1 COR 8:9 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) However, be careful in case your freedom becomes a reason that weaker believers might get confused and stumble in their spiritual walk.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 But take care lest this authority of yours might become a stumbling block for the weak.

UST However, you need to be careful about how you live if you know that food is not significant. How you live should not cause someone who incompletely understands what is right and wrong to struggle to follow Jesus.

MSB Be careful, however, [that] your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

BLB But be careful, lest somehow this right of yours becomes an occasion of stumbling to those being weak.

AICNT Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

OEB But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak.

WEBBE But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.

LSV but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the weak,

FBV Just take care not to use this freedom you have to eat food sacrificed to idols to become offensive to those with a weaker attitude.

TCNT But be careful that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

T4T However, be sure that you do not do anything that God allows you to do, if by doing that you would encourage any of your fellow believers to do something that they are not sure God allows them to do. As a result, you would be causing them to sin.

LEB But watch out lest somehow this right of yours becomes a cause for stumbling to the weak.

BBE But take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble.

Moff But see that the exercise of your right does not prove any stumbling-block to the weak.

Wymth But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.

ASV But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.

DRA But take heed lest perhaps this your liberty become a stumblingblock to the weak.

YLT but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,

Drby But see lest anywise this your right [to eat] itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.

RV But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
(But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak. )

SLT And see ye lest this your power be a stumble to the weak.

Wbstr But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.

KJB-1769 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
(But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak. )

KJB-1611 But take heed lest by any meanes, this [fn]libertie of yours become a stumbling blocke to them that are weake.
(But take heed lest by any means, this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weake.)

8:9 Or, power.

Bshps But take heede lest by any meanes this libertie of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.
(But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.)

Gnva But take heede lest by any meanes this power of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.
(But take heed lest by any means this power of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake. )

Cvdl But take hede that this youre liberty be not an occasion of fallynge vnto ye weake.
(But take heed that this your(pl) liberty be not an occasion of falling unto ye/you_all weake.)

TNT But take hede that youre libertie cause not the weake to faule.
(But take heed that your(pl) liberty cause not the weak to faule. )

Wycl But se ye, lest perauenture this your leeue be maad hurtyng to sijke men.
(But see ye/you_all, lest peradventure/perhaps this your leave be made hurting to sijke men.)

Luth Sehet aber zu, daß diese eure Freiheit nicht gerate zu einem Anstoß der Schwachen.
(Behold but to/for, that this/these your(pl) Freiheit not gerate to/for on Anstoß the/of_the weak_(one).)

ClVg Videte autem ne forte hæc licentia vestra offendiculum fiat infirmis.
(See however not perhaps these_things licentia your stumbling_block fiat sick/weak. )

UGNT βλέπετε δὲ μή πως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη, πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν.
(blepete de maʸ pōs haʸ exousia humōn hautaʸ, proskomma genaʸtai tois asthenesin.)

SBL-GNT βλέπετε δὲ μή πως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ⸀ἀσθενέσιν.
(blepete de maʸ pōs haʸ exousia humōn hautaʸ proskomma genaʸtai tois ⸀asthenesin.)

RP-GNT Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν.
(Blepete de maʸpōs haʸ exousia humōn hautaʸ proskomma genaʸtai tois asthenousin.)

TC-GNT Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς [fn]ἀσθενοῦσιν.
(Blepete de maʸpōs haʸ exousia humōn hautaʸ proskomma genaʸtai tois asthenousin. )

8:9 ασθενουσιν ¦ ασθενεσιν CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (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.

8:9a

Be careful, however, that your freedom

But, you^(plur) must beware that by acting/doing as you have a right to do
Those of you who believe you are free to eat any food you want, I warn you

8:9b

does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

you^(plur) do not cause weak believers to do something they think is wrong.
not to lead believers with weak consciences into sin.

8:9a-b

Be careful: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Be careful is literally “Watch” or “Look.” It introduces a warning. Paul wanted the believers to avoid a dangerous situation. They should therefore carefully consider the consequences of eating meat sacrificed to idols.

however: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as however here introduces a warning that contrasts with what Paul had just said. In 8:8a, Paul agreed that food does not affect our relationship with God, and so in principle Christians have freedom or right to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols. Starting in this verse, Paul warned the Christians to be careful how they used that freedom.

Consider what would be a natural way to connect 8:9 to 8:8 in your language. Since the point of contrast is with the first part of verse 8 (8:8a) more than the last part of the verse (8:8b-c), you may or may not want to use a conjunction that indicates contrast. Among English versions, some mark the contrast and some do not. For example:

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (NRSV)

Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. (CEV)

your freedom: The Greek words that the BSB translates as your freedom are more literally “this right of yours.” In some languages it may be helpful to say what this right was. The following English versions make this more explicit:

the right to eat anything (CEV)

your freedom to eat meat (JBP)

does not become a stumbling block to the weak: The Greek word that the BSB translates as stumbling block is a metaphor. It refers to a log or a stone in a road or path that causes someone to fall down. Here the “exercise of your freedom” (to eat meat offered to idols) is compared to this kind of stone or log in the path. They are similar in that they both cause someone to fall and result in hurt or harm. One causes a person to literally fall down. The other causes a person to “fall into sin” (a biblical idiom) and harms his or her relationship with God. A different Greek word with a similar meaning is used in 1:23b.

If the meaning of the metaphor may be difficult to understand, some other ways this are:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become like a log/stone that makes the weak trip/fall
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not cause your brothers with weak consciences to sin
Keep the metaphor and also make the meaning clear. For example:
be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not cause the weak to fall into sin like a log across the path makes people fall
be careful that the exercise of your freedom not become a stone in the way that causes the weak to fall into sin

the weak: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the weak here refers to the people mentioned in 8:7a, those believers whose consciences were weak. You may want to make that clear in your translation.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη

¬the right ˱of˲_you_all this

Here Paul implies that their authority is over “food”, as mentioned in the last verse ([8:8](../08/08.md)). The point is that food has no authority over believers, whether to make them more or less “near to God.” Instead, believers have authority over food and can thus eat whatever they want. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express what authority refers to here by clarifying that it refers to authority over “food.” Alternate translation: [this authority of yours over food] or [this authority of yours concerning eating]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη

¬the right ˱of˲_you_all this

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind authority, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “rule” or “manage” and include “food” or “eating” as the object. Alternate translation: [how you rule over food] or [how you manage your eating]

ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη

¬the right ˱of˲_you_all this

Alternate translation: [this authority that you have]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν

˱to˲_the weak

Much like in [8:7](../08/07.md), weak identifies a person who easily feels guilty. A weak person thinks some things are wrong that are probably acceptable before God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express weak with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [for the sensitive] or [for those who often condemn themselves]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν

˱to˲_the weak

Paul is using the adjective weak as a noun in order to describe a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [people who are weak]

Parallel 1 COR 8:9

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

Paragraph 8:7–13

8:9a

8:9b

8:9a-b

Parallel 1 COR 8:9