1 COR 7:35 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Now I said all that for your benefit—not to load you all with rules, but to act in ways that are appropriate and devoted to the master without any distractions.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 Now I say this for your own benefit, not in order to put any constraint on you, but toward what is appropriate and devoted to the Lord without any distraction.

UST I have said these things because I think they are helpful for you. I do not want to force you into acting in only one way. Rather, I want you to be able to act honorably and serve the Lord well and attentively.

BSB I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

MSB I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

BLB Now I say this for your own benefit, not that I might place upon you a restraint, but for what is seemly and devoted to the Lord, without distraction.

AICNT Now I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

OEB I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.

WEBBE This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.

LSV And this I say for your own profit: not that I may cast a noose on you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the LORD, undistractedly,

FBV I'm telling you this for your benefit. I'm not trying to put a noose around your neck, but to show you the right thing to do so you can serve the Lord without being distracted.

TCNT I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote proper behavior and devotion to the Lord without distraction.

T4T I am telling you this for your own good. I am not saying it in order to restrict you. Instead, I am saying it in order that you may do what is proper and be able to serve the Lord without being distracted {things distracting you}.

LEB Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

BBE Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord.

Moff I am saying this in your own interests. Not that I want to restrict your freedom. It is only to secure decorum and concentration upon a life of devotion to the Lord.

Wymth Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without distraction.

ASV And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

DRA And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

YLT And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

Drby But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what [is] seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.

RV And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
(And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye/you_all may attend upon the Lord without distraction. )

SLT And this I say for the advantage of yourselves; not that I shall cast a net upon you, but for the becoming, and occupied assiduously for the Lord without being turned away.

Wbstr And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

KJB-1769 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
(And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye/you_all may attend upon the Lord without distraction. )

KJB-1611 And this I speake for your owne profite, not that I may cast a snare vpon you, but for that which is comely, and that you may attend vpon the Lord without distraction.
(And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.)

Bshps This speake I for your profite, not to tangle you in a snare: but that ye may folowe that which is honest and comely, and that ye may cleaue fast vnto the Lorde without separation.
(This speak I for your profit, not to tangle you in a snare: but that ye/you_all may follow that which is honest and comely, and that ye/you_all may cleave_or_cling fast unto the Lord without separation.)

Gnva And this I speake for your owne commoditie, not to tangle you in a snare, but that yee follow that, which is honest, and that yee may cleaue fast vnto the Lord without separation.
(And this I speak for your own commoditie, not to tangle you in a snare, but that ye/you_all follow that, which is honest, and that ye/you_all may cleave_or_cling fast unto the Lord without separation. )

Cvdl This I saye for youre profit, not that I wil tangle you in a snare, but for that which is honest and comly vnto you, that ye maye cotynually cleue vnto the LORDE without hynderaunce.
(This I say for your(pl) profit, not that I will tangle you in a snare, but for that which is honest and comly unto you, that ye/you_all may cotynually cleave_or_cling unto the LORD without hinderaunce.)

TNT This speake I for youre proffit not to tangle you in a snare: but for that which is honest and comly vnto you and that ye maye quyetly cleave vnto the lorde with out separacion.
(This speak I for your(pl) proffit not to tangle you in a snare: but for that which is honest and comly unto you and that ye/you_all may quyetly cleave_or_cling unto the lord with out separacion. )

Wycl And Y seie these thingis to youre profit, not that Y caste to you a snare, but to that that is onest, and that yyueth esynesse, with outen lettyng to make preieris to the Lord.
(And I say these things to your(pl) profit, not that I cast/threw to you a snare, but to that that is onest, and that giveth/gives esyness, without letting to make prayers to the Lord.)

Luth Solches aber sage ich zu eurem Nutz; nicht daß ich euch einen Strick an den Hals werfe, sondern dazu, daß es fein ist, und ihr stets und unverhindert dem HErr’s dienen könnet.
(Such but said I to/for yours(pl) usefulness; not that I you a rope/cord at/to the neck/throat throw, rather to_that/in_addition, that it fine is, and you(pl)/their/her always and unverhindert to_him LORD’s serve/be_of_service could.)

ClVg Porro hoc ad utilitatem vestram dico: non ut laqueum vobis injiciam, sed ad id, quod honestum est, et quod facultatem præbeat sine impedimento Dominum obsecrandi.[fn]
(Further this to benefit your I_mean/say: not/no as snare to_you(pl) inyiciam, but to that, that honestum it_is, and that facultatem provide without hindrance the_Master obsecrandi. )

7.35 Non ut laqueum. Sed ad id tendens dico, quod honestum est, ut homo sit castus corpore et animo, non quod turpe sit conjugium, sed quod hoc honestius et facilitatem habeat Deum orandi.

7.35 Not/No as snare. But to that tendens I_mean/say, that honestum it_is, as human be castus body and in_mind, not/no that turpe be marriage, but that this honestius and facilitatem have God orandi.

UGNT τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σύμφορον λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπάρεδρον τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
(touto de pros to humōn autōn sumforon legō, ouⱪ hina broⱪon humin epibalō, alla pros to eusⱪaʸmon kai euparedron tōi Kuriōi aperispastōs.)

SBL-GNT τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ⸀σύμφορον λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ ⸀εὐπάρεδρον τῷ κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
(touto de pros to humōn autōn ⸀sumforon legō, ouⱪ hina broⱪon humin epibalō, alla pros to eusⱪaʸmon kai ⸀euparedron tōi kuriōi aperispastōs.)

RP-GNT Τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν συμφέρον λέγω· οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπρόσεδρον τῷ κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
(Touto de pros to humōn autōn sumferon legō; ouⱪ hina broⱪon humin epibalō, alla pros to eusⱪaʸmon kai euprosedron tōi kuriōi aperispastōs.)

TC-GNT Τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν [fn]συμφέρον λέγω· οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ [fn]εὐπρόσεδρον τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
(Touto de pros to humōn autōn sumferon legō; ouⱪ hina broⱪon humin epibalō, alla pros to eusⱪaʸmon kai euprosedron tōi Kuriōi aperispastōs. )

7:35 συμφερον ¦ συμφορον CT

7:35 ευπροσεδρον ¦ ευπαρεδρον ANT CT

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 7:32–35

Paul addressed the whole group of believers. He wanted them to be “free from concern” (7:32a). Many scholars think that in these verses Paul was giving a reason why he thought it was good to stay unmarried. This paragraph is difficult to interpret.

7:35a

I am saying this for your own good,

I talk to you like this because I want to help you think about what is best for you.
I have said these things to you because I think it will help you to decide for yourself what is best for you to do.

I am saying this for your own good: The word this refers to the things Paul had just said. Paul indicated that he had written in this way in order to help the Corinthian believers. Another way to translate this is:

I’m saying this for your benefit. (GW)

7:35b

not to restrict you,

I am not giving you commands you must obey.
I do not want to take away your freedom to decide what is best.
-or-
You are free to get married or stay single, and I do not want to limit you.

not to restrict you: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as not to restrict you is literally a figure of speech: “I am not trying to throw a noose over you.” A noose is a rope tied in a circle that is used to catch and tie up animals. Paul meant that he was not giving the Corinthian believers rules that they must obey. He was not trying to take away their freedom to choose how to live for Christ. There are two ways to translate this figure of speech:

using a metaphor or simile. For example:
I have no wish to keep you on a tight rein. (REB)
without a figure of speech. For example:
not to limit you (NCV)

7:35c

but in order to promote proper decorum

Rather, I want to help you to live in a way/manner that is appropriate/fitting,
On the contrary, I want to help you live/behave as the Lord’s people should live/behave.

but in order to promote proper decorum: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in order to promote proper decorum is more literally “to/for what is proper/seemly.” This refers to behavior that is orderly and decent. Paul was indicating that he had written these things to the Corinthians in order to help them to live in ways fitting for people who belong to the Lord. Other ways to translate this include:

to promote what is appropriate (NASB)

I want you to do what is right and proper (GNT)

7:35d

and undivided devotion to the Lord.

so you can serve the Lord in the best way with nothing worrying/distracting you.
and so that you can work for the Lord without always having to think of other things you have to do.

and undivided devotion to the Lord: This verse part indicates a second thing that Paul wanted to promote. The first is in 7:35c. Paul wanted to promote or encourage two things: first, what is proper, and second, undivided devotion to the Lord. This verse part refers to serving the Lord faithfully without distractions. Other ways to translate it include:

so that you are able to give your undivided attention to the Lord (NJB)

to give yourselves fully to the Lord without concern for other things (NCV)

so that without distraction you may give…constant service to the Lord (NET)

undivided: The Greek word that the BSB translates as undivided literally means “not pulled or dragged away”; that is, not distracted by things that take your thoughts or attention away from what you are doing. It refers to being able to do something without having to think of something else. Here is another way to translate this:

unhindered (NRSV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

τοῦτο

this

Here, this refers back to what Paul has said about how unmarried people can serve the Lord better in [7:32–34](../07/32.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this by clarifying what it refers back to. Alternate translation: [this about marriage and serving the Lord]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σύμφορον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῦτο Δέ πρός τό ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σύμφορον λέγω οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω ἀλλά πρός τό εὔσχημον καί εὐπάρεδρον τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind benefit, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “benefit” or “help.” Alternate translation: [to benefit you]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

βρόχον

˓a˒_noose

Here, constraint refers to a noose or rope that ties someone or something up and keeps them in one place. Paul uses this word to tell the Corinthians that he is not trying to “tie” them to either marriage or singleness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express constraint with a word or phrase that expresses the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [a noose] or [any hindrance]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω

˓a˒_noose ˱on˲_you_all ˱I˲_˓may˒_put_on

Here Paul speaks as if he could tie the Corinthians up and control where they went as if they were farm animals. Paul speaks in this way to refer to commands that require certain behavior, just like a rope requires an animal to stay in a certain area. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind put any constraint on you plainly or with a comparable metaphor. Alternate translation: [tie you up] or [require one way of living]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

(Occurrence 2) πρὸς τὸ

Here, toward introduces the purpose of what Paul has said. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express toward what is with a word or phrase that introduces what follows as a purpose or goal. Alternate translation: [in order that you may act in ways that are] or [with the goal of doing what is]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπάρεδρον

Here, appropriate refers to behavior that fits a situation or relationship properly. The word devoted describes someone who does a good job of helping someone else. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express appropriate and devoted with words or phrases that express the ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [what is proper and helpful]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

ἀπερισπάστως

undistractedly

Here, without any distraction means that nothing is hindering specific actions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express without any distraction with a word or phrase that describes a situation in which nothing is hindering an action. Alternate translation: [without hindrance] or [with full attention]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns