1 Corinthians 12:23

1 Corinthians 12:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
• New International Version (NIV)and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
• English Standard Version (ESV)and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And 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,

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:23

21The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.

1 Corinthians 12:23 word by word

καὶ ἃ δοκοῦμεν ἀτιμότερα εἶναι τοῦ σώματος, τούτοις τιμὴν περισσοτέραν περιτίθεμεν, καὶ τὰ ἀσχήμονα ἡμῶν εὐσχημοσύνην περισσοτέραν ἔχει·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• of the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• we thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• less honourableἄτιμοςatimos · dishonoredG820
• upon theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• we bestowπεριτίθημιperitithēmi · to put onG4060
• more abundantπερισσόςperissos · excessiveG4053
• honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• uncomelyἀσχήμωνaschēmōn · indecentG809
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• comelinessεὐσχημοσύνηeuschēmosunē · proprietyG2157

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:23

• Genesis 3:7At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23We bestow more abundant honour - Margin, “Put on.” The words rendered “abundant honor” here, refer to clothing. We bestow upon them more attention and honor then we do on the face that is deemed comely, and that is not covered and adorned as the other parts of the body are. More abundant comeliness - We adorn and decorate the body with frivilous apparel. Those parts which decency requires us to conceal we not only cover, but we endeavor as far as we can…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. 2323. less honourable--"We think" the feet and the belly "less honorable," though not really so in the nature of things. bestow ... honour--putting shoes on (Margin) the feet, and clothes to cover the belly. uncomely parts--the secret parts: the poorest, though unclad in the rest of the body, cover these.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:23

• Church

In the dictionaries

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

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