complete verse (1 Corinthians 7:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 7:38:

  • Uma: “So, the ones who get married [do] good, but the ones who don’t get married [do] even better.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “It is good if he causes his child to have a husband but it is much better if he does not cause her to have a husband.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It is good if he allows his daughter to marry, but it is also good if he does not have her get married.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore if he gives-his child -in-marriage, that’s a good-thing for him to do, but it is still better if he does not give-(her) -in-marriage.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, to marry or not are both good. But it would be much better if he didn’t marry her.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The one who gives his daughter in marriage does good. The one who does not give his daughter in marriage does even better.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:38

So introduces the conclusion of the previous argument.

The phrase does well may be expressed as “does a good thing.” Will do better can be rendered as “does a much better thing.”

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 .