1 Corinthians 1:29

Easy-to-Read Version

God did this so that no one can stand before him and boast about anything.

Parallel Translations

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Legacy Standard Bible
so that no flesh may boast 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.

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

Darby Translation
so that no flesh should boast before God.

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

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

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

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

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

American Standard Version
that no flesh should glory before God.

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

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]

Etheridge Translation
that no flesh may boast before him.

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

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

English Revised Version
that no flesh should glory before 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.

Update Bible Version
that no flesh should glory before God.

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

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

New King James Version
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.

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

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

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.

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;

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.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ Christ did not give me the work of baptizing people. He gave me the work of telling the Good News. But he sent me to tell the Good News without using clever speech, which would take away the power that is in the cross of Christ. ¹⁸ The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will confuse the understanding of the intelligent." ²⁰ So what does this say about the philosopher, the law expert, or anyone in this world who is skilled in making clever arguments? God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish. ²¹ This is what God in his wisdom decided: Since the world did not find him through its own wisdom, he used the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe it. ²² The Jews ask for miraculous signs, and the Greeks want wisdom. ²³ But this is the message we tell everyone: Christ was killed on a cross. This message is a problem for Jews, and to other people it is nonsense. ²⁴ But Christ is God's power and wisdom to the people God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks. ²⁵ Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. Even the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. ²⁶ Brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his. Think about that! Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence, and not many of you came from important families.

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 lights in the sky. These lights will separate the days from the nights. They will be used for signs to show when special meetings begin and to show the days and years.

Genesis 1:15
They will be in the sky to shine light on the earth." And it happened.

Genesis 1:16
So God made the two large lights. He made the larger light to rule during the day and the smaller light to rule during the night. He also made the stars.

Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth produce many kinds of living things. Let there be many different kinds of animals. Let there be large animals and small crawling animals of every kind. And let all these animals produce more animals." And all these things happened.

Genesis 1:25
So God made every kind of animal. He made the wild animals, the tame animals, and all the small crawling things. And God saw that this was good.

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Now let's make humans who will be like us. They will rule over all the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. They will rule over all the large animals and all the little things that crawl on the earth."

Genesis 1:27
So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female.

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 2:16
The Lord God gave him this command: "You may eat from any tree in the garden.

Genesis 9:3
In the past, I gave you the green plants to eat. Now every animal will also be food for you. I give you everything on earth—it is yours.

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.