1 Corinthians 9:8

1 Corinthians 9:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
• New International Version (NIV)Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:8

6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 7What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

1 Corinthians 9:8 word by word

μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ; ἢ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα οὐ λέγει;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Say Iλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• asκατάkata · according toG2596
• a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• orἤē · orG2228
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• the lawὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:8

• 1 Corinthians 7:40But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.
• Romans 6:19Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:8Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
• 1 Corinthians 14:34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.
• Isaiah 8:20Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
• Romans 3:31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Say I these things as a man? - Is this only human reasoning? or does not God say in effect the same things? See note on Romans 6:19.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Say I these things as a man? - Do I speak this on my own authority, or without the sanction of God? Is not this, which appears to be so reasonable and equitable, also supported by the authority of God? Or saith not the law the same also? - The Law of Moses, to which the “Jewish” part of the church at Corinth - which probably had mainly urged these objections - professed to bow with deference. Paul was accustomed, especially in arguing with the Jews, to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10These examples support Paul's point that he and other Christian workers had the right to receive support from those they served.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. as a man--I speak thus not merely according to human judgment, but with the sanction of the divine law also.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:8

• Evil
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Law in the New Testament
• Manner; Manners
• Mystery
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9

• 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