Acts 15:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Instead, we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat that has been strangled, and blood.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς, τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων, καὶ τῆς πορνείας, καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ αἵματος.

Transliteration

But to episteilai to them, to apechesthai apo tōn alisgēmatōn tōn eidōlōn, and tēs porneias, and the pniktou, and the haimatos.

Grammar Details

• *alla*: conjunction - but/rather
• *episteilai*: aorist, infinitive, active - to write/send [a letter]
• *autois*: dative, masculine, plural - to them
• *tou apechesthai*: present, infinitive, middle, articular - the abstaining
• *apo*: preposition + genitive - from
• *tōn alisgēmatōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - the pollutions/defilements
• *tōn eidōlōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - of idols
• *tēs porneias*: genitive, feminine, singular - sexual immorality
• *tou pniktou*: genitive, neuter, singular - what is strangled
• *tou haimatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - the blood

Word Meanings

• *episteilai*: to write/send [a letter]/instruct
• *apechesthai*: to abstain/keep away/refrain
• *alisgēmatōn*: pollutions/defilements/contaminations
• *eidōlōn*: idols/images
• *porneias*: sexual immorality/fornication
• *pniktou*: what is strangled/strangled meat
• *haimatos*: blood

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But that we write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  but{G235} that we write{G1989} unto them,{G846} that they abstain{G567} from{G575} the pollutions{G234} of idols,{G1497} and{G2532} from fornication,{G4202} and{G2532} from what is strangled,{G4156} and{G2532} from blood.{G129}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G235} that we write{G1989}{(G5658)} unto them{G846}, that they abstain{G567}{(G5733)} from{G575} pollutions{G234} of idols{G1497}, and{G2532} from fornication{G4202}, and{G2532} from things strangled{G4156}, and{G2532} from blood{G129}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  but yt we write vnto them yt they abstayne them selves fro filthynes of ymages fro fornicacio from straglyd and fro bloude.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  but to wryte vnto them, that they absteyne them selues from fylthynesse of Idols, from whordome, and from strangled, and bloude.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But that we send vnto them, that they absteine themselues from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But that we write vnto them, that they absteyne themselues from fylthynesse of idols, and fro fornication, and from strangled, and from blood.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But that we give them orders to keep themselves from things offered to false gods, and from the evil desires of the body, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from blood.

• World English Bible (2000)

  but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.

Referenced Verses

• Lev 3:17 : 17 This is a permanent statute for your generations in all your dwelling places: You must not eat any fat or blood.
• Acts 15:29 : 29 that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
• Rev 2:14 : 14 But I have a few things against you: You have those there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites—to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
• Rev 2:20 : 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching, she misleads my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
• Gen 9:4 : 4 But you must not eat meat that still has its lifeblood in it.
• Deut 12:16 : 16 But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.
• Deut 15:23 : 23 However, you must not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.
• Ezek 4:14 : 14 Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God, I have never been defiled! From my youth until now, I have never eaten anything that died naturally or was torn by animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.'
• Lev 17:10-14 : 10 Any Israelite or foreigner living among them who eats any blood, I will set my face against that person and cut them off from their people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives, for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore, I have said to the Israelites: None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood. 13 Any Israelite or foreigner living among you who hunts and catches a wild animal or bird that may be eaten must drain its blood and cover it with earth. 14 For the life of every creature is in its blood, and I have told the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is in its blood. Anyone who eats it must be cut off.
• Acts 21:25 : 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.
• 1 Cor 6:9 : 9 Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who practice homosexuality,
• 1 Cor 6:18 : 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin a person commits is outside the body, but the one who sins sexually sins against their own body.
• Exod 34:15-16 : 15 Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat from their sacrifices. 16 And when you take some of their daughters as wives for your sons, their daughters will lead your sons to prostitute themselves to their gods.
• 1 Cor 7:2 : 2 But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
• 1 Cor 8:1 : 1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• 1 Cor 8:4-9 : 4 So then, concerning eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—just as there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'— 6 Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were made and through whom we live. 7 However, not everyone knows this. Some, being accustomed to idols until now, eat it as if it were truly food offered to an idol, and their weak conscience is defiled. 8 Food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But be careful that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won’t their weak conscience be emboldened to eat food sacrificed to idols? 11 So the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin in this way against your brothers and sisters and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
• 1 Cor 10:7-8 : 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.' 8 We must not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them fell.
• 1 Cor 10:14-28 : 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to wise people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or that food sacrificed to idols is anything? 20 No, but what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He is? 23 Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience. 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. 27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is placed before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.
• 2 Cor 12:21 : 21 I fear that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will grieve over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they have practiced.
• Gal 5:19 : 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery,
• Eph 5:3 : 3 But sexual immorality, all impurity, or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints.
• Col 3:5 : 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
• 1 Thess 4:3 : 3 For this is God’s will: your sanctification—that you abstain from sexual immorality.
• 1 Tim 4:4-5 : 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 It is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
• Heb 12:16 : 16 Make sure that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
• Heb 13:4 : 4 Marriage is to be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
• 1 Pet 4:3 : 3 For you have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
• 1 Cor 6:13 : 13 Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy both one and the other. The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
• 1 Cor 5:11 : 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler. With such a person, do not even eat.
• Rev 9:20 : 20 The rest of humanity, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
• Rev 10:2 : 2 He held a small scroll, opened, in his hand. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
• Rev 10:8 : 8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, 'Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and the land.'
• Num 25:2 : 2 The women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
• Lev 7:23-27 : 23 Speak to the Israelites and say: You must not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep, or goats. 24 The fat of an animal found dead and the fat of an animal torn by wild beasts may be used for any other purpose but must not be eaten. 25 Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which a food offering to the Lord is made must be cut off from their people. 26 And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. 27 Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from their people.
• Gen 35:2 : 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your clothes."
• Exod 20:3-5 : 3 You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
• Exod 20:23 : 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be alongside Me, nor shall you make gods of gold for yourselves.
• Ezek 20:30-31 : 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their detestable things?' 31 When you offer your gifts and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Shall I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.
• Ezek 33:25 : 25 Therefore, say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: You eat meat with the blood still in it, you look to your idols, and you shed blood. Should you then possess the land?'
• Dan 1:8 : 8 But Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself with the royal food or wine. So he requested permission from the chief official not to defile himself.
• 1 Sam 14:32 : 32 They pounced on the plunder and took sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate them, along with the blood.
• Ps 106:37-39 : 37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. 38 They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. 39 They defiled themselves by their actions and prostituted themselves by their deeds.
• Deut 12:23-25 : 23 But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. 24 You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. 25 Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
• Deut 14:21 : 21 You shall not eat anything that dies naturally. You may give it to the foreigner living in your towns so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people set apart for the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.