1 Corinthians 3:7

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:7

5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 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 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
• Isaiah 40:17Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.
• Isaiah 41:29See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion.
• Daniel 4:35All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
• John 15:5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
• Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

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

• Apollos
• Minister, Christian
• Partnership
• Power
• Regeneration
• Works
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Apollos
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Humility
• Plant
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle
• Wisdom

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