God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 12:7
7especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited.
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’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses. 6If I ever wanted to brag, I wouldn’t be a fool. Instead, I would be telling the truth. But I’m going to spare you so that no one may think more of me than what he sees or hears about me, especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited. 8I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me. 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.
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 all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 11:20When someone makes you slaves, consumes your wealth, seizes your property, orders you around, or slaps your faces, you put up with it.
- Deuteronomy 8:14When this happens, be careful that you don’t become arrogant and forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 17:20Then he won’t think he’s better than the rest of his people, and he won’t disobey these commands in any way. So he and his sons will rule for a long time in Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 26:16But when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God. He went into the Lord’s temple to burn incense on the incense altar.
- 2 Chronicles 32:25But Hezekiah was conceited, so he didn’t repay the Lord for his kindness. The Lord became angry with him, with Judah, and with Jerusalem.
- Daniel 5:20But when he became so arrogant and conceited that he became overconfident, he was removed from the royal throne. His honor was taken away from him.
- 1 Timothy 3:6He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned.
- 2 Corinthians 12:1I must brag, although it doesn’t do any good. I’ll go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
- Genesis 32:25When the man saw that he could not win against Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that it was dislocated as they wrestled.
- Judges 2:3So I have this to say, ‘I will not force them out of your way. They will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.’ ”
- Ezekiel 28:24The nation of Israel will no longer be hurt by prickly thorns or sharp briars from everyone around them. Then they will know that I am the Almighty Lord.
- Galatians 4:13You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill.
- Job 2:7Satan left the Lord’s presence and struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
- Luke 13:16Now, here is a descendant of Abraham. Satan has kept her in this condition for 18 years. Isn’t it right to free her on the day of rest—a holy day?”
- 1 Corinthians 5:5hand such a person over to Satan to destroy his corrupt nature so that his spiritual nature may be saved on 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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