1 Corinthians 12:22
in 1 Corinthians 12On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary:
KJV
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 12
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThose 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.
This site's exposition
The eye cannot say to
on 1 Corinthians 12:21-24
The proud member follows the discontented one: the eye cannot say to the hand, I do not need you. Verse 22 turns the argument over, since the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.
This site's exposition
the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
Seem carries the weight of the sentence. A part of the body that looks weaker can be one the whole body cannot do without. Barnes applies the figure to humble members of the church whose gifts draw little notice and whose absence every part would feel.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
No matter how elevated a person may be, if he has no one under him, his rank is worthless. The greatest emperor still needs an army.
"Nay, much rather those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble are necessary: And those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness." In every clause adding the term "body," and thereby both consoling the one and checking the other. "For I affirm not this only," saith he, "that the greater have need of the less, but that they have also much need. Since if there be any thing weak in us, if any thing dishonorable, this is both necessary and enjoys greater honor." And he well said, "which seem," and, "which we think;" pointing out that the judgment arises not from the nature of the things, but from the opinion of the many. For nothing in us is dishonorable, seeing it is God's work. Thus what in us is esteemed less honorable than our genital members? Nevertheless, they enjoy greater honor. And the very poor, even if they have the rest of the body naked, cannot endure to exhibit those members naked. Yet surely this is not the condition of things dishonorable; but it was natural for them to be despised rather than the rest. For so in a house the servant who is dishonored, so far from enjoying greater attention, hath not even an equal share vouchsafed him. By the same rule likewise, if this member were dishonorable, instead of having greater privileges it ought not even to enjoy the same: whereas now it hath more honor for its portion: and this too the wisdom of God hath effected. For to some parts by their nature He hath given not to need it: but to others, not having granted it by their nature, He hath compelled us to yield it. Yet are they not therefore dishonorable. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Now he proves that the members considered lesser are both useful and necessary; for they only seem lesser, but are not so in reality. What then are these members that appear weaker and more dishonorable, yet are necessary? Some say these are the reproductive organs, …
Then when he says, on the contrary, he compares various members to one another in regard to their necessity, saying that the members of the body that seem weaker are more necessary, as the intestine. So, too, in the Church without the functions performed by …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Nay, much more those members of the body,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He tells us that the church is the body of Christ, and the members are variously gifted for the benefit of the whole body, and each particular member,
Every member serves some good purpose or other: it is useful to its fellow-members, and necessary to the good state of the whole body. Nor is there a member of the body of Christ but may and ought to be useful to his fellow-members, and at some times, and in some cases, is needful to them.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Which 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 necessary - The sense seems to be this. A man can live though the parts and members of his body which are more strong were removed; but not if those parts which are more feeble. A man can live if his arm or his leg be amputated; but not if his brain, his lungs or his heart be removed. So that, although these parts are more feeble, and more easily injured, they are really more necessary to life, and therefore more useful than the more vigorous portions of the frame. Perhaps the idea is - and it is a beautiful thought - that those members of the church which are most retiring and feeble apparently which are concealed from public view, unnoticed and unknown - the humble. the meek, the peaceful, and the prayerful - are often more necessary to the true welfare of the church than those who are eminent for their talent and learning. And it is so. The church can better spare many a man, even in the ministry, who is learned, and eloquent, and popular, than some obscure and humble Christian, that is to the church what the heart and the lungs are to the life. the one is strong. vigorous, active, like the hands or the feet, and the church often depends on them; the other is feeble, concealed, yet vital, like the heart or the lungs. […]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλὰ | alla | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| πολλῷ | pollo | much | G4183 → | 367 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | rather | G3123 → | 81 times |
| τὰ | ta | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δοκοῦντα | dokounta | seeming | G1380 → | 62 times |
| μέλη | mele | members | G3196 → | 34 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σώματος | somatos | body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| ἀσθενέστερα | asthenestera | weaker | G772 → | 26 times |
| ὑπάρχειν | huparchein | to be | G5225 → | 60 times |
| ἀναγκαῖά | anagkaia | indispensable | G316 → | |
| ἐστιν, | estin | are, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
ἀλλὰBut
allaG235 →635 times
πολλῷmuch
polloG4183 →367 times
μᾶλλονrather
mallonG3123 →81 times
τὰthose
taG3588 →19766 times
δοκοῦνταseeming
dokountaG1380 →62 times
μέληmembers
meleG3196 →34 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
σώματοςbody
somatosG4983 →142 times
ἀσθενέστεραweaker
asthenesteraG772 →26 times
ὑπάρχεινto be
huparcheinG5225 →60 times
ἀναγκαῖάindispensable
anagkaiaG316 →
ἐστιν,are,
estinG1510 →2333 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
2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:19
because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
- 2 Corinthians 4:15
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
- Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
- Philippians 1:19
Through
Proverbs 14:28A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 4:20–21
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.
- 1 Kings 4:20–21
Through
Ecclesiastes 5:9The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
it leads to
- Psalms 115:16
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.
- 1 Kings 4:7–23
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year,
- Psalms 115:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 31; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.