en_tn/1co/07/27.md

Are you bound … Do not seek … Are you free … Do not seek … you do … you have

Paul is speaking to the Corinthians as if he were speaking to each person, so all these instances of “you” and the command “do not seek” here are singular. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you)

Are you bound to a woman? Do not …

Paul uses this question to introduce a possible condition. The question can be translated with “if.” AT: If you are bound to a woman, do not” (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)

Are you bound to a woman

Here “bound to a woman” is a metaphor for being married to a woman, as if the husband and wife are tied to each other. AT: “Are you attached to a woman” or “Are you married to a woman” (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor).

Do not seek to be free of her

Here being free of a woman, or untied to a woman, is a metaphor for not being married to her. AT: “Do not seek to be separated from her” (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

Are you free of a wife? Do not …

Paul uses this question to introduce a possible condition. The question can be translated with “if.” AT: “If you are free of a wife, do not” (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)

Are you free of a wife

Paul addresses men who are not married. Here being free of a wife, or untied to a wife, is a metaphor for not being married. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

Do not seek a wife

“Do not try to get married”

committed

“done”

I would like to spare you from them

“I do not want you to have them”

translationWords

• rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/free
• rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin