New English Translation
1 Corinthians 12:17
17If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell?
1 Corinthians 12:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
- New International Version (NIV)If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
- English Standard Version (ESV)If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
- New King James Version (NKJV)If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
Context of 1 Corinthians 12:17
15If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 16And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 18But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. 19If they were all the same member, where would the body be?
Read all of 1 Corinthians 121 Corinthians 12:17 word by word
εἰ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα ὀφθαλμός, ποῦ ἡ ἀκοή; εἰ ὅλον ἀκοή, ποῦ ἡ ὄσφρησις;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:17
- 1 Corinthians 12:21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.”
- 1 Samuel 9:9(Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.)
- Psalms 94:9Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see?
- Psalms 139:13Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
- Proverbs 20:12The ear that hears and the eye that sees – the Lord has made them both.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:17
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17If the whole body - The idea in this verse is, that all the parts of the body are useful in their proper place, and that it would be as absurd to require or expect that all the members of the church should have the same endowments, as it would be to attempt to make the body “all eye.” If all were the same; if all had the same endowments, important offices which are now secured by the other members would be unknown. All, therefore, are to be satisfied…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-26Verses 12-26 Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-21These verses shift from the image of a physical body to the image of the church as a spiritual body. Every part of the body is important and essential for it to work well. Believers should not brag about their spiritual roles or think less of them compared to others. God, who created the body, has placed each part exactly where he wants it (12:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Superior as the eye is, it would not do if it were the sole member to the exclusion of the rest.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 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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