1 COR 9:10 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Isn’t he saying that on our behalf? Yes, it was written for our sake saying that anyone who’s ploughing a field should expect to be paid, and anyone who threshes the grain should expect a share of the harvest.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 Or is he speaking entirely for our sake? For it was written for our sake that the one plowing ought to plow in hope, and the one threshing, in hope of sharing the harvest.

UST Rather, God speaks mostly about us in this law. God had Moses write this command for us because any person who plows a field should expect to receive some of the crop. Any person who separates the grain from the wheat stalks should also expect to receive some of the crop.

BLB Or is He speaking because of us entirely? For it was written for us, because in hope the one plowing ought to plow, and the one threshing, in hope to partake.

AICNT Or is he saying this certainly for us? For it was written for us that the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one threshing in hope should partake [[in hope]].[fn]

9:10, in hope: Some manuscripts include. D(05) BYZ TR

OEB Or is not is said entirely for our sakes? Surely it was written for our sakes, for the ploughman ought not to plough, nor the thrasher to thrash, without expecting a share of the grain.

WEBBE or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who ploughs ought to plough in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest.

LSV Or by all means does He say [it] because of us? Yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading [ought] of his hope to partake in hope.

FBV Wasn't he directing this at us? Surely this was written for us—for anyone who plows should plow in hope and anyone who threshes should hope to share in the harvest.

TCNT Or does he speak entirely for our sake? Yes, this was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes [fn]in hope ought to partake of his hope.

9:10 in hope ought to partake of his hope 90.1% ¦ ought to thresh in hope of partaking CT 3.5%

T4T No, he was [RHQ] concerned about us, also! Yes, God caused Moses to write those words because he is concerned about us! Those who plow the ground confidently expect to eat some of the crop that grows. Those who thresh grain confidently expect to eat some of the grain that they thresh. Similarly, we who proclaim the message about Christ have the right to confidently expect to receive financial help for our work.

LEB Or doubtless does he speak _⌊for our sake_⌋[fn]? For it is written _⌊for our sake_⌋[fn], because the one who plows ought to plow in hope and the one who threshes ought to do so in hope of a share.

9:10 Literally “for the sake of us”

BBE Or has he us in mind? Yes, it was said for us; because it is right for the ploughman to do his ploughing in hope, and for him who is crushing the grain to do his work hoping for a part in the fruits of it.

Moff Or is he speaking purely for our sakes? Assuredly for our sakes. This word was written for us, because the ploughman needs to plough in hope, and the thresher to thresh in the hope of getting a share in the crop.

Wymth Is God simply thinking about the oxen? Or is it really in our interest that He speaks? Of course, it was written in our interest, because it is His will that when a plough-man ploughs, and a thresher threshes, it should be in the hope of sharing that which comes as the result.

ASV or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking.

DRA Or doth he say this indeed for our sakes? For these things are written for our sakes: that he that plougheth, should plough in hope; and he that thrasheth, in hope to receive fruit.

YLT or because of us by all means doth He say [it]? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading [ought] of his hope to partake in hope.

Drby or does he say [it] altogether for our sakes? For for our sakes it has been written, that the plougher should plough in hope, and he that treads out corn, in hope of partaking of [it].

RV or saith he it altogether for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking.
(or saith/says he it altogether for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that plougheth ought to plough in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking. )

SLT Or does he say altogether on account of us? For it was written on account of us: that he ploughing ought to plough upon hope; and he grinding upon hope, to participate with his hope.

Wbstr Or saith he this altogether for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

KJB-1769 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
(Or saith/says he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plougheth should plough in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. )

KJB-1611 Or saith hee it altogether for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that hee that ploweth, should plow in hope: and that hee that thresheth in hope, should bee partaker of his hope.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Either sayth he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt this is written, that he which eareth, should eare in hope: & that he which tressheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
(Either saith/says he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt this is written, that he which eareth, should ear in hope: and that he which tressheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.)

Gnva Either saith hee it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should eare in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
(Either saith/says he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should ear in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope. )

Cvdl Or sayeth he it not alltogether for oure sakes? For no doute it is wrytte for oure sakes. For he that eareth, shulde eare vpon hope: and he yt throssheth, shulde trosshe vpon hope, yt he mighte be partaker of his hope.
(Or saith/says he it not altogether for our sakes? For no doubt it is written for our sakes. For he that eareth, should ear upon hope: and he it threshest/threshes, should trosshe upon hope, it he might be partaker of his hope.)

TNT Ether sayth he it not all to gedder for oure sakes? For oure sakes no doute this is written: that he which eareth shuld eare in hope: and that he which thressheth in hope shuld be parttaker of his hope.
(Ether saith/says he it not all together for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt this is written: that he which eareth should ear in hope: and that he which thressheth in hope should be parttaker of his hope. )

Wycl Whether for vs he seith these thingis? For whi tho ben writun for vs; for he that erith, owith to ere in hope, and he that threischith, in hope to take fruytis.
(Whether for us he saith/says these things? For why those been written for us; for he that erith, owith to ere/before in hope, and he that threischith, in hope to take fruits.)

Luth Oder sagt er‘s nicht allerdinge um unsertwillen? Denn es ist ja um unsertwillen geschrieben. Denn der da pflüget, soll auf Hoffnung pflügen, und der da drischt, soll auf Hoffnung dreschen, daß er seiner Hoffnung teilhaftig werde.
(Or says he's not however around/by/for ourtwillen? Because it is ya around/by/for ourtwillen written. Because the/of_the there ploughs(v), should on/in/to hope plough(v), and the/of_the there threshing, should on/in/to hope threshingn, that he his hope participating become.)

ClVg an propter nos utique hoc dicit? Nam propter nos scripta sunt: quoniam debet in spe qui arat, arare: et qui triturat, in spe fructus percipiendi.
(an because us certainly this he_says? For/Surely because us written are: since/because must in/into/on with_hope who/which arat, arare: and who/which triturat, in/into/on with_hope fruit percipiendi. )

UGNT ἢ δι’ ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει? δι’ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη, ὅτι ὀφείλει ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν, καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν.
(aʸ di’ haʸmas pantōs legei? di’ haʸmas gar egrafaʸ, hoti ofeilei ep’ elpidi ho arotriōn arotrian, kai ho aloōn ep’ elpidi tou meteⱪein.)

SBL-GNT ἢ διʼ ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει; διʼ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη, ὅτι ⸂ὀφείλει ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι⸃ ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν, καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν ⸂ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν⸃.
(aʸ diʼ haʸmas pantōs legei; diʼ haʸmas gar egrafaʸ, hoti ⸂ofeilei epʼ elpidi⸃ ho arotriōn arotrian, kai ho aloōn ⸂epʼ elpidi tou meteⱪein⸃.)

RP-GNT Ἢ δι' ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει; Δι' ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη, ὅτι ἐπ' ἐλπίδι ὀφείλει ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾷν, καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν τῆς ἐλπίδος αὐτοῦ μετέχειν ἐπ' ἐλπίδι.
(Aʸ di' haʸmas pantōs legei; Di' haʸmas gar egrafaʸ, hoti ep' elpidi ofeilei ho arotriōn arotrian, kai ho aloōn taʸs elpidos autou meteⱪein ep' elpidi.)

TC-GNT Ἢ δι᾽ ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει; Δι᾽ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη, ὅτι [fn]ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι ὀφείλει ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾷν, καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν [fn]τῆς ἐλπίδος αὐτοῦ μετέχειν ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι.
(Aʸ di haʸmas pantōs legei; Di haʸmas gar egrafaʸ, hoti ep elpidi ofeilei ho arotriōn arotrian, kai ho aloōn taʸs elpidos autou meteⱪein ep elpidi. )

9:10 επ ελπιδι οφειλει ¦ οφειλει επ ελπιδι CT

9:10 της ελπιδος αυτου μετεχειν επ ελπιδι 90.1% ¦ επ ελπιδι του μετεχειν CT 3.5%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

In this section Paul responded to a claim by some of the Corinthians that he was not an apostle. First, he defended his calling and work as an apostle. Then he used himself as an example of someone who did not use his rights.

In chapter 8 and chapter 10 Paul talked about food offered to idols. In this chapter Paul said that he was an example of somebody who had the right to do anything. He was thinking about the right to eat any kind of food. Out of love for others he refrained from doing things that he had a right to do. Instead, he tried to act in a way that would lead others to Christ.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul’s rights as an apostle

Paul's example of not using his rights

Paragraph 9:8–12b

In this paragraph Paul explained that God in the Scriptures has taught that church leaders should receive food and drink for themselves from their work. So, Paul and his fellow workers could expect the Corinthians to give them food and drink.

9:10a

Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf?

Isn’t it certain that he was thinking about us?^(incl)
No, surely/clearly he said this for us/for our sake.

Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a statement. It is an answer to the question in the previous verse.

Here are two ways to translate this statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Didn’t he really mean us when he said that? (GNT)
Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? (NLT)
Use a statement. For example:
Surely, he said this for us

Isn’t He…speaking on our behalf: Here Paul refers to the law about the ox in 9:9b. Paul understood that the Laws of Moses were the words of God.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

when God told Moses to write this, it was for our sake

our behalf: The pronoun our is an exclusive pronoun.9:10 Fee p.406–407. Paul refers to himself and other Christian leaders.

God gave this law so that his people will know how to treat workers fairly. He wanted them to know how to treat animals justly and also how to treat human workers justly. Paul applies this to Christian leaders who should also be treated fairly.

actually: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as actually:

It means certainly, undoubtedly, or actually. For example:
surely (NET) (BSB, NET, NIV, REB, NLT, GNT, ESV, CEV)
It means altogether, entirely. For example:
Does he not speak entirely for our sake? (RSV) (RSV, KJV, NASB, NJB, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is supported by the standard NT Greek dictionary9:10 BAGD p. 609. and a number of commentaries.

9:10b

Indeed, this was written for us,

Yes, when he caused Moses to write down that law, he did it for our^(incl) benefit.
Of course, the law was written/given for our sake.

Indeed, this was written for us: This is an answer to the rhetorical question in 9:10a. The phrase this was written refers to the law about the ox quoted in 9:9b.9:10 The KJV and NCV appear to interpret the words “this is written” to refer to what follows as well as what precedes. However, the words that follow are not a quotation from anywhere in the Hebrew Scriptures. That law was written in the Scriptures by Moses.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Of course that was written for us. (GNT)

This was written for our benefit. (GW)

9:10c

because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes,

For when people/farmers plow/dig the ground and when people/farmers thresh/beat the grain,
When someone prepares the ground for planting seed or separates the grain from the stalk/husks,

because: The word because introduces the reason God gave the command about the oxen. Another way to translate 9:10b-d is:

It was written for us, because the one who plows a field and the one who threshes the grain should do their work expecting to receive a share of the harvest

the plowman plows: To “plow” is the work of breaking up and turning the soil to prepare it for seeds. The plowman is anyone who does such work.

the thresher threshes: To “thresh” is the work of separating the seeds from the stalks. The thresher is a person who does such work.

9:10d

they should also expect to share in the harvest.

they ought to have a hope of getting part of the crop.
it is right that he should expect to receive some of the grain.

they should also expect to share in the harvest: The verb should indicates that the one preparing the ground and the one who threshes the grain have a right to expect a reward for their work. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

they ought to be able to share in the harvest

it is right that they should hope/expect to share in the harvest

expect to share in the harvest: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as expect to share in the harvest is more literally “in hope of the sharing.” It indicates that the worker should be able to receive some of the harvest himself. The BSB has supplied the words in the harvest. The GNT and RSV have supplied the words “in the crop,” and the REB has supplied “the produce.” You may supply a phrase that is natural to indicate what the workers were to share.

General Comment on 9:10c-d

In some languages it may be natural to indicate first that this is right. For example:

^10c-dbecause it is right that whoever ploughs should plough with the expectation of having his share, and whoever threshes should thresh with the expectation of having his share (NJB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἢ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἤ διʼ ἡμάς πάντως λέγει Διʼ ἡμάς γάρ ἐγράφη ὅτι ὀφείλει ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν καί ὁ ἀλοῶν ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν)

The word Or introduces an alternate to what Paul says at the end of the previous verse ([9:9](../09/09.md)). In that verse, he asked whether God cares about the oxen in this law. Since that is not the issue here, the or introduces what Paul thinks is actually true: the law is entirely for our sake. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Or with a word that signifies a contrast or gives an alternative. Alternate translation: [On the other hand,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ δι’ ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει?

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “yes, he is.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong statement. Alternate translation: [Actually, he is speaking entirely for our sake.]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

λέγει

˱he˲_˓is˒_speaking

Here, he refers back to “God” in [9:9](../09/09.md). Paul assumes that God is the one who is speaking in the passage he quoted in the last verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express he by clarifying that it refers to God speaking the “law of Moses.” Alternate translation: [is God speaking]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

(Occurrence -1) δι’ ἡμᾶς

Here, our could refer to: (1) everyone who believes, including the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [for the sake of us who believe … for the sake of us who believe] (2) Paul, Barnabas, and others who proclaim the good news. Alternate translation: [for the sake of us who proclaim the gospel … for the sake of us who proclaim the gospel]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐγράφη

˱it˲_˓was˒_written

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on what is written rather than focusing on the person doing the “writing.” If you must state who does the action, you can express it so that: (1) the scripture author writes or speaks the words. Alternate translation: [Moses wrote it] (2) God speaks the words. Alternate translation: [God said it]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

that

Here, that could introduce: (1) the reason why it was written. Alternate translation: [because] (2) a summary of the content of what was written. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: [and it means that]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ ἀροτριῶν & ὁ ἀλοῶν

the_‹one› plowing & the_‹one› threshing

Paul is speaking of these people in general, not of one particular person plowing or threshing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form with a form that refers to people in general. Alternate translation: [anyone who plows … anyone who threshes]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι & ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν

in hope & in hope ¬which ˓to_be˒_partaking

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind hope, you can express the idea by using an adverb such as “hopefully” or a verb such as “expect.” Alternate translation: [hopefully … hopefully expecting to share the harvest]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

in hope

Here Paul does not mention what the hope expects because he states it at the end of the verse: sharing the harvest. If it would be helpful in your language, you could explicitly state that sharing the harvest is what the hope expects. Alternate translation: [in hope of sharing the harvest]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ὁ ἀλοῶν ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

the_‹one› the_‹one› threshing in hope

Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them explicitly in the previous clause (ought to plow). If your language does need these words, you could supply them from that clause. Alternate translation: [the one who threshes ought to thresh in hope]

Parallel 1 COR 9:10