1 Corinthians 12:22

1 Corinthians 12:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
• New International Version (NIV)On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
• English Standard Version (ESV)On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
• New Living Translation (NLT)In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:22

20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,

1 Corinthians 12:22 word by word

ἀλλὰ πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ δοκοῦντα μέλη τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενέστερα ὑπάρχειν ἀναγκαῖά ἐστιν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nayἀλλάalla · butG235
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• those membersμέλοςmelos · memberG3196
• of the bodyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• seemδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
• more feebleἀσθενήςasthenēs · weakG772
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• necessaryἀναγκαῖοςanagkaios · necessaryG316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:22

• Proverbs 14:28In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
• Ecclesiastes 5:9Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
• Ecclesiastes 9:14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.
• 2 Corinthians 1:11you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Those members - which seem to be more feeble - These, and the less honorable and uncomely, mentioned in the next verses, seem to mean the principal viscera, such as the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestinal canal. These, when compared with the arms and limbs, are comparatively weak; and some of them, considered in themselves, uncomely and less honorable; yet these are more essential to life than any of the others. A man may lose an eye by accident, and an…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Which seem to be more feeble - Weaker than the rest; which seem less able to bear fatigue and to encounter difficulties; which are more easily injured, and which become more easily affected with disease. It is possible that Paul may here refer to the brain, the lungs, the heart, etc., as more feeble in their structure, and more liable to disease than the hands and the feet, etc., and in reference to which disease is more dangerous and fatal. Are more…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. 22-26The weaker and less noticeable body parts are very important. They need special care and respect for the whole body to work well.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. more feeble--more susceptible of injury: for example, the brain, the belly, the eye. Their very feebleness, so far from doing away with the need for them, calls forth our greater care for their preservation, as being felt "necessary."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:22

• Church

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Bond
• Covet
• Temper
• Tongues, Gift of
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Gift

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