1 COR 7:4 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) wives’ bodies belong to their husbands, not to themselves, and similarly, husbands’ bodies belong to their wives, not to themselves.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise, the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

UST Wives’ bodies belong to their husbands, not to themselves. Similarly, husbands’ bodies belong to their wives, not to themselves.

BLB The wife does not have authority over the own body, but the husband; and likewise also, the husband does not have authority over the own body, but the wife.

AICNT The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

OEB It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body.

WEBBE The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.

LSV the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

FBV The wife's body doesn't just belong to her, but her husband; and similarly the husband's body doesn't just belong to him but his wife.

TCNT The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

T4T A man’s wife does not have the right over her own body to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with her husband. Instead, her husband also has a right to decide about that. Similarly, a woman’s husband does not have the right over his own body to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with his wife. Instead, his wife also has a right to decide about that.

LEB The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

BBE The wife has not power over her body, but the husband; and in the same way the husband has not power over his body, but the wife.

Moff the wife cannot do as she pleases with her body--her husband has power,
⇔ and in the same way the husband cannot do as he pleases with his body--his wife has power.

Wymth A married woman is not mistress of her own person: her husband has certain rights. In the same way a married man is not master of his own person: his wife has certain rights.

ASV The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

DRA The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

YLT the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

Drby The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.

RV The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.
(The wife hath/has not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath/has not power over his own body, but the wife. )

SLT The wife of her own body has not power, but the husband: and likewise also the husband of his own body has not power, but the wife.

Wbstr The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

KJB-1769 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
(The wife hath/has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath/has not power of his own body, but the wife. )

KJB-1611 The wife hath not power of her owne body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his owne body, but the wife.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps The wyfe hath not the power of her owne body, but the husbande: And likewyse also the husbande hath not the power of his owne body, but the wife.
(The wife hath/has not the power of her own body, but the husband: And likewise also the husband hath/has not the power of his own body, but the wife.)

Gnva The wife hath not the power of her owne bodie, but ye husband: and likewise also the husband hath not ye power of his own body, but the wife.
(The wife hath/has not the power of her own body, but ye/you_all husband: and likewise also the husband hath/has not ye/you_all power of his own body, but the wife. )

Cvdl The wife hath not power ouer hir awne body, but the hussbande: & likewyse the man hath not power ouer his awne body, but the wife.
(The wife hath/has not power over her own body, but the hussbande: and likewise the man hath/has not power over his own body, but the wife.)

TNT The wyfe hath not power over her awne body: but the husbande. And lykewyse the man hath not power over his awne body: but the wyfe.
(The wife hath/has not power over her own body: but the husband. And likewise the man hath/has not power over his own body: but the wife. )

Wycl The womman hath not power of hir bodi, but the hosebonde; and the hosebonde hath not power of his bodi, but the womman.
(The woman hath/has not power of her body, but the husband; and the husband hath/has not power of his body, but the woman.)

Luth Das Weib ist ihres Leibes nicht mächtig, sondern der Mann. Desselbigengleichen der Mann ist seines Leibes nicht mächtig, sondern das Weib.
(The woman is theirs/hers body not powerful, rather the/of_the man. Desselbigengleichen the/of_the man is his body not powerful, rather the woman.)

ClVg Mulier sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed vir. Similiter autem et vir sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed mulier.
(Woman self body power not/no has, but man. Similarly/Likewise however and man self body power not/no has, but woman. )

UGNT ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ; ὁμοίως δὲ, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή.
(haʸ gunaʸ tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei, alla ho anaʸr; homoiōs de, kai ho anaʸr tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei, alla haʸ gunaʸ.)

SBL-GNT ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή.
(haʸ gunaʸ tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei alla ho anaʸr; homoiōs de kai ho anaʸr tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei alla haʸ gunaʸ.)

RP-GNT Ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, ἀλλ' ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, ἀλλ' ἡ γυνή.
(Haʸ gunaʸ tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei, all' ho anaʸr; homoiōs de kai ho anaʸr tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei, all' haʸ gunaʸ.)

TC-GNT Ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ἡ γυνή.
(Haʸ gunaʸ tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei, all ho anaʸr; homoiōs de kai ho anaʸr tou idiou sōmatos ouk exousiazei, all haʸ gunaʸ. )

7:4 αλλ ¦ αλλα NA²⁷ SBL TH WH

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 7:1–7

Paul began to discuss the subjects the Corinthians had written to him about. It seems that some believers were thinking that sexual intercourse was not good. Those people even said that married Christians should not have sexual intercourse with each other. Paul said that it was good for married believers to live together normally as man and wife. This would help them avoid being tempted to commit sex sins.

7:4a

The wife does not have authority over her own body,

The wife does not own/control her body.
A married woman is not the boss over her own body.
A married woman cannot always do just what she wants to do.

7:4b

but the husband.

Rather, her husband owns/controls it.
Instead her husband is also the boss over her body.
She must do what her husband wants.

7:4a-b

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband: Paul was saying that when people marry they agree to keep their bodies for the person they are married to. They agree that the person they are married to is the only one with the right to their bodies. Other ways to translate this include:

The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband (NIV)

A wife is not the master of her own body, but her husband is. (GNT)

have authority over: The Greek word that the BSB translates as have authority over means to have power or rights over someone. Paul meant that married people have the right to expect to have sexual intercourse with the person they are married to. That is a right which is part of their marriage agreement.

7:4c

Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body,

Likewise, the husband does not own/control his body.
Also, a married man is not the boss over his body.
Also, a married man cannot always do just what he wants to do.

7:4d

but the wife.

Rather, his wife owns/controls it.
Instead, his wife is the boss over his body.
He must do what his wife wants to do.

7:4c-d

Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife: Paul said the same thing to the husband that he had said to the wife. Both husband and wife have the same right and duty of having intercourse with their spouse. In your translation, try to use the same verb phrase in these verses that you used in 7:4a-b.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ἡ γυνὴ & ὁ ἀνήρ & ὁ ἀνὴρ & ἡ γυνή

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ γυνή τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλά ὁ ἀνήρ ὁμοίως δέ καί ὁ ἀνήρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλά ἡ γυνή)

Just as in [7:3](../07/03.md), Paul here refers to the husband and the wife in the singular, but he is speaking generically about any husband and wife. If your language does not use the singular form to refer to people in general, you can use a form that does refer generically to people in your language. Alternate translation: [each wife … her husband does … each husband … his wife does]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence -1) τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡ γυνή τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλά ὁ ἀνήρ ὁμοίως δέ καί ὁ ἀνήρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλά ἡ γυνή)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind authority, you can express the idea by using a verb or verbal phrase such as “control” or “claim as one’s own.” Alternate translation: [does not control her own body … does not control his own body] or [does not claim her body as her own … does not claim his body as his own]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ὁ ἀνήρ & ἡ γυνή

the husband & the wife

In both these places, Paul omits some words that may be required in your language to make a full sentence. You could supply words from the first half of each statement in order to complete the thought, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [the husband has authority over her body … the wife has authority over his body]

Parallel 1 COR 7:4