1 COR 9:5 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.)

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 Do we certainly not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

UST We certainly can travel around with a wife who believes in the Messiah. This is what the others whom the Messiah has sent to represent him do, including Peter and the Lord’s brothers.

9:5 Literally take along a sister—a wife—

9:5 That is, Peter

BLB Have we no authority to take about a believer as a wife, as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

AICNT Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

OEB Haven’t we a right to take a wife with us, if she is a Christian, as the other apostles and the Master’s brothers and Cephas all do?

WEBBE Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

WMBB Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the emissaries, and the brothers of the Lord, and Kefa?

NET Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

LSV Do we not have authority to lead about a sister—a wife—as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the LORD, and Cephas?

FBV Don't we have a right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the rest of the apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Peter?

TCNT Do we not have a right to take along a wife who is a sister in Christ, as do the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

T4T We have the same right that the other apostles and the Lord Jesus’ younger brothers and especially Peter have. They all take along a wife who is a believer when they travel various places in order to tell people about Christ. And they have a right that the people whom they work among will support their wives, too. So Barnabas and I certainly have those same rights. [RHQ]

LEB Do we not have the right to take along a sister as wife, like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

BBE Have we no right to take about with us a Christian wife, like the rest of the Apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Moff Have we no right to travel with a Christian wife, like the rest of the apostles, like the brothers of the Lord, like Cephas himself?

Wymth Have we not a right to take with us on our journeys a Christian sister as our wife, as the rest of the Apostles do—and the Lord's brothers and Peter?

ASV Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

DRA Have we not power to carry about a woman, a sister, as well as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

YLT have we not authority a sister — a wife — to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Drby have we not a right to take round a sister [as] wife, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

RV Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
(Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren/brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? )

SLT Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife; as also the rest of the sent, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Wbstr Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

KJB-1769 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
(Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren/brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? )

KJB-1611 Haue we not power to lead about a sister a [fn]wife aswel as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
(Have we not power to lead about a sister a wife aswel as other Apostles, and as the brethren/brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?)

9:5 Or, woman.

Bshps Haue we not power to leade about a sister a woman as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
(Have we not power to lead about a sister a woman as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren/brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?)

Gnva Or haue we not power to lead about a wife being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
(Or have we not power to lead about a wife being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren/brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? )

Cvdl Haue we not power also to leade aboute a sister to wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the LORDE, and Cephas?
(Have we not power also to lead about a sister to wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren/brothers of the LORD, and Cephas?)

TNT Ether have we not power to leade about a sister to wyfe as wel as other Apostles and as the brethren of the lorde and Cephas?
(Ether have we not power to lead about a sister to wife as well as other Apostles and as the brethren/brothers of the lord and Cephas? )

Wycl Whether we han not power to lede aboute a womman a sistir, as also othere apostlis, and britheren of the Lord, and Cefas?
(Whether we have not power to lead about a woman a sister, as also other apostles, and brethren/brothers of the Lord, and Cefas?)

Luth Haben wir nicht auch Macht, eine Schwester zum Weibe mit umherzuführen wie die andern Apostel und des HErr’s Brüder und Kephas?
(Have we/us not also power(n), a/one sister for_the woman with to_lead_around as/like the change apostles and the LORD’s brothers and Kephas?)

ClVg numquid non habemus potestatem mulierem sororem circumducendi sicut et ceteri Apostoli, et fratres Domini, et Cephas?
(is_it not/no we_have power woman sister circumducendi like and the_rest Apostles, and brothers Master, and Cephas? )

UGNT μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν, γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ Κηφᾶς?
(maʸ ouk eⱪomen exousian adelfaʸn, gunaika periagein, hōs kai hoi loipoi apostoloi, kai hoi adelfoi tou Kuriou, kai Kaʸfas?)

SBL-GNT μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ Κηφᾶς;
(maʸ ouk eⱪomen exousian adelfaʸn gunaika periagein, hōs kai hoi loipoi apostoloi kai hoi adelfoi tou kuriou kai Kaʸfas;)

RP-GNT Μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ Κηφᾶς;
(Maʸ ouk eⱪomen exousian adelfaʸn gunaika periagein, hōs kai hoi loipoi apostoloi, kai hoi adelfoi tou kuriou, kai Kaʸfas;)

TC-GNT Μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ Κηφᾶς;
(Maʸ ouk eⱪomen exousian adelfaʸn gunaika periagein, hōs kai hoi loipoi apostoloi, kai hoi adelfoi tou Kuriou, kai Kaʸfas; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (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 9:3–7

In this paragraph Paul discussed his right to receive food and drink from the people he served. He used three examples from everyday life to illustrate his argument.

9:5a-b

Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question as a statement. He expected them to respond, “Yes.” He stated that he and his fellow workers had the same right as the other apostles to travel with a wife.

Here are some ways to translate this statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Do we not have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter? (NCV)
Use a statement. For example:
We each have the right to marry one of the Lord’s followers and to take her along with us, just as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter do. (CEV)

Translate this statement in a way that is natural in your language.

9:5a

Have we no right to take along a believing wife,

We^(excl) surely have the right to have a believing wife accompany us on our journeys, don’t we?
And when we travel doing the Lord’s work, it is right that we can take along a Christian wife.

Have we no right to take along a believing wife…?: In this clause Paul said that he and the other apostles have the right to take a wife with them on their journeys. He implied that it was right for the churches to support this wife as well as the apostle. Consider how you translated the idea Have we no right in 9:4. It is good to translate it in the same way in this verse. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

it is right that we should be able to ask our believing wife to accompany us

May we not travel with a Christian wife (JBP)

we: The pronoun we is exclusive. Paul referred to himself and his fellow apostles, not to his readers.

a believing wife: Here is another way to translate this:

a Christian wife (NJB)

In your translation, make sure that you do not imply that an apostle brought his Christian wife from among his several other wives. In some languages it may be better to say

a believer who is his wife

9:5b

as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

That is what the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s own brothers and Peter have the right to do.
The other messengers of the Lord, including Peter and the Lord’s brothers, are able to do this.

as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas: There is no verb in the last part of this sentence. The BSB has supplied the verb do. This could mean either “do have this right” or “do take along with them.” It is best to translate this in a way that means “do have this right.” Paul was focused on his rights as an apostle. Some ways to translate this are:

like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas

This is what the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas have the right to do

the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas: These were not separate groups of people. The Lord’s brothers were probably included in the group of apostles, and Cephas certainly was. To avoid the wrong meaning that Cephas was not an apostle, it may be necessary to say:

the other apostles, including Cephas and the Lord’s brothers

the Lord’s brothers: These were the younger brothers of Jesus. In some languages it may be necessary to say:

the Lord’s younger brothers

Cephas: Cephas was the Aramaic name of Simon Peter. Some English versions say “Peter.” If you put Cephas in the text, you may wish to include this footnote:

FOOTNOTE: Cephas is another name for Simon Peter.

If you put “Peter” in the text, you may wish to include this footnote:

FOOTNOTE: The Greek text says “Cephas,” which is the name of Peter in Aramaic.

General Comment on 9:5a-b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 9:5a-b. For example:

The other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter take their Christian wives with them when they travel, and we^(excl) have this right too.9:5 See Ellington & Hatton, page 196.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν, γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ Κηφᾶς?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφήν γυναῖκα περιάγειν ὡς καί οἱ λοιποί ἀπόστολοι καί οἱ ἀδελφοί τοῦ Κυρίου καί Κηφᾶς)

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, you do.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong affirmation. Alternate translation: [We certainly do have the right to take along a believing wife, even as do the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἔχομεν

˱we˲_˓are˒_having

Here, we refers to Paul and Barnabas (See: [9:6](../09/06.md)). It does not include the Corinthians.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

μὴ οὐκ

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 misunderstand two negatives, 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: [surely not]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν

˱we˲_˓are˒_having right

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind right, you can express the idea by using a verbal phrase such as “are able to” or “can require.” Alternate translation: [Are we … able to]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

περιάγειν

˓to_be˒_taking_along

Here, to take along refers to journeying with someone as a companion. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express to take along with a word or phrase that refers to traveling with someone else. Alternate translation: [to travel with]

οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ Κηφᾶς

the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφήν γυναῖκα περιάγειν ὡς καί οἱ λοιποί ἀπόστολοι καί οἱ ἀδελφοί τοῦ Κυρίου καί Κηφᾶς)

Here, apostles could include: (1) Paul and Barnabas, the brothers of the Lord, Cephas, and many others who proclaimed the good news. Alternate translation: [the rest of the apostles, including the brothers of the Lord and Cephas] (2) just the “Twelve,” the primary apostles, which would include Cephas but not the brothers of the Lord. Alternate translation: [the rest of the twelve apostles and the brothers of the Lord—even Cephas]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ Κηφᾶς

Even though Cephas was one of the apostles, Paul mentions him separately to emphasize him as an example. He has already used Cephas as an example earlier in the letter (See: [1:12](../01/12.md); [3:22](../03/22.md)). Perhaps the Corinthians were comparing Cephas and Paul. Be sure that the wording of your translation does not suggest that Cephas was not an apostle. Alternate translation: [the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord—even Cephas]

Note 7 topic: translate-kinship

οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου

These were Jesus’ younger brothers. They were sons of Mary and Joseph. Since the Father of Jesus was God, and their father was Joseph, they were actually his half-brothers. That detail is not normally translated, but if your language has a specific word for “younger brother,” you can use it here. Alternate translation: [the younger brothers of the Lord] or [the half-brothers of the Lord]