1 Corinthians 12:16

1 Corinthians 12:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
• New International Version (NIV)And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:16

14For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and organs]. 15If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best balance of function].

1 Corinthians 12:16 word by word

καὶ ἐὰν εἴπῃ τὸ οὖς· ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ ὀφθαλμός, οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ σώματος, οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the earὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the earοὖςous · earG3775
• shall sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the eyeὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• itοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• thereforeπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:16

• Romans 12:3For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].
• Philippians 2:3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:16

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-26Verses 12-26 Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-21These verses shift from the image of a physical body to the image of the church as a spiritual body. Every part of the body is important and essential for it to work well. Believers should not brag about their spiritual roles or think less of them compared to others. God, who created the body, has placed each part exactly where he wants it (12:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-311Co 12:1-31. The Use and the Abuse of Spiritual Gifts, Especially Prophesying and Tongues. This is the second subject for correction in the Corinthian assemblies: the "first" was discussed (1Co 11:18-34). 1. spiritual gifts--the signs of the Spirit's continued efficacious presence in the Church, which is Christ's body, the complement of His incarnation, as the body is the complement of the head. By the love which pervades the whole, the gifts of the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:16

• Church

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Bond
• Covet
• Temper
• Tongues, Gift of
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Gift

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings