complete verse (1 Corinthians 7:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 7:4:

  • Uma: “A woman may not say: ‘My body is my own.’ The one who commands/gives-orders-to her is her husband. So also a man may not say that his body is his own. The one who commands him is his wife.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because the woman is not the ruler of her own body but her husband. Likewise also the man is not the ruler of his own body but his wife.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because as for the woman, she is not the owner of her body, but her spouse is. And in the same way also, the man, he is not the owner of his body because his spouse is the one.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because the married woman, it is not she who is the owner of her body but rather her husband. And so also with the man, it is not he but rather his wife who is the owner of his body.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because, with a married couple, it’s not the woman who has jurisdiction over her own body, but rather her husband. Like that also with the man. He also does not have jurisdiction over his own body but rather his wife (does).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the woman, who is in the hand of her husband, she must do what he wants. in the same way the man is in the hand of his wife, he must do what she wants.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:4

This verse states the principle on which verse 3 is based. The wife and the husband are emphasized by being placed at the beginning of each half of the sentence in Greek. In the same way the husband (Good News Bible‘s “her husband”) and the wife (Good News Bible‘s “his wife”) are emphasized by appearing at the end of the verse.

Does not rule over translates the same verb as that in 6.12 (see the comments); the idea is that of using authority. Revised English Bible has “The wife cannot claim her body as her own; it is her husband’s. Equally, the husband cannot claim his body as his own; it is his wife’s.” Translators can also say “does not have the authority over” or “does not have the right over.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Corinthians 7:4

7:4a The wife does not have authority over her own body,

The wife does not own/control her body.
-or-
A married woman is not the boss over her own body.
-or-
A married woman cannot always do just what she wants to do.

7:4b but the husband.

Rather, her husband owns/controls it.
-or-
Instead her husband is also the boss over her body.
-or-
She must do what her husband wants.

7:4c Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body,

Likewise, the husband does not own/control his body.
-or-
Also, a married man is not the boss over his body.
-or-
Also, a married man cannot always do just what he wants to do.

7:4d but the wife.

Rather, his wife owns/controls it.
-or-
Instead, his wife is the boss over his body.
-or-
He must do what his wife wants to do.

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