1 Corinthians 8:9
in 1 Corinthians 8Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
KJV
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 8
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThis he uses to frighten them. And he did not say: this knowledge of yours, but "this liberty," that is, self-will and pride, lest it become a stumbling block for the weak. What makes them more guilty is that they do not spare the weak, …
This site's exposition
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block
on 1 Corinthians 8:9-10
Freedom can become a stumbling block to the weak. Corinth's temples held dining rooms for meals in the god's honour. A weak brother who sees him eating there may be drawn back into an act his conscience still calls worship.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But as he goes on, he discloses all the harm which was likely to arise from the matter. For the present, however, that which befel the brethren is his subject. "For take heed," saith he, "lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak among the brethren." He did not say, "Your liberty is become a stumbling-block," nor did he positively affirm it that he might not make them more shameless; but how? "Take heed;" frightening them, and making them ashamed, and leading them to disavow any such conduct. And he said not, "This your knowledge," which would have sounded more like praise; nor "this your perfectness;" but, "your liberty;" a thing which seemed to savor more of rashness and obstinacy and arrogance. Neither said he, "To the brethren," but, "To those of the brethren who are weak;" enhancing his accusation from their not even sparing the weak, and those too their brethren. For let it be so that you correct them not, nor arouse them: yet why trip them up, and make them to stumble, when you ought to stretch out the hand? but for that you have no mind: well then, at least avoid casting them down. Since if one were wicked, he required punishment; if weak, healing: but now he is not only weak, but also a brother.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The apostle backs this caution with two considerations:-- 1. The danger that might accrue to weak brethren, even those weak brethren for whom Christ died. We must deny ourselves even what is lawful rather than occasion their stumbling, and endanger their souls (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
But take heed lest by any means,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But take heed - This is the reply of Paul to the argument of the Corinthians in 1Co 8:8. “Though all that you say should be admitted to be true, as it must be; though a man is neither morally better nor worse for partaking of meat or abstaining from it; yet the grand principle to be observed is, so to act as not to injure your brethren.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
this liberty of yours--the watchword for lax Corinthians. The very indifference of meats, which I concede, is the reason why ye should "take heed" not to tempt weak brethren to act against their conscience (which constitutes sin, Ro 14:22, 23).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But take heed - Lest by frequenting such feasts and eating things offered to idols, under the conviction that an idol is nothing, and that you may eat those things innocently, this liberty of yours should become a means of grievously offending a weak brother who has not your knowledge, or inducing one who respects you for your superior knowledge to partake of these things with the conscience, the persuasion and belief, that an idol is something, and to conclude, that as you partake of such things, so he may also, and with safety. He is not possessed of your superior information on this point, and he eats to the idol what you take as a common meal.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| βλέπετε | blepete | do be careful | G991 → | 132 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μή | me | lest | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| πως | pos | perhaps | G4458 → | |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐξουσία | exousia | right | G1849 → | 102 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| αὕτη | haute | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| πρόσκομμα | proskomma | an occasion of stumbling | G4348 → | |
| γένηται | genetai | may become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀσθενέσιν. | asthenesin | weak. | G772 → | 26 times |
βλέπετεdo be careful
blepeteG991 →132 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μήlest
meG3361 →1066 times
πωςperhaps
posG4458 →
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐξουσίαright
exousiaG1849 →102 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
αὕτηthis
hauteG3778 →1381 times
πρόσκομμαan occasion of stumbling
proskommaG4348 →
γένηταιmay become
genetaiG1096 →667 times
τοῖςto those
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἀσθενέσιν.weak.
asthenesinG772 →26 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 5:13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 15:1–2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:16
Through
1 Peter 2:16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 5:13
Through
2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
it leads to
- John 8:34
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
- John 8:34
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 20; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.