1 Corinthians 12:22

1 Corinthians 12:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
• New International Version (NIV)On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
• English Standard Version (ESV)On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
• New King James Version (NKJV)No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:22

20But now there are many parts, yet one body. 21The eye cannot tell the hand, “I don’t need you!” or in turn the head to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be less important are indispensable. 23Those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe with greater honor; and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty; 24but our presentable parts have no such need. Rather God assembled the body, giving more honor to those who are lacking,

1 Corinthians 12:22 word by word

ἀλλὰ πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ δοκοῦντα μέλη τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενέστερα ὑπάρχειν ἀναγκαῖά ἐστιν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nayἀλλάalla · butG235
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• those membersμέλοςmelos · memberG3196
• of the bodyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• seemδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
• more feebleἀσθενήςasthenēs · weakG772
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• necessaryἀναγκαῖοςanagkaios · necessaryG316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:22

• Proverbs 14:28A large population is a king’s glory, but lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one, because they get a good return for their effort.
• Ecclesiastes 5:9A lover of money never has enough money, and a lover of wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 9:14There was a little city with a few people in it and a mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built great siege works against it.
• 2 Corinthians 1:11You also are helping by your prayer for us, so that from many people thanks may be given on our behalf for the gracious gift given us through the help of many.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Those members - which seem to be more feeble - These, and the less honorable and uncomely, mentioned in the next verses, seem to mean the principal viscera, such as the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestinal canal. These, when compared with the arms and limbs, are comparatively weak; and some of them, considered in themselves, uncomely and less honorable; yet these are more essential to life than any of the others. A man may lose an eye by accident, and an…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Which seem to be more feeble - Weaker than the rest; which seem less able to bear fatigue and to encounter difficulties; which are more easily injured, and which become more easily affected with disease. It is possible that Paul may here refer to the brain, the lungs, the heart, etc., as more feeble in their structure, and more liable to disease than the hands and the feet, etc., and in reference to which disease is more dangerous and fatal. Are more…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. 2222. more feeble--more susceptible of injury: for example, the brain, the belly, the eye. Their very feebleness, so far from doing away with the need for them, calls forth our greater care for their preservation, as being felt "necessary."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:22

• Church

In the dictionaries

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

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