1 Corinthians 9:24

1 Corinthians 9:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
• New International Version (NIV)Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:24

22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win over the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all means possible I might save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the Good News, so that I might be a fellow partaker of it. Don’t you know that in a stadium the runners all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win! 25Every competitor exercises self-control in all respects. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we do it to receive an imperishable one. 26So I run in this way—not aimlessly. So I box in this way—not beating the air.

1 Corinthians 9:24 word by word

Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν τρέχουσιν, εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον; οὕτως τρέχετε ἵνα καταλάβητε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Know yeεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• they whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• runτρέχωtrechō · to runG5143
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• a raceστάδιοςstadion · stadiumG4712
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• butδέde · thenG1161
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• receivethλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• the prizeβραβεῖονbrabeion · prizeG1017
• Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye may obtainκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:24

• Hosea 12:10“Yet I have been Adonai your God, since the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the moed.
• Psalms 19:5Their voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens He pitched a tent for the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I further observed under the sun: The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the mighty, nor does bread come to the wise, or wealth to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; for time and chance befall them all.
• Jeremiah 12:5“If you raced with those on foot and they wore you out, how can you compete with horses? If you are secure in a land of peace, how will you do in Jordan’s thickets?
• 1 Corinthians 9:26So I run in this way—not aimlessly. So I box in this way—not beating the air.
• Galatians 2:2Because of a revelation, I went up and presented to them the Good News that I proclaim among the Gentiles. But I did so privately to those who seemed to be influential, to make sure I would not run—or had not run—in vain.
• Galatians 5:7You were running a great race! Who blocked you from following the truth?
• Philippians 2:16holding fast to the word of life, so that I may boast in the day of Messiah that I did not run or labor in vain.
• Philippians 3:14I press on toward the goal for the reward of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.
• Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us,
• James 1:12Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love Him.
• Revelation 3:11I am coming soon—hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24They which run in a race run all - It is sufficiently evident that the apostle alludes to the athletic exercises in the games which were celebrated every fifth year on the isthmus, or narrow neck of land, which joins the Peloponnesus, or Morea, to the main land; and were thence termed the Isthmian games. The exercises were running, wrestling, boxing, throwing the discus or quoit, etc.; to the three first of these the apostle especially alludes. But one…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Know ye not … - In the remainder of this chapter, Paul illustrates the general sentiment on which he had been dwelling - the duty of practicing self-denial for the salvation of others - by a reference to the well known games which were celebrated near Corinth. Throughout the chapter, his object had been to show that in declining to receive a support for preaching, he had done it, not because he was conscious that he had no claim to it, but because by…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-27Verses 24-27 The apostle compares himself to the racers and combatants in the Isthmian games, well known by the Corinthians. But in the Christian race all may run so as to obtain. There is the greatest encouragement, therefore, to persevere with all our strength, in this course. Those who ran in these games were kept to a spare diet. They used themselves to hardships. They practised the exercises. And those who pursue the interests of their souls, must…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-27To show how seriously the Corinthians must take their salvation, Paul refers to the Isthmian games, a well-known athletic event held in Corinth every two years. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline: Athletes must have strict self-discipline to compete for a prize. In Paul's time, athletes trained rigorously for months before competing. Similarly, strict self-discipline (see Galatians 5:22–23) is needed to achieve the eternal…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. Know ye not--The Isthmian games, in which the foot race was a leading one, were of course well known, and a subject of patriotic pride to the Corinthians, who lived in the immediate neighborhood. These periodical games were to the Greeks rather a passion than a mere amusement: hence their suitableness as an image of Christian earnestness. in a race--Greek, "in a race course." all ... one--Although we knew that one alone could be saved, still it Would…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:24

• Games
• Prize
• Race
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Ephesus
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Burden
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Games
• Mystery

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