New King James Version
2 Corinthians 12:7
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
- New International Version (NIV)or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
- New Living Translation (NLT)even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:7
5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:7 word by word
καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων.¶ Διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος σατανᾶ ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- I should be exalted above measureὑπεραίρωhuperairomai · be haughtyG5229
- through the abundanceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- through the abundanceὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
- of the revelationsἀποκάλυψιςapokalupsis · revelationG602
- there was givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- to meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- a thornσκόλοψskolops · thornG4647
- in the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- the messengerἄγγελοςaggelos · angel: messengerG32
- of SatanΣατάνSatan · SatanG4566
- buffetκολαφίζωkolaphizō · to beatG2852
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:7
- 2 Corinthians 10:5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
- 2 Corinthians 11:20For 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.
- Deuteronomy 8:14when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
- Deuteronomy 17:20that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 26:16But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- 2 Chronicles 32:25But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.
- Daniel 5:20But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
- 1 Timothy 3:6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
- 2 Corinthians 12:1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
- Genesis 32:25Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
- Judges 2:3Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ”
- Ezekiel 28:24“And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”
- Galatians 4:13You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
- Job 2:7So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
- Luke 13:16So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
- 1 Corinthians 5:5deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7And lest I should be exalted - There were three evils to be guarded against: The contempt of his gifts and call by his enemies. The overweening fondness of his friends. And, Self-exultation. A thorn in the flesh - The word signifies a stake, and , to be tied to a stake by way of punishment; and it is used, says Schoettgen, to signify the most oppressive afflictions. Whatever it was, it was ͅ , in the flesh, i.e. of an outward kind. It was neither sin nor…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And lest I should be exalted - Lest I should be spiritually proud; lest I should become self-confident and vain, and suppose that I was a special favorite of Heaven. If Paul was in danger of spiritual pride, who is not? If it was necessary for God to adopt some special measures to keep him humble, we are not to be surprised that the same thing should occur in other cases. There is abundant reason to believe that Paul was naturally a proud man. He was by…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had. We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, whether some great trouble, or some great temptation. But God often brings this good out of evil, that the reproaches of our enemies help to hide pride from us. If God loves us, he will keep us from being exalted above…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7Paul could talk about his experience (12:2–4), but it did not give him confidence in his ministry. He never uses mystical experiences to prove his apostolic authority. His life and message must be the proof. Instead, he talks about his weaknesses (11:23–33).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. exalted above measure--Greek, "overmuch uplifted." How dangerous must self-exaltation be, when even the apostle required so much restraint! [Bengel]. abundance--Greek, "the excess"; exceeding greatness. given ... me--namely, by God (Job 5:6; Php 1:29). thorn in the flesh--(Nu 33:55; Eze 28:24). Alford thinks it to be the same bodily affliction as in Ga 4:13, 14. It certainly was something personal, affecting him individually, and not as an apostle…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries