood in the same way. Instead, the body exists for the Lord. Paul further explains in the next verse ([6:14](../06/14.md)) that, unlike food and the stomach, God will not do away with the body, since we will be resurrected. If Now would not introduce a difference between the stomach and the body, you could use a word or phrase that does introduce such a contrast. Alternate translation: [On the other hand,]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ πορνείᾳ

˱for˲_the ¬the ˱for˲_sexual_immorality

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind immorality, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “immoral.” Alternate translation: [for what is sexually immoral] or [sexually immoral behavior]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῷ Κυρίῳ

˱for˲_the Lord

Here Paul means that the body is meant to serve and please the Lord. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate for the Lord with a verbal phrase that indicates that the body should serve the Lord. Alternate translation: [for pleasing the Lord]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καὶ ὁ Κύριος τῷ σώματι

Here, the Lord for the body could express the idea that: (1) the Lord works for the human body and not just the human “soul” or nonphysical part. If you use either of the following alternate translations, you may need to include a comma before it. Alternate translation: [and the Lord works for the body] (2) the Lord is human now and in a body, which would explain why Paul speaks about the resurrection of the Lord in the next verse. Alternate translation: [and the Lord has a human body]

Parallel 1 COR 6:13