2 Corinthians 11:21

2 Corinthians 11:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
• English Standard Version (ESV)To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
• New King James Version (NKJV)To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.

Context of 2 Corinthians 11:21

19You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

2 Corinthians 11:21 word by word

κατὰ ἀτιμίαν λέγω, ὡς ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠσθενήκαμεν· ἐν ᾧ δ᾽ ἄν τις τολμᾷ, ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ λέγω, τολμῶ κἀγώ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• as concerningκατάkata · according toG2596
• reproachἀτιμίαatimia · dishonourG819
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• thoughὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• had been weakἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
• Howbeitδέde · thenG1161
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• whereinsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• is boldτολμάωtolmaō · be boldG5111
• foolishlyἀφροσύνηaphrosunē · foolishnessG877
• Iκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 11:21

• 2 Corinthians 10:1By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!
• 2 Corinthians 13:10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
• Philippians 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
• 2 Corinthians 11:17In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I speak as concerning reproach - Dr. Whitby thus paraphrases this verse: "That which I said of smiting you upon the face, I speak as concerning the reproach they cast upon you as profane and uncircumcised, whereas they all profess to be a holy nation; as though we had been weak - inferior to them in these things, not able to ascribe to ourselves those advantages as well as they. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold, and can justly value himself on these…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21I speak as concerning reproach - I speak of disgrace. That is, says Rosenmuller, “I speak of your disgrace, or, as others prefer it, of the disgrace of the false apostles.” Doddridge regards it as a question. “Do I speak this by way of dishonor, from an envious desire to derogate from my superiors so as to bring them down to my own level?” But to me it seems that Paul refers to what he had been admitting respecting himself - to what he had evinced in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring their followers into bondage…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21The Corinthian church welcomed the intruders, even when they took advantage of and insulted them. They viewed Paul's decision not to exploit them as a sign of weakness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. as concerning reproach--rather, "by way of dishonor (that is, self-disparagement) I say it." as though we ... weak--in not similarly (2Co 11:20) showing our power over you. "An ironical reminiscence of his own abstinence when among them from all these acts of self-exaltation at their expense" (as if such abstinence was weakness) [Alford]. The "we" is emphatically contrasted with the false teachers who so oppressively displayed their power. I speak so…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 11:21

• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Abase
• Above
• Corrupt
• Fear
• Jealous
• Peril
• Receive
• Save
• As
• Concerning

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 11

• 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