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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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 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

19For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 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. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

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 10:1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
• 2 Corinthians 13:10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
• Philippians 3:3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
• 2 Corinthians 11:17What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

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