2 Corinthians 10:17
in 2 Corinthians 10Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
KJV
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 10
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch · Written before 108.
Keep thyself pure as the habitation of God. Thou art the temple of Christ. Thou art the instrument of the Spirit. Thou knowest in what way I have brought thee up. Though I am the least of men, do thou seek to follow me, be thou an imitator of my conduct. I do not glory in the world, but in the Lord. I exhort Hero, my son; "but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord."
This site's exposition
Let him who boasts boast in the Lord
on 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
Paul closes the chapter with Jeremiah 9:24, already cited at 1 Corinthians 1:31: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. Verse 18 answers the self-commendation named at verse 12 and sets the rule for the boasting of the next chapter.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." This also, he saith, accrueth to us from God.
By saying this Paul intimates that even his assurance and pride are to be given to the Lord, because it is by his favor that he has them. Someone who has confidence in the power of the gospel has confidence in the God who enables …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord, he shows that he is not going beyond the measure as to that in which he glories, saying: if I glory in him in whom one should glory, I am not going beyond. …
For, in performing such deeds, we do not boast nor ascribe anything in them to ourselves, but all of this, and the very measure to which we have attained, we attribute to God. This is what they too should boast about.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If we are able to fix good rules for our conduct, or act by them, or have any good success in so doing, the praise and glory of all are owing unto God. Ministers in particular must be careful not to glory in their performances, but must give God the glory of their work, and the success thereof. Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But he that glorieth - He that boasts. Whatever may be the occasion of his boasting, whether in planting churches or in watering them; whether in his purposes, plans, toils, or success. Paul himself did not deem it improper on some occasions to boast 2Co 11:16; 2Co 12:5, but it was not of his own power, attainments, or righteousness. He was disposed to trace all to the Lord, and to regard him as the source of all blessing and all success.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
glorieth--Translate, to accord with 2Co 10:16, "boasteth." In contrast to his opponents' practice of boasting in another's line or sphere, Paul declares the only true boasting is in the Lord (1Co 1:31;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord - Instead of boasting or exulting even in your own success in preaching the Gospel, as none can be successful without the especial blessing of God, let God who gave the blessing have the glory. Even the genuine apostle, who has his commission immediately from God himself, takes no praise to himself from the prosperity of his work, but gives it all to God. How little cause then have your uncommissioned men to boast, to whom God has assigned no province, and who only boast in another man’s line of things made ready to their hand!
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | The [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καυχώμενος | kauchomenos | boasting | G2744 → | 37 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| καυχάσθω· | kauchastho | he should boast; | G2744 → | 37 times |
ὁThe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
καυχώμενοςboasting
kauchomenosG2744 →37 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ[the] Lord
kurioG2962 →711 times
καυχάσθω·he should boast;
kauchasthoG2744 →37 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
1 Corinthians 1:31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
it leads to
- Jeremiah 9:23–24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- Jeremiah 4:2
and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- Jeremiah 9:23–24
Through
Psalms 105:3Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
it leads to
- Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
- Galatians 6:14
But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
- Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
- 1 Corinthians 1:29
so that no one may boast in His presence.
- 1 Corinthians 1:31
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- Lamentations 3:25
Where this verse is studied
About 2 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 Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 22 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.