God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 3:7
7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is important because ⌞only⌟ God makes it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- New International Version (NIV)So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Context of 1 Corinthians 3:7
5Who is Apollos? Who is Paul? They are servants who helped you come to faith. Each did what the Lord gave him to do. 6I planted, and Apollos watered, but God made it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is important because ⌞only⌟ God makes it grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and each will receive a reward for his own work. 9We are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field. You are God’s building.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 31 Corinthians 3:7 word by word
ὥστε οὔτε ὁ φυτεύων ἐστίν τι οὔτε ὁ ποτίζων, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ αὐξάνων θεός·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- So thenὥστεhōste · soG5620
- neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
- is heεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- that plantethφυτεύωphuteuō · to plantG5452
- any thingτιςtis · oneG5100
- he that waterethποτίζωpotizō · to waterG4222
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- that giveth the increaseαὐξάνωauxanō · to growG837
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:7
- 1 Corinthians 13:2I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing.
- Psalms 115:1Don’t give glory to us, O Lord. Don’t give glory to us. Instead, give glory to your name because of your mercy and faithfulness.
- Isaiah 40:17All the nations amount to nothing in his presence. He considers them less than nothing and worthless.
- Isaiah 41:29All of them are nothing. They can’t do anything. Their statues are nothing but air.”
- Daniel 4:35Everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to him. He does whatever he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth. There is no one who can oppose him or ask him, “What are you doing?”
- John 15:5“I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me.
- Galatians 6:3So if any one of you thinks you’re important when you’re really not, you’re only fooling yourself.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7So then, neither is he that planteth any thing - God alone should have all the glory, as the seed is his, the ground is his, the laborers are his, and the produce all comes from himself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Anything - This is to he taken comparatively. They are nothing in comparison with God! Their agency is of no importance compared with his: see the note at 1 Corinthians 1:28. It does not mean that their agency ought not to be performed; that it is not important, and indispensable in its place; but that the honor is due to God - Their agency is indispensable. God could make seed or a tree grow if they were not planted in the earth. But He does not do it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one, employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the same design heartily. Those who work hardest…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-9It is wrong to proudly identify as a follower of a human teacher because God does the real work of redemption. He deserves the honor. They are servants: See 2 Corinthians 4:5.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. neither is he that ... anything ... but God--namely, is all in all. "God" is emphatically last in the Greek, "He that giveth the increase (namely), God." Here follows a parenthesis, 1Co 3:8-21, where "Let no man glory in men" stands in antithetic contrast to "God" here.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3
- 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
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