1 Corinthians 9:8

1 Corinthians 9:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:8

6Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

1 Corinthians 9:8 word by word

μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ; ἢ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα οὐ λέγει;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Say Iλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• asκατάkata · according toG2596
• a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• orἤē · orG2228
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• the lawὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:8

• 1 Corinthians 7:40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
• Romans 6:19I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:8Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 14:34Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
• Isaiah 8:20Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
• Romans 3:31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Say I these things as a man? - Is this only human reasoning? or does not God say in effect the same things? See note on Romans 6:19.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Say I these things as a man? - Do I speak this on my own authority, or without the sanction of God? Is not this, which appears to be so reasonable and equitable, also supported by the authority of God? Or saith not the law the same also? - The Law of Moses, to which the “Jewish” part of the church at Corinth - which probably had mainly urged these objections - professed to bow with deference. Paul was accustomed, especially in arguing with the Jews, to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10These examples support Paul's point that he and other Christian workers had the right to receive support from those they served.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. as a man--I speak thus not merely according to human judgment, but with the sanction of the divine law also.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:8

• Evil
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Law in the New Testament
• Manner; Manners
• Mystery
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9

• 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