KJV: But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
YLT: And if to live in the flesh is to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not;
Darby: but if to live in flesh is my lot, this is for me worth the while: and what I shall choose I cannot tell.
ASV: But if to live in the flesh, -- if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not.
| εἰ | If [I am] |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: εἰ Sense: if, whether. |
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| δὲ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| τὸ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| ζῆν | to live |
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Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ζάω Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead). |
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| σαρκί | flesh |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: σάρξ Sense: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts. |
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| τοῦτό | this |
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Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
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| μοι | for me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| καρπὸς | [is the] fruit |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: καρπός Sense: fruit. |
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| ἔργου | of labor |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: ἔργον Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied. |
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| αἱρήσομαι | shall I choose |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular Root: αἱρέομαι Sense: to take for oneself, to prefer, choose. |
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| γνωρίζω | I know |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: γνωρίζω Sense: to make known. |
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Greek Commentary for Philippians 1:22
There is no ει ei (if) here in the Greek, but τουτο touto (this) seems to be resumptive and to repeat the conditional clause just before. If so, και kai just after means then and introduces the conclusion of the condition. Otherwise τουτο touto introduces the conclusion and και kai means and. [source]
“I know not.” It seems odd to preserve the old English word “wot” here. But it is not clear that γνωριζω gnōrizō (old causative verb from γινωσκω ginōskō) means just to know. Elsewhere in the N.T., as in Luke 2:15; Romans 9:22, it means to make known, to declare. The papyri examples mean to make known. It makes perfectly good sense to take its usual meaning here, “I do not declare what I shall choose.” [source]
Rev., better, if to live: the living, as Phlippians 1:21. [source]
According to the A.V. these words form the offset of the conditional clause, and conclude the sentence: if I live - this is the fruit. It is better to make the two clauses parallel, thus: if living after the flesh, (if ) this is fruit of labor. The conditional suspended clause will then be closed by what I shall choose I do not declare. Fruit of labor, advantage accruing from apostolic work. Compare Romans 1:13. [source]
Καὶ rendered yet has the force of then. If living in the flesh be, etc., then what I shall choose, etc. Wot is obsolete for know. In classical Greek γνωρίζω means: 1, to make known point out; 2, to become acquainted with or discover; 3, to have acquaintance with. In the Septuagint the predominant meaning seems to be to make known. See Proverbs 22:19; Ezekiel 44:23; Daniel 2:6, Daniel 2:10; Daniel 5:7. The sense here is to declare or make known, as everywhere in the New Testament. Compare Luke 2:15; John 17:26; Acts 2:28; Colossians 4:7; 2 Peter 1:16, etc. If I am assured that my continuing to live is most fruitful for the Church, then I say nothing as to my personal preference. I do not declare my choice. It is not for me to express a choice. [source]