The Hebrew and Greek that is rendered in English as “conscience” is translated into Aari as “our thoughts speak to us,” in Nuer it is “the knowledge of their heart” (source: Jan Sterk), in Cheke Holo “to know what is straight and what is wrong” (source: Carl Gross), in Chokwe “law of the heart” (source D.B. Long in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 135ff. ), in Toraja-Sa’danpenaa ma’pakilala or “the admonishing within” (source: H. van der Veen in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 21 ff. ), in Yatzachi Zapotec as “head-hearts,” in Tzeltal as “hearts” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), in Enlhet as “innermost,” in Northern Emberá as “thinking” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1975, p. 201ff. ), and in Elhomwe as “what reminds the heart” or “whole heart” (“since the idea of conscience is something that reminds the heart”) (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sell” in English is translated in Noongar as wort-bangal or “away-barter.” Note that “buy” is translated as bangal-barranga or “get-barter.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 10:25:
Uma: “Whatever is sold in the market, we can buy and eat. We don’t have to ask first whether it was offered to idols or not. We can eat it without uncertain hearts,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “You can eat any meat that is sold in the market. But do not ask if it had been given to the statues of idols so that you eat without hindrance,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “So it’s allowable for us to eat any meat which is sold in the market, but we must not ask if it has been offered as a sacrifice or whether it has not, so that we will not feel guilty if we eat it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Therefore you may eat-for-viand whatever meat they are selling in the market without asking whether it was offered to idols or not,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore, eat whatever you can buy at the meat vendors. Don’t bother your mind/inner-being or ask whether or not it was used in worshipping pretend gods.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the meat which people sell at the market, go ahead and eat it. Do not be afraid to eat meat which has been sacrificed to idols. Don’t ask questions about it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The context, especially verse 28 and 8.10 (see the comments), suggests that Paul is specially concerned with meat offered to idols, but the Greek word could refer more generally to a market in which fish and possibly other types of food were sold. Thus, although New International Version, Revised English Bible, Translator’s New Testament, and Jerusalem Bible have a similar translation to that of Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible, other common language translations have “markets.” New Jerusalem Bible has “butchers’ shops.” The definite article the before market is not in the Greek, but it is most natural to assume that Paul was referring to the food market at Corinth.
The verb for raising any question is the same as that translated “discerned” in 2.14 and “judges” in 2.15.
See the comments on 2.14, as the meaning in the present verse is rather different. Here the “examining” or “judging” is done by asking questions. Paul’s advice here contrasts with the Jewish practice of asking carefully whether food was kosher (ritually pure) or not.
Good News Bible‘s rendering “because of your conscience” is better English than on the ground of conscience. “Your” is implied, of course.
Conscience: this word may be rendered as “the mind (or, heart) that judges good and evil.” A troubled conscience may need a phrase such as “having two hearts” or “having a troubled heart.” Another possible model for translating this verse is “It is all right for you (or, You may) eat anything that they sell in the meat market. Eating such meat should not trouble your heart.”
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
It is acceptable for you (plur.) to ⌊buy and⌋ eat any meat which people sell in the meat market.
-or-
When there is meat for sale in the market, you may ⌊buy and⌋ eat it.
10:25b without raising questions of conscience,
You (plur.) do not need to ask where it came from, so that your heart doesn’t condemn you.
-or-
And it is not necessary to ask yourself whether it is right or wrong ⌊for a believer to buy it and eat it⌋.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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