1 COR 7:19 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but observance of the commandments of God.

UST Whether a person has had someone circumcise them or not does not matter to us or to God. On the other hand, doing what God requires of us does matter to us and to God.

BLB Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God.

AICNT For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

OEB Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything.

WEBBE Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

LSV the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing—but a keeping of the commands of God.

FBV Circumcision doesn't mean anything, and uncircumcision doesn't mean anything. Keeping the commandments of God is what really matters.

TCNT Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of God.

T4T You should not try to change your status that way, because it means nothing to God whether someone is circumcised or not. What is important is that we obey what God has commanded.

LEB Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

BBE Circumcision is nothing, and its opposite is nothing, but only doing the orders of God is of value.

Moff Circumcision counts for nothing, uncircumcision counts for nothing; obedience to God's commands is everything.

Wymth Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: obedience to God's commandments is everything.

ASV Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

DRA Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.

YLT the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing — but a keeping of the commands of God.

Drby Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping [fn]God's commandments.

7.19 Elohim

RV Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

SLT Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commands of God.

Wbstr Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

KJB-1769 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

KJB-1611 Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the Commandements of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keping of the commaundementes of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Gnva Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandements of God.
(Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. )

Cvdl Circumcision is nothinge, and vncircumcision is nothinge, but the kepynge of the commaundementes of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

TNT Circumcision is nothinge vncircumcision is nothinge: but the kepyng of the commaundmentes of god is altogether.
(Circumcision is nothing uncircumcision is nothing: but the keeping of the commaundmentes of god is altogether. )

Wycl Circumcisioun is nouyt, and prepucie is nouyt, but the kepyng of the maundementis of God.
(Circumcisioun is naught/nothing, and prepucie is naught/nothing, but the keeping of the commandmentis of God.)

Luth Die Beschneidung ist nichts, und die Vorhaut ist nichts, sondern Gottes Gebote halten;
(The Beschneidung is nothing, and the foreskin is nothing, rather God’s commandments/commands hold/keep;)

ClVg Circumcisio nihil est, et præputium nihil est: sed observatio mandatorum Dei.
(Circumcisio nothing it_is, and foreskin nothing it_is: but observatio of_commands of_God. )

UGNT ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ.
(haʸ peritomaʸ ouden estin, kai haʸ akrobustia ouden estin, alla taʸraʸsis entolōn Theou.)

SBL-GNT ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν θεοῦ.
(haʸ peritomaʸ ouden estin, kai haʸ akrobustia ouden estin, alla taʸraʸsis entolōn theou.)

RP-GNT Ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν θεοῦ.
(Haʸ peritomaʸ ouden estin, kai haʸ akrobustia ouden estin, alla taʸraʸsis entolōn theou.)

TC-GNT Ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστι, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ.
(Haʸ peritomaʸ ouden esti, kai haʸ akrobustia ouden estin, alla taʸraʸsis entolōn Theou. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.

From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage

Paul’s teaching on marriage

Paragraph 7:17–24

In these verses Paul taught the Corinthians his general rule or principle: “Remain as you are.” He said that a believer does not have to change his or her situation in life to please God. So each believer should try to stay the way they were when God called them to belong to Christ. They could serve him as Jew or Gentile, married or single, and slave or free. They could please God in whatever situation he has put them.

In these verses Paul began by giving his general rule (7:17). Then he gave an example of this rule: When you become a Christian, it does not matter if you are circumcised or not; just stay that way (7:18–19). Then he repeated the general rule (7:20). Then he gave a second example: When you become a Christian, it does not matter if you are a slave; you can serve God as a slave or as a free man (7:21–23). Then he repeated his general rule (7:24).

7:19a

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.

It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not circumcised.
We cannot please God more by getting circumcised. And we cannot please him more by not getting circumcised.
It does not matter to God whether a man is circumcised or uncircumcised.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: The custom of circumcision was very important to the Jewish people. It was a mark that they were the descendants of Abraham and that God had made an agreement with them. But Paul said that it was not important. He meant that we cannot please God or make ourselves more holy by being circumcised or by not being circumcised. Customs like circumcision only affect us physically. These customs cannot make us more holy.In the agreements or covenants that God made with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:9–14) and with the nation Israel (Joshua 5:2–8), God commanded that all the boy babies be circumcised as a sign that they were joined together with God. But since God began his new agreement by sending his Son Jesus Christ to die as a complete sin payment, he no longer commands that boy babies be circumcised. Paul also taught that in Romans 2:28–29 and in Galatians 5:1–6. Other ways to translate this include:

For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. (NLT)

It is not important whether a man is circumcised or not. (NCV)

Being circumcised or uncircumcised isn’t really what matters. (CEV)

7:19b

Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

What is important is that we^(incl) do what God tells us.
We can please God only by doing/obeying what he commands us to do.

Keeping God’s commandments is what counts: The Greek text literally says “but keeping God’s commandments.” The “but” shows the contrast between something like circumcision which does not matter to God, and keeping God’s commandments, which does matter to God.

The BSB has supplied the words is what counts to make the sentence complete. The CEV completes the sentence in a different way:

The important thing is to obey God’s commands. (CEV)

God’s commandments: In this context the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as God’s commandments refers to God’s moral laws. Those include the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses and other moral and ethical laws that came from them. Jesus and the apostles explained how those moral laws were to tell us how to live.When Moses gave God’s laws to the Israelite people under the first covenant/agreement, there were three kinds of laws:(1) The moral laws, that is, the Ten Commandments, giving the main rules for living, telling people what is right and what is wrong for them to do.(2) The ceremonial laws, rules for worshiping God under the first covenant. These included the system of sacrifices and offerings.(3) The civil laws, telling the people how to rule the nation. After Jesus came to earth and gave himself to God as the complete sin payment, God did away with the ceremonial laws because they were no longer needed. But Jesus taught people how to live following God’s moral laws. The teachings of Paul and the other apostles came from the teaching of Christ. See, for example, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20. In 1 Corinthians 7:19 Paul was talking about God’s moral laws as taught by Jesus and the apostles.See Law, “Teachings of Christ” in KBT. Paul was not referring to the Jewish ceremonial law, of which being circumcised was a part.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν

¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ περιτομή οὐδέν ἐστίν καί ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστίν ἀλλά τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ)

Here Paul says that both Circumcision and uncircumcision are nothing. He does not mean that Circumcision and uncircumcision do not exist. Rather, the Corinthians would have understood him to mean that Circumcision and uncircumcision do not have value or importance. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express nothing with a comparable figure of speech or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [Circumcision has no value, and uncircumcision has no value]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν

¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ περιτομή οὐδέν ἐστίν καί ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστίν ἀλλά τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ)

Here Paul repeats is nothing because this repetition was powerful in his language. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you can combine the two clauses and make the claim sound strong by using some other method. Alternate translation: [Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything]”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ περιτομὴ & ἡ ἀκροβυστία

¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ περιτομή οὐδέν ἐστίν καί ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστίν ἀλλά τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas behind circumcision and uncircumcision, you can express the ideas by using adjectives such as “circumcised” and “uncircumcised.” Alternate translation: [Being circumcised … being uncircumcised]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ

keeping ˱of˲_˓the˒_commandments ˱of˲_God

Here Paul omits some words that may be necessary in your language to complete the thought. If your language does require more words, you could infer them from the first half of the verse. Alternate translation: [observance of the commandments of God is everything] or [observance of the commandments of God is important]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τήρησις ἐντολῶν

keeping ˱of˲_˓the˒_commandments

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind observance, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “observe.” Alternate translation: [observing the commandments]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ

˱of˲_˓the˒_commandments ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind commandments, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “command.” Alternate translation: [what God commands]

Parallel 1 COR 7:19

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

Paragraph 7:17–24

7:19a

7:19b

Parallel 1 COR 7:19