1 Corinthians 1:27 BSB

1 Corinthians 1:27

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

KJV

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

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Commentary

2 voices

Tertullian

On Baptism (220)

Incredulity, on the other hand, wonders, but does not believe: for the simple acts it wonders at, as if they were vain; the grand results, as if they were impossible. And grant that it be just as you think sufficient to meet each point is the divine declaration which has fore-run: "The foolish things of the world hath God elected to confound its wisdom; " and, "The things very difficult with men are easy with God."

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

But God hath chosen - The fact of their being in the church at all was the result of his choice. It was owing entirely to his grace. The foolish things - The things esteemed foolish among people. The expression here refers to those who were destitute of learning, rank, wealth, and power, and who were esteemed as fools, and were despised by the rich and the great.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

24 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἀλλὰ	alla	But	G235 →
τὰ	ta	the	G3588 →
μωρὰ	mōra	foolish things	G3474 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
κόσμου	kosmou	world	G2889 →
ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	has chosen	G1586 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
θεὸς	theos	God	G2316 →
ἵνα	ina	that	G2443 →
καταισχύνῃ	kataischunē	He may shame	G2617 →
τοὺς	tous	the	G3588 →
σοφούς,	sophous	wise	G4680 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
τὰ	ta	the	G3588 →
ἀσθενῆ	asthenē	weak things	G772 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
κόσμου	kosmou	world	G2889 →
ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	chose	G1586 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
θεὸς	theos	God	G2316 →
ἵνα	ina	that	G2443 →
καταισχύνῃ	kataischunē	He may shame	G2617 →
τὰ	ta	the	G3588 →
ἰσχυρά,	ischura	strong,	G2478 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Psalms 8:2
From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
leads to
- Matthew 21:16
  “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Isaiah 40:31
  But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Psalms 46:10
  “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
Through
Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
leads to
- Jeremiah 1:9
  Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Ephesians 6:19
  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Through
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
leads to
- Matthew 5:3
  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 6:20
  Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.