2 Corinthians 12:8

2 Corinthians 12:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
• New International Version (NIV)Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:8

6If I did want to praise myself, that would not make me a fool. No, because I would be saying true things. But I will not say good things about myself. I want everyone to think properly about me. People should look at how I live. They should think about what I say. That is enough for them to decide about me. 7Yes, God did show me many things that were very special. But he did not want me to be proud because of that. So he gave me a pain in my body, like a sharp thorn. Satan uses that pain to give me much trouble. It is like Satan's angel that he sends to hurt me. That certainly stops me from being proud of myself! I asked the Lord three times to take this pain away from me. 9But he said to me, ‘I will be kind to you and I will help you. That will be enough for you. When you are weak, I will show that I am completely powerful to help you.’ So I am happy to be proud about my weakness. Then I know that Christ's power will be with me. 10That is why I am happy even when I am weak. People may insult me. They may bring me trouble. They may want to hurt me. I may have many kinds of trouble. But I am still happy because I am serving Christ. Yes, whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:8 word by word

ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν κύριον παρεκάλεσα ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• this thingοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• I besoughtπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• thriceτρίςtris · three timesG5151
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• it might departἀφίστημιaphistēmi · to leaveG868
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:8

• Deuteronomy 3:23At that time, I asked the Lord many times,
• 1 Samuel 15:11‘I am sorry that I chose Saul to be king. He has turned away from me. He has not obeyed my commands.’ When Samuel heard that, he was very upset. He prayed aloud to the Lord all that night.
• 2 Samuel 12:16David asked the Lord to make his child well again. He lay on the floor of his house all night and he ate no food.
• Psalms 77:2When trouble came to me, I looked for the Lord to help me. All through the night, I lifted my hands to him while I prayed. But I did not feel peace in myself.
• Matthew 20:21‘What do you want me to do?’ Jesus asked her. She said, ‘One day, you will be king. Then I want my two sons to rule with you. One may sit at your right side and the other one at your left side. Please will you do this?’
• Matthew 26:39Jesus went a short way beyond them. He went down with his face on the ground. He prayed, ‘Father, if it is possible, please save me from this time of great pain. But Father, I do not ask you to do what I want. Do what you want to do.’
• Hebrews 5:7When Jesus Christ lived on earth as a man, he often prayed to God. He asked God to help him. He prayed strongly and he cried loudly with many tears. He knew that God could save him from death. And God listened to Jesus when he prayed, because Jesus served God.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8I besought the Lord - That is, Christ, as the next verse absolutely proves, and the Socinians themselves confess. And if Christ be an object of prayer in such a case as this, or indeed in any case, it is a sure proof of his divinity; for only an omniscient Being can be made an object of prayer. Thrice - Several suppose this to be a certain number for an uncertain; as if he had said, I often besought Christ to deliver me from this tormentor: or, which is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8For this thing - On account of this; in order that this calamity might be removed. I besought the Lord - The word “Lord” in the New Testament, when it stands without any other word in connection to limit its signification, commonly denotes the Lord Jesus Christ; see the note on Acts 1:24. The following verse here shows conclusively that it was the Lord Jesus to whom Paul addressed this prayer. The answer was that his grace was sufficient for him; and Paul…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. 7-10We do not know what Paul's thorn in the flesh was (see Numbers 33:55; Ezekiel 28:24; Hosea 2:6). We only know it was meant to keep him humble, to burst his pride. It was a messenger from Satan, meaning something or someone evil, so Paul asked the Lord to remove it. The Lord replied each time, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." Paul's weakness allowed Christ's power to work through him by God's grace. Paul accepted his suffering…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. For--"concerning this thing." thrice--To his first and second prayer no answer came. To his third the answer came, which satisfied his faith and led him to bow his will to God's will. So Paul's master, Jesus, thrice prayed on the Mount of Olives, in resignation to the Father's will. The thorn seems (from 2Co 12:9, and Greek, 2Co 12:7, "that he may buffet me") to have continued with Paul when he wrote, lest still he should be "overmuch lifted up." the…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:8

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Humility
• Jesus Continued
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Afflictions
• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Prayer
• Revelation
• Sufficient

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