2 Corinthians 9:4

2 Corinthians 9:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
• New International Version (NIV)For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.
• New King James Version (NKJV)lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:4

2for I know your eagerness [to promote this cause], and I have [proudly] boasted to the people of Macedonia about it, telling them that Achaia has been prepared since last year [for this contribution], and your enthusiasm has inspired the majority of them [to respond]. 3Still, I am sending the brothers [on to you], so that our pride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just as I told them you would be; otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident. 5That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you [before I come] and make arrangements in advance for this generous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as something extorted [or wrung out of you], but as a [voluntary and] generous gift. 6Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed].

2 Corinthians 9:4 word by word

μή πως ἐὰν ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους, καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ λέγω ὑμεῖς, ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Lest haplyμήπωςmēpōs mē pōs · so thatG3381
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• they of MacedoniaΜακεδώνMakedōn · MacedoniaG3110
• comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• withσύνsun · withG4862
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• youσύsu · youG4771
• unpreparedἀπαρασκεύαστοςaparaskeuastos · unpreparedG532
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notμήmē · notG3361
• should be ashamedκαταισχύνωkataischunō · to dishonorG2617
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• this sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• confidentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• confidentὑπόστασιςhupostasis · confidence/essenceG5287
• boastingκαύχησιςkauchēsis · prideG2746

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:4

• 2 Corinthians 9:2for I know your eagerness [to promote this cause], and I have [proudly] boasted to the people of Macedonia about it, telling them that Achaia has been prepared since last year [for this contribution], and your enthusiasm has inspired the majority of them [to respond].
• 2 Corinthians 8:1Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute];
• 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:17What I say in this confident boasting, I say not as the Lord would [with His authority], but foolishly.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Lest haply if they of Macedonia - If any of the Macedonians should happen to come with me, and should find that you had done nothing. He does not say that they would come with him, but it was by no means improbable that they would. It was customary for some of the members of the churches to travel with Paul from place to place, and the conversation was constant between Macedonia and Achaia. Paul had, therefore, every reason to suppose that some of the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5Two reasons encourage the spirit of love in giving: to follow the example of the Macedonians, who were generous despite their poverty (9:2); and to avoid embarrassing Paul or themselves, as he had praised the Corinthians' generosity to the Macedonians (9:3–5). To ensure the collection at Corinth is ready on time, Paul will send delegates (8:16–24) ahead to prepare the promised gift.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. if they of Macedonia--rather as Greek, "if Macedonians." unprepared--with your collection; see 2Co 9:2, "ready," Greek, "prepared." we, not to say ye--Ye would naturally feel more ashamed for yourselves, than we (who boasted of you) would for you. confident boasting--The oldest manuscripts read simply "confidence," namely, in your liberality.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 9:4

• Beneficence
• Emulation
• Liberality
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Macedonia
• Administration
• Boast
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Thanks
• Church
• Church Government
• Collection
• Confidence
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9

• 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
• 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