1 COR 8:13 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Therefore, if food might cause a fellow believer to stumble, I’ll certainly never eat meat, so that I won’t cause them to stumble.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will certainly not ever eat meat, so that I might not cause my brother to stumble.

UST Consequently, in cases where what I eat would lead a fellow believer to sin, I will never ever eat meat again, whether someone has offered it to another god or not. This way, I do not lead any of my fellow believers to sin.

BLB Therefore, if food snares my brother, never shall not I eat meat to the age, so that I might not snare my brother.

AICNT Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause my brother to stumble.

OEB Therefore, if what I eat makes a follower of the Lord fall, rather than make them fall, I will never eat meat again.

WEBBE Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

LSV for this reason, if food causes my brother to stumble, I may not eat flesh—throughout the age—that I may not cause my brother to stumble.

FBV So if eating food sacrificed to idols would cause my fellow believer to stumble, I will never eat such meat ever again, so that I don't offend any believer.

TCNT Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will certainly never eat meat, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

T4T So if I, Paul, think that by eating a certain food I might cause a fellow believer to be ruined spiritually, I will never eat such food again. I do not want to cause any fellow believer ◄to be ruined spiritually/to stop believing in Christ►. And you should ◄do as I do/imitate my example►.

LEB Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat _⌊forever_⌋[fn], in order that I may not cause my brother to sin.

8:13 Literally “for the age”

BBE For this reason, if food is a cause of trouble to my brother, I will give up taking meat for ever, so that I may not be a cause of trouble to my brother.

Moff Therefore if food is any hindrance to my brother's welfare, sooner than injure him I will never eat flesh as long as I live, never!

Wymth Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I touch any kind of animal food, for fear I should cause my brother to fall.
¶ 

ASV Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

DRA Wherefore, if meat scandalize my brother, I will never eat flesh, lest I should scandalize my brother.

YLT wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh — to the age — that my brother I may not cause to stumble.

Drby Wherefore if meat be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother.

RV Wherefore, if meat maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I make not my brother to stumble.
(Wherefore, if meat maketh/makes my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh forever, that I make not my brother to stumble. )

SLT Wherefore, if food offend my brother, I will eat no flesh forever, lest I shall offend my brother.

Wbstr Wherefore, if food maketh my brother to fall into sin, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to fall into sin.

KJB-1769 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
(Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth/stands, lest I make my brother to offend. )

KJB-1611 Wherefore if meate make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Wherefore, if meate offend my brother, I wyll eate no fleshe whyle the worlde standeth, lest I shoulde offende my brother.
(Wherefore, if meat offend my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth/stands, lest I should offend my brother.)

Gnva Wherefore if meate offende my brother, I wil eate no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother.
(Wherefore if meat offend my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth/stands, that I may not offend my brother. )

Cvdl Wherfore yf meate offende my brother, I wyl neuer eate flesh, lest I offende my brother.
(Wherefore if meat offend my brother, I will never eat flesh, lest I offend my brother.)

TNT Wherfore yf meate hurt my brother I will eate no flesshe whill the worlde stondeth because I will not hurte my brother.
(Wherefore if meat hurt my brother I will eat no flesh while the world standeth/stands because I will not hurt my brother. )

Wycl Wherfor if mete sclaundrith my brother, Y schal neuere ete fleisch, lest Y sclaundre my brothir.
(Wherefore if meet sclaundrith my brother, I shall never eat flesh, lest I sclaundre my brother.)

Luth Darum, so die Speise meinen Bruder ärgert, wollte ich nimmermehr Fleisch essen, auf daß ich meinen Bruder nicht ärgerte.
(Therefore, so the food my brother annoys, wanted I nevermore flesh eat, on/in/to that I my brother not annoyed.)

ClVg Quapropter si esca scandalizat fratrem meum, non manducabo carnem in æternum, ne fratrem meum scandalizem.
(Quapropter when/but_if food scandalizat brother mine, not/no manducabo the_flesh in/into/on eternal, not brother mine scandalizem. )

UGNT διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω.
(dioper ei brōma skandalizei ton adelfon mou, ou maʸ fagō krea eis ton aiōna, hina maʸ ton adelfon mou skandalisō.)

SBL-GNT διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω.
(dioper ei brōma skandalizei ton adelfon mou, ou maʸ fagō krea eis ton aiōna, hina maʸ ton adelfon mou skandalisō.)

RP-GNT Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω.
(Dioper ei brōma skandalizei ton adelfon mou, ou maʸ fagō krea eis ton aiōna, hina maʸ ton adelfon mou skandalisō.)

TC-GNT Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω.
(Dioper ei brōma skandalizei ton adelfon mou, ou maʸ fagō krea eis ton aiōna, hina maʸ ton adelfon mou skandalisō. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–13: Paul answered questions about eating meat that had been offered to idols

In this section Paul wrote about something else the Corinthians had asked him in their earlier letter. They had asked him whether it was acceptable for them to eat the meat of an animal that had been sacrificed to an idol. The primary context for eating such meat was at an idol’s temple. Sometimes an animal would be offered to a false god in connection with a celebration such as a birthday or wedding to seek the god’s blessing and presence at the celebration. The animal would be butchered by a priest and a portion of the meat would be burned on an altar as an offering to the false god. Some of the remaining meat would be returned to the person who offered it and could be eaten together with family or other invited guests at a private banquet room at the temple. (Some of the remaining meat might be sent to the meat market to be sold, a situation that Paul addresses in 10:25–26.)

There were two opinions in the Corinthian church about whether this meat could be eaten by a believer in Christ. Some of the Corinthian believers, including those who wrote the letter, understood that idols were only things that people have made or imagined. They were hoping Paul would agree with them that it was acceptable to eat this meat. However, some other believers thought that it was wrong to enter a temple and eat such meat. They still believed the false gods were real and believed that eating meat offered to them in sacrifice was an act of worship or fellowship with these gods.

Paul agreed in this chapter that the idols worshiped at these temples were not real gods. But he did not give permission to eat this meat at their temple. Doing so might influence other believers to also eat the meat, even though they believed it was wrong. Paul asked the Corinthians believers to act in love toward these brothers rather than selfishly demanding the right to eat this meat.

In chapter 10, Paul will continue to answer the question about eating meat sacrificed to idols. He says that a believer can have no part in the worship of idols and also that demons are active in the sacrifices to idols. He also addresses the separate situations of buying and eating meat sold in the meat market and what to do when someone invites you to eat meat in their home. Before this, in chapter 9, he uses himself as an illustration of the principle he set down at the end of chapter 8 of giving up your rights in love. He had the right to be paid for his work as an apostle, but he gave up his right so that the good news of Jesus would be better accepted.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings for this section are:

Paul gave instructions about eating meat of/from animals that had been sacrificed to false gods

Believers should not eat anything that causes other believers to sin

Paragraph 8:7–13

In this paragraph Paul discussed a problem related to the knowledge that an idol is nothing. The problem is that not all believers have this knowledge. When those without this knowledge eat food sacrificed to idols, they think they are participating in rites to real gods. They know this is wrong, but being weak they are easily influenced to do it anyway. So believers who know that idols are nothing should not think only about what they have freedom to do, but rather should think about how what they do may influence other believers toward idolatry. They should not do anything that would cause another believer to do something he thinks is wrong.

8:13

Paul concluded this section by using himself as an example. He said that he would give up his rights and freedoms in order not to hurt other believers. He implied that he wanted the Corinthians to think and act in the same way that he did.

8:13a

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble,

So now, if I might cause/lead another believer to do something wrong by my choice of what to eat,
So if what I choose to eat may harm the faith of a brother or sister in Christ,

Therefore: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Therefore here introduces a conclusion to this part of Paul’s discussion.

if what I eat causes my brother to stumble: Paul assumed that this could be true, though it was probably not true that Paul caused a brother to fall into sin by what he ate. Paul says this to make the point that he would happily give up eating all meat if it might influence someone to do what they believed was wrong.

what I eat: The Greek word that the BSB translates as what I eat is literally “food.” It is the general word for food that was used in 8:8a.

causes…to stumble: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as causes…to stumble means much the same as “become a stumbling block to the weak” in 8:9b. See the note there. In this context, this verb refers to causing someone to do what he thinks is wrong.

8:13b

I will never eat meat again,

then I will never eat any kind of meat anymore.
I personally have decided I will not eat meat again forever.

I will never eat meat again: Paul uses a general word for meat here and not the specific word that means “meat offered to idols.” He probably says this with some hyperbole, that is, Paul expressed this in extreme terms to make a strong point: I will not eat any meat at all ever again.

8:13c

so that I will not cause him to stumble.

I will do that so that I will not cause another believer to sin.
I do not want to lead another believer to sin by doing what he thinks is wrong.

so that I will not cause him to stumble: This is a negative purpose clause. Paul would gladly give up eating meat in order to avoid causing someone else to sin. The Greek verb that the BSB translates as cause…to stumble is the same as in 8:13a where the BSB translates it as “causes…to stumble.” You may be able to translate it here in the same way as you translated it there. Other ways to translate this include:

rather than cause my brother’s downfall (NJB)

for fear I might do him harm (JBP)

for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble (NLT)

him: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as him is literally “my brother,” as in the RSV. Here it refers to a fellow believer. You should translate it in a way that is natural in your language for referring to another believer.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου

food ˓is˒_stumbling (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τόν ἀδελφόν μού οὒ μή φάγω κρέα εἰς τόν αἰῶνα ἵνα μή τόν ἀδελφόν μού σκανδαλίσω)

Here, food is spoken of as though it were a person who could cause someone to stumble. Paul speaks in this way to emphasize that the food is the key issue that leads to “stumbling.” If this might be confusing for your readers, you could clarify that the person who eats the food causes someone to stumble. Alternate translation: [how I eat causes my brother to stumble]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

if food ˓is˒_stumbling (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τόν ἀδελφόν μού οὒ μή φάγω κρέα εἰς τόν αἰῶνα ἵνα μή τόν ἀδελφόν μού σκανδαλίσω)

Here Paul uses the first-person singular in order to use himself as an example for the Corinthians to follow. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express that this is why Paul uses the first person by clarifying that Paul is offering himself as an example. Alternate translation: [if food causes my brother to stumble, I, for one, will certainly not ever eat meat] or [take me as an example: if food causes my brother to stumble, I will certainly not ever eat meat]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου

Paul is speaking as if this were a hypothetical possibility, but he means that it will happen at some point. If your language does not state something as a condition if it will happen, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying might not happen, then you can introduce the clause by using a word such as “in cases where” or “since.” Alternate translation: [because food causes my brother to stumble]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

(Occurrence -1) τὸν ἀδελφόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τόν ἀδελφόν μού οὒ μή φάγω κρέα εἰς τόν αἰῶνα ἵνα μή τόν ἀδελφόν μού σκανδαλίσω)

Although brother is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express brother with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [brother or sister … brother or sister]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

(Occurrence -1) τὸν ἀδελφόν μου

Paul is speaking of “brothers” in general, not of one particular brother. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express my brother with a word or phrase that refers to “brothers” in general. Alternate translation: [any brother of mine … any brother of mine]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ μὴ

The words translated certainly not are two negative words. In Paul’s culture, two negative words made the statement even more negative. English speakers would think that the two negatives form a positive, so the ULT expresses the idea with one strong negative. If your language can use two negatives as Paul’s culture did, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in this way, you can translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [by no means]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κρέα

meats

Throughout this section, the “things sacrificed to idols” refers primarily to meat, and eating this kind of meat was one of the only ways for most people to eat meat at all. Paul here is stating that he will give up meat in general, whether it is sacrificed to idols or not. He implies that he does this so that fellow believers, who do not know whether the meat has been sacrificed to idols or not, will not stumble. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the implications here to make them explicit. Alternate translation: [meat, even if it has not been sacrificed to idols]