1 Corinthians 1:29

Amplified Bible

so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
God did this so that no one can stand before him and boast about anything.

Revised Standard Version
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
that no flesshe shulde reioyce in his presence.

Hebrew Names Version
that no flesh should boast before God.

International Standard Version
so that no human beingno flesh">[fn] may boast in God's presence.Romans 3:27; Ephesians 2:9;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
so that no human may boast before God.

New Century Version
God did this so that no one can brag in his presence.

Update Bible Version
that no flesh should glory before God.

Webster's Bible Translation
That no flesh should glory in his presence.

English Standard Version
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

World English Bible
that no flesh should boast before God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made by God unto us wisdom,

Weymouth's New Testament
to prevent any mortal man from boasting in the presence of God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that ech man haue not glorie in his siyt.

English Revised Version
that no flesh should glory before God.

Berean Standard Bible
so that no one may boast in His presence.

Contemporary English Version
God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him.

American Standard Version
that no flesh should glory before God.

Bible in Basic English
So that no flesh might have glory before God.

Complete Jewish Bible
so that no one should boast before God.

Darby Translation
so that no flesh should boast before God.

Etheridge Translation
that no flesh may boast before him.

Murdock Translation
so that no flesh might, glory before him.

King James Version (1611)
That no flesh should glory in his presence.

New Living Translation
As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

New Life Bible
In that way, no man can be proud as he stands before God.

New Revised Standard
so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That no flesh shoulde reioyce in his presence.

George Lamsa Translation
So that no man should boast in his presence.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So that no flesh should boast before God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That no flesh should glory in his sight.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That no fleshe shoulde reioyce in his presence.

Good News Translation
This means that no one can boast in God's presence.

Christian Standard Bible®
so that no one may boast in his presence.

King James Version
That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Lexham English Bible
so that all flesh may not boast before God.

Literal Translation
so that no flesh might glory in His presence.

Young's Literal Translation
that no flesh may glory before Him;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that no flesh shulde reioyse in his presence.

Mace New Testament (1729)
that no man might glory before God;

New English Translation
so that no one can boast in his presence.

New King James Version
that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Simplified Cowboy Version
He did all this to humble every single one of us. Ain't none of us can stand before him and brag about who we are.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that no man may boast before God.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that no flesh may boast before God.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be made ineffective [deprived of its saving power]. ¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God's grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written and forever remains written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE [the philosophy of the philosophers], AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER [who do not know Me] I WILL NULLIFY." ²⁰Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world's wisdom? ²¹For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. ²²For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, ²³but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], ²⁴but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵[This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort]. ²⁶Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Corinthians 1:31, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 5:6, Psalms 49:6, Isaiah 10:15, Jeremiah 9:23, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:27, Romans 4:2, Romans 15:17, Ephesians 2:9

Reciprocal: Judges 7:2 - Israel 2 Chronicles 25:19 - to boast Psalms 44:8 - In God Psalms 105:3 - Glory Isaiah 2:11 - and the Lord Zechariah 4:10 - despised Matthew 19:27 - what Luke 18:12 - fast 2 Corinthians 10:17 - General Galatians 6:14 - that I Philippians 3:3 - rejoice Colossians 3:11 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let there be light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be useful for signs (tokens) [of God's provident care], and for marking seasons, days, and years;

Genesis 1:15
and let them be useful as lights in the expanse of the heavens to provide light on the earth"; and it was so, [just as He commanded].

Genesis 1:16
God made the two great lights—the greater light (the sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night; He made the [galaxies of] stars also [that is, all the amazing wonders in the heavens].

Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals of the earth according to their kinds"; and it was so [because He had spoken them into creation].

Genesis 1:25
So God made the wild animals of the earth according to their kind, and the cattle according to their kind, and everything that creeps and crawls on the earth according to its kind; and God saw that it was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it.

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth."

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Genesis 2:16
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden;

Genesis 9:3
"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; I give you everything, as I gave you the green plants and vegetables.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That no flesh should glory in his presence. That is, "in the presence of God", as some copies, and the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read; not in their blood, birth, families, lineage, and natural descent; nor in their might, power, and dominion; nor in their riches, wealth, and substance; nor in their wisdom, learning, and parts: for however these may be gloried in before men, yet not before God. These are of no account with him, nor will they be regarded by him, or men on account of them; and he has taken a method in choosing and calling the reverse of these, to stain the glory of all flesh, that no man may attribute his salvation to any thing of the creature, but wholly to the sovereign grace and good pleasure of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That no flesh - That no person; no class of people. The word “flesh” is often thus used to denote human beings. Matthew 24:22; Luke 3:6; John 17:2; Acts 2:17; 1 Peter 1:24; etc.

Should glory - Should boast; Romans 3:27.

In his presence - Before him. That man should really have nothing of which to boast; but that the whole scheme should be adapted to humble and subdue him. On these verses we may observe:

(1) That it is to be expected that the great mass of Christian converts will be found among those who are of humble life - and it may be observed also, that true virtue and excellence; sincerity and amiableness; honesty and sincerity, are usually found there also.

(2) That while the mass of Christians are found there, there are also those of noble birth, and rank, and wealth, who become Christians. The aggregate of those who from elevated ranks and distinguished talents have become Christians, has not been small. It is sufficient to refer to such names as Pascal, and Bacon, and Boyle, and Newton, and Locke, and Hale, and Wilberforce, to show that religion can command the homage of the most illustrious genius and rank.

(3) The reasons why those of rank and wealth do not become Christians, are many and obvious:

1. They are beset with special temptations.
1. They are usually satisfied with rank, and wealth, and do not feel their need of a hope of heaven.
2. They are surrounded with objects which flatter their vanity, which minister to their pride, and which throw them into the circle of alluring and tempting pleasures.
3. They are drawn away from the means of grace and the places of prayer, by fashion, by business, by temptation.
4. There is something about the pride of learning and philosophy, which usually makes those who possess it unwilling to sit at the feet of Christ; to acknowledge their dependence on any power; and to confess that they are poor, and needy, and blind, and naked before God.

(4) The gospel is designed to produce humility, and to place all people on a level in regard to salvation. There is no royal way to the favor of God. No monarch is saved because he is a monarch; no philosopher because he is a philosopher; no rich man because he is rich; no poor man because he is poor. All are placed on a level. All are to be saved in the same way. All are to become willing to give the entire glory to God. All are to acknowledge him as providing the plan, and as furnishing the grace that is needful for salvation. God’s design is to bring down the pride of man, and to produce everywhere a willingness to acknowledge him as the fountain of blessings and the God of all.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. That no flesh should glory — God does his mighty works in such a way as proves that though he may condescend to employ men as instruments, yet they have no part either in the contrivance or energy by which such works are performed.