1 Corinthians 3:8

1 Corinthians 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
• New International Version (NIV)The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:8

6I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 10Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

1 Corinthians 3:8 word by word

ὁ φυτεύων δὲ καὶ ὁ ποτίζων ἕν εἰσιν, ἕκαστος δὲ τὸν ἴδιον μισθὸν λήμψεται κατὰ τὸν ἴδιον κόπον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• plantethφυτεύωphuteuō · to plantG5452
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• waterethποτίζωpotizō · to waterG4222
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• every manἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
• shall receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• labourκόποςkopos · laborG2873

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:8

• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
• 1 Corinthians 4:6Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.
• John 4:36The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
• 1 Corinthians 4:5So 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.
• 1 Corinthians 9:17If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
• Psalms 62:12unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.
• Daniel 12:3Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
• Matthew 5:11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
• Matthew 10:41If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.
• Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
• Romans 2:6He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
• Galatians 6:7Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
• Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
• 1 Peter 5:4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
• 2 John 1:8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8He that planteth and he that watereth are one - Both Paul and Apollos have received the same doctrine, preach the same doctrine, and labor to promote the glory of God in the salvation of your souls. Why should you be divided with respect to Paul and Apollos, while these apostles are intimately One in spirit, design, and operation? According to his own labor - God does not reward his servants according to the success of their labor, because that depends on…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Are one - ̔́ ̓ hen eisinThey are not the same person; but they are one in the following respects: (1) They are united in reference to the same work. Though they are engaged in different things - for planting and watering are different kinds of work, yet it is one in regard to the end to be gained. The employments do not at all clash, but tend to the same end. It is not as if one planted, and the other was engaged in pulling up. (2) their work is one…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one, employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the same design heartily. Those who work hardest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-9It is wrong to proudly identify as a follower of a human teacher because God does the real work of redemption. He deserves the honor. They are servants: See 2 Corinthians 4:5.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. one--essentially in their aim they are one, engaged in one and the same ministry; therefore they ought not to be made by you the occasion of forming separate parties. and every man--rather "but every man." Though in their service or ministry, they are essentially "one," yet every minister is separately responsible in "his own" work, and "shall receive his own (emphatically repeated) reward, according to his own labor." The reward is something over and…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:8

• Irrigation
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian
• Power
• Responsibility
• Reward
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Plant
• Accord; According; Accordingly
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Papyrus
• Paul, the Apostle
• Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament
• Wisdom

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3

• 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
• 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