New King James Version
1 Corinthians 4:5
5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
Context of 1 Corinthians 4:5
3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Read all of 1 Corinthians 41 Corinthians 4:5 word by word
ὥστε μὴ πρὸ καιροῦ τι κρίνετε ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος, ὃς καὶ φωτίσει τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους καὶ φανερώσει τὰς βουλὰς τῶν καρδιῶν· καὶ τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Thereforeὥστεhōste · soG5620
- judgeκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
- ·τιςtis · oneG5100
- nothingμήmē · notG3361
- beforeπρόpro · beforeG4253
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- the timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
- untilἕωςheōs · untilG2193
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- bothκαίkai · andG2532
- will bring to lightφωτίζωphōtizō · to illuminateG5461
- the hidden thingsκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
- of darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
- will make manifestφανερόωphaneroō · to revealG5319
- the counselsβουλήboulē · planG1012
- of the heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
- thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- shallγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- every manἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- praiseἔπαινοςepainos · praiseG1868
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:5
- Matthew 7:1“Judge not, that you be not judged.
- Luke 6:37“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
- Romans 2:1Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
- Romans 14:4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
- James 4:11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
- 1 Corinthians 1:7so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- 1 Corinthians 11:26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
- 1 Corinthians 15:23But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
- Matthew 24:30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
- James 5:7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
- 2 Peter 3:4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
- Jude 1:14Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
- Revelation 1:7Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Judge nothing before the time - God, the righteous Judge, will determine every thing shortly: it is his province alone to search the heart, and bring to light the hidden things of darkness. If you be so pure and upright in your conduct, if what you have been doing in these divisions, etc., be right in his sight, then shall you have praise for the same; if otherwise, yourselves are most concerned. Some refer the praise to St. Paul and his companions: Then…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Therefore - Inview of the danger of being deceived in your judgment, and the impossibility of certainly knowing the failings of the heart. Judge nothing - Pass no decided opinion; see the note at Matthew 7:1. The apostle here takes occasion to inculcate on them an important lesson - one of the leading lessons of Christianity - not to pass a harsh opinion on the conduct of any man, since there are so many things that go to make up his character which we…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5judge nothing: Only the Lord can truly know a person's heart. When he returns, he will judge. Paul took God's judgment of his ministry very seriously (see 2 Corinthians 5:9–10; Philippians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20; compare 2 Corinthians 1:14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Disproving the judicial power claimed by the Romish priesthood in the confessional. Therefore--as the Lord is the sole Decider or Dijudicator. judge--not the same Greek word as in 1Co 4:3, 4, where the meaning is to approve of or decide on, the merits of one's case. Here all judgments in general are forbidden, which would, on our part, presumptuously forestall God's prerogative of final judgment. Lord--Jesus Christ, whose "ministers" we are (1Co 4:1)…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4
- 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries