Christian Standard Bible
2 Corinthians 12:7
7especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
2 Corinthians 12:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
- New International Version (NIV)or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:7
5I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. 6For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:7 word by word
καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων.¶ Διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος σατανᾶ ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- I should be exalted above measureὑπεραίρωhuperairomai · be haughtyG5229
- through the abundanceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- through the abundanceὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
- of the revelationsἀποκάλυψιςapokalupsis · revelationG602
- there was givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- to meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- a thornσκόλοψskolops · thornG4647
- in the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- the messengerἄγγελοςaggelos · angel: messengerG32
- of SatanΣατάνSatan · SatanG4566
- buffetκολαφίζωkolaphizō · to beatG2852
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:7
- 2 Corinthians 10:5and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 11:20In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face.
- Deuteronomy 8:14be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
- Deuteronomy 17:20Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue reigning many years in Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 26:16But when he became strong, he grew arrogant, and it led to his own destruction. He acted unfaithfully against the Lord his God by going into the Lord’s sanctuary to burn incense on the incense altar.
- 2 Chronicles 32:25However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem.
- Daniel 5:20But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him.
- 1 Timothy 3:6He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.
- 2 Corinthians 12:1Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
- Genesis 32:25When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip.
- Judges 2:3Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you.”
- Ezekiel 28:24“‘The house of Israel will no longer be hurt by prickly briers or painful thorns from all their neighbors who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.
- Galatians 4:13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh.
- Job 2:7So Satan left the Lord’s presence and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
- Luke 13:16Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years — shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”
- 1 Corinthians 5:5hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7And lest I should be exalted - There were three evils to be guarded against: The contempt of his gifts and call by his enemies. The overweening fondness of his friends. And, Self-exultation. A thorn in the flesh - The word signifies a stake, and , to be tied to a stake by way of punishment; and it is used, says Schoettgen, to signify the most oppressive afflictions. Whatever it was, it was ͅ , in the flesh, i.e. of an outward kind. It was neither sin nor…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And lest I should be exalted - Lest I should be spiritually proud; lest I should become self-confident and vain, and suppose that I was a special favorite of Heaven. If Paul was in danger of spiritual pride, who is not? If it was necessary for God to adopt some special measures to keep him humble, we are not to be surprised that the same thing should occur in other cases. There is abundant reason to believe that Paul was naturally a proud man. He was by…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had. We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, whether some great trouble, or some great temptation. But God often brings this good out of evil, that the reproaches of our enemies help to hide pride from us. If God loves us, he will keep us from being exalted above…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7Paul could talk about his experience (12:2–4), but it did not give him confidence in his ministry. He never uses mystical experiences to prove his apostolic authority. His life and message must be the proof. Instead, he talks about his weaknesses (11:23–33).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. exalted above measure--Greek, "overmuch uplifted." How dangerous must self-exaltation be, when even the apostle required so much restraint! [Bengel]. abundance--Greek, "the excess"; exceeding greatness. given ... me--namely, by God (Job 5:6; Php 1:29). thorn in the flesh--(Nu 33:55; Eze 28:24). Alford thinks it to be the same bodily affliction as in Ga 4:13, 14. It certainly was something personal, affecting him individually, and not as an apostle…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 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
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