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Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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1 Corinthians 12:15

If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Scofield Reference Index - Churches;   Faith;   The Topic Concordance - Body;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Feet, the;   Selfishness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Gifts of the spirit;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Body;   Body of Christ;   Christians, Names of;   Church, the;   Worship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Holy Ghost;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Body;   Body of Christ;   Church;   Humanity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Brotherly Love;   Ephesians, Epistle to;   Inspiration;   Spiritual Gifts;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Character;   Dependence;   Feet;   Gifts;   Good;   Hand;   Unity (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Fruit;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Foot;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Member;   Redeemer;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
The foot might say, "I am not a hand, so I don't belong to the body." But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body.
Revised Standard Version
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yf the fote saye: I am not the honde therfore I am not of the body: is he therfore not of ye body:
Hebrew Names Version
If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body.
International Standard Version
If the foot says, "Since I'm not a hand, I'm not part of the body," that does not make it any less a part of the body, does it?
New American Standard Bible
If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
New Century Version
The foot might say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body." But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body.
Update Bible Version
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.
Webster's Bible Translation
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
English Standard Version
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
World English Bible
If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?
Weymouth's New Testament
Were the foot to say, "Because I am not a hand I am not a part of the body," that would not make it any the less a part of the body.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If the foot seith, For Y am not the hoond, Y am not of the bodi; not therfor it is not of the bodi.
English Revised Version
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.
Berean Standard Bible
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Contemporary English Version
Suppose a foot says, "I'm not a hand, and so I'm not part of the body." Wouldn't the foot still belong to the body?
American Standard Version
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.
Bible in Basic English
If the foot says, Because I am not the hand, I am not a part of the body; it is no less a part of the body.
Complete Jewish Bible
If the foot says, "I'm not a hand, so I'm not part of the body," that doesn't make it stop being part of the body.
Darby Translation
If the foot say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body?
Etheridge Translation
For if the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body itself, would it therefore not be of the body itself ?
Murdock Translation
For if the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it, on that account, not of the body?
King James Version (1611)
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body: is it therefore not of the body?
New Living Translation
If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
New Life Bible
If the foot should say, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that would not stop it from being a part of the body.
New Revised Standard
If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If the foote would say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?
George Lamsa Translation
For if the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not a part of the body; is it therefore not a member of the body?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Though the foot should say - Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, Is it, therefore, not, of the body?
Douay-Rheims Bible
If the foot should say: Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body: Is it therefore not of the Body?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If the foote woulde say, because I am not the hande, I am not of the body: is it therfore not of the body?
Good News Translation
If the foot were to say, "Because I am not a hand, I don't belong to the body," that would not keep it from being a part of the body.
Christian Standard Bible®
If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body.
King James Version
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Lexham English Bible
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," not because of this is it not a part of the body.
Literal Translation
If the foot says, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, on account of this, is it not of the body?
Young's Literal Translation
if the foot may say, `Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf the fote saye: I am not ye hande, therfore am I not a membre of the body,is he therfore not a membre of ye body?
Mace New Testament (1729)
if the foot should say, "because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body?
New English Translation
If the foot says, "Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body," it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.
New King James Version
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
Simplified Cowboy Version
Just because your foot can't swing a loop doesn't mean it's not part of your body.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
Legacy Standard Bible
If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.

Contextual Overview

12For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ. 13For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life]. 14For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and organs]. 15If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?16If the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best balance of function]. 19If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of] the body be? 20But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different limbs and organs], but a single body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Judges 9:8-15, 2 Kings 14:9

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];
Genesis 12:4
So Abram departed [in faithful obedience] as the LORD had directed him; and Lot [his nephew] left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Genesis 12:5
Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had acquired, and the people (servants) which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
Genesis 12:16
Therefore Pharaoh treated Abram well for her sake; he acquired sheep, oxen, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
Genesis 20:2
Abraham said [again] of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah [into his harem].
Genesis 40:2
Pharaoh (Sesostris II) was extremely angry with his two officials, the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers.
Genesis 41:1
Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile.
Exodus 2:5
Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, and [she, together with] her maidens walked along the river's bank; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid [to get it], and she brought it to her.
Exodus 2:15
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. Then Moses fled from Pharaoh's presence and took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.
1 Kings 3:1
Now Solomon became a son-in-law to Pharaoh king of Egypt [and formed an alliance] by taking Pharaoh's daughter [in marriage]. He brought her to the City of David [where she remained temporarily] until he had finished building his own house (palace) and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If the foot shall say,.... The lowest member of the body, which is nearest the earth, treads upon it, sustains the whole weight of the body, and performs the more drudging and fatiguing exercises of standing and walking; and may represent one that is in the lowest station in the church, a doorkeeper in the house of God; one that is really the least of saints, as well as thinks himself so; and has the smallest degree of heavenly affection, and knowledge of spiritual light and understanding;

because I am not the hand; the instrument of communication and of action; and may signify such an one, that liberally imparts to the necessities of others, who has it both in his hand and heart, and is ready to communicate; one that is full of good works, of charity towards men, and piety towards God; who does all things, Christ strengthening him, natural, civil, moral, and evangelical; yea, even miracles and mighty deeds are done by his hand:

I am not of the body; have no part in it, am no member of it, do not belong to it:

is it therefore not of the body? or "it is not therefore not of the body", as the Syriac version renders it; that is, it is not "for this word", as the Arabic, or so saying, as the Ethiopic, not of the body; it nevertheless belongs to it, and is a member of it, nor can it be otherwise: thus the meanest person in the mystical body, the church, though he should say, that because he is not so handy and useful as another, cannot give so largely, nor do so much as another, therefore he is no proper member of the church; it does not follow that so it is, for Christ, the head of the church, regards such as members; he admires the "beauty" of his church's "feet", and has provided for the covering, ornament, and security of them, being himself clothed with "a garment down to the feet", which equally covers and adorns that part of the body as the rest; he does not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, or despise the day of small things; he regards their prayers, and takes notice and accepts of their meanest services; and they are, and should be considered as members of the body, by the rest and by themselves, the mystical body, the church, though he should say, that because he is not so handy and useful as another, cannot give so largely, nor do so much as another, therefore he is no proper member of the church; it does not follow that so it is, for Christ, the head of the church, regards such as members; he admires the "beauty" of his church's "feet", and has provided for the covering, ornament, and security of them, being himself clothed with "a garment down to the feet", which equally covers and adorns that part of the body as the rest; he does not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, or despise the day of small things; he regards their prayers, and takes notice and accepts of their meanest services; and they are, and should be considered as members of the body, by the rest and by themselves.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If the foot shall say ... - The same figure and illustration which Paul here uses occurs also in pagan writers. It occurs in the apologue which was used by Menenius Agrippa, as related by Livy (lib. 2: cap. 32), in which he attempted to repress a rebellion which had been excited against the nobles and senators, as useless and cumbersome to the state. Menenius, in order to show the folly of this, represents the different members of the body as conspiring against the stomach, as being inactive, and as refusing to labor, and consuming everything. The consequence of the conspiracy which the feet, and hands, and mouth entered into, was a universal wasting away of the whole frame for lack of the nutriment which would have been supplied from the stomach. Thus, he argued it would be by the conspiracy against the nobles, as being inactive, and as consuming all things. The representation had the desired effect, and quelled the rebellion. The same figure is used also by Aesop. The idea here is, that as the foot and the ear could not pretend that they were not parts of the body, and even not important, because they were not the eye, etc.; that is, were not more honorable parts of the body; so no Christian, however humble his endowments, could pretend that he was useless because he was not more highly gifted and did not occupy a more elevated rank.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 12:15. If the foot shall say, c.] As all the members of the body are necessarily dependent on each other, and minister to the general support of the system, so is it in the Church. All the private members are intimately connected among themselves, and also with their pastors without which union no Church can subsist.


 
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