1 Corinthians 9:8

King James Version

Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
These aren't just my own thoughts. God's law says the same thing.

Revised Standard Version
Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Saye I these thinges after the manner of men? Or sayth not the lawe the same also?

Hebrew Names Version
Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing?

International Standard Version
I am not saying this on human authority, am I? The law says the same thing, doesn't it?

New American Standard Bible
I am not just asserting these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does the Law not say these things as well?

New Century Version
I do not say this by human authority; God's law also says the same thing.

Update Bible Version
Do I speak these things after the manner of men or doesn't the law also say the same?

Webster's Bible Translation
Do I say these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

English Standard Version
Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?

World English Bible
Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Do I speak these things as a man? Doth not the law also speak the same?

Weymouth's New Testament
Am I making use of merely worldly illustrations? Does not the Law speak in the same tone?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whether aftir man Y sey these thingis? whether also the lawe seith not these thingis?

English Revised Version
Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

Berean Standard Bible
Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn't the Law say the same thing?

Contemporary English Version
I am not saying this on my own authority. The Law of Moses tells us not to muzzle an ox when it is grinding grain. But was God concerned only about an ox?

Amplified Bible
Do I say these things only from a man's perspective? Does the Law not endorse the same principles?

American Standard Version
Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

Bible in Basic English
Am I talking as a man? does not the law say the same?

Complete Jewish Bible
What I am saying is not based merely on human authority, because the Torah says the same thing —

Darby Translation
Do I speak these things as a man, or does not the law also say these things?

Etheridge Translation
Do I as a man speak these things ? Behold, the law also saith these things.

Murdock Translation
Is it as a man, I say these things? Behold, the law also saith them.

King James Version (1611)
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the Law the same also?

New Living Translation
Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?

New Life Bible
These things are not just what men think are right to do. God's Law speaks about this.

New Revised Standard
Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Say I these thinges according to man? saith not the Lawe the same also?

George Lamsa Translation
I say these things as a man. Behold the law says them also.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Is it, after the manner of men, that these things I am saying? Or doth not, even the law, the same things, say?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak I these things according to man? Or doth not the law also say; these things?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Say I these thinges after the maner of men? or saith not the law the same also?

Good News Translation
I don't have to limit myself to these everyday examples, because the Law says the same thing.

Christian Standard Bible®
Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing?

Lexham English Bible
I am not saying these things according to a human perspective. Or does the law not also say these things?

Literal Translation
Do I speak these things according to man, or does not the Law say these things also?

Young's Literal Translation
According to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Saye I these thinges after the maner of men? Sayeth not the lawe the same also?

Mace New Testament (1729)
is this only the voice of reason? does not the law express the same too?

THE MESSAGE
I'm not just sounding off because I'm irritated. This is all written in the scriptural law. Moses wrote, "Don't muzzle an ox to keep it from eating the grain when it's threshing." Do you think Moses' primary concern was the care of farm animals? Don't you think his concern extends to us? Of course. Farmers plow and thresh expecting something when the crop comes in. So if we have planted spiritual seed among you, is it out of line to expect a meal or two from you? Others demand plenty from you in these ways. Don't we who have never demanded deserve even more? But we're not going to start demanding now what we've always had a perfect right to. Our decision all along has been to put up with anything rather than to get in the way or detract from the Message of Christ. All I'm concerned with right now is that you not use our decision to take advantage of others, depriving them of what is rightly theirs. You know, don't you, that it's always been taken for granted that those who work in the Temple live off the proceeds of the Temple, and that those who offer sacrifices at the altar eat their meals from what has been sacrificed? Along the same lines, the Master directed that those who spread the Message be supported by those who believe the Message. Still, I want it made clear that I've never gotten anything out of this for myself, and that I'm not writing now to get something. I'd rather die than give anyone ammunition to discredit me or impugn my motives. If I proclaim the Message, it's not to get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I don't! If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don't even have to pay my expenses! Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

New English Translation
Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well?

New King James Version
Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

Simplified Cowboy Version
I'm not saying these things because it fits my agenda. God's code says the same thing.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?

Legacy Standard Bible
Am I speaking these things according to human judgment? Or does not the Law also say these things?

Contextual Overview

³ Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, ⁴ Have we not power to eat and to drink? ⁵ Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶ Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? ⁷ Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ⁸ Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? ¹⁰ Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? ¹² If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as: 1 Corinthians 7:40, Romans 6:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:8

or: 1 Corinthians 14:34, Isaiah 8:20, Romans 3:31

Reciprocal: Romans 3:5 - I speak Romans 7:1 - them that

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Say I these things as a man?.... After the manner of men, reasoning from things common among men, and obvious to everyone's observation:

or saith not the law the same also? As the subject the apostle is upon was capable of being illustrated and confirmed by instances common unto, and easy of observation among men; so it might be supported by divine authority; it was not only a clear point from the reason of things, but was certain by the law of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Say I these things as a man? - Do I speak this on my own authority, or without the sanction of God? Is not this, which appears to be so reasonable and equitable, also supported by the authority of God?

Or saith not the law the same also? - The Law of Moses, to which the “Jewish” part of the church at Corinth - which probably had mainly urged these objections - professed to bow with deference. Paul was accustomed, especially in arguing with the Jews, to derive his proofs from the Old Testament. In the previous verse he had shown that it was equitable that ministers of the gospel should be supported. In this and the following verses he shows that the same principle was recognized and acted on under the Jewish dispensation. He does not mean to say, by this example of the ox treading out the grain, that the law as given by Moses referred to the Christian ministry; but that the principle there was settled that the laborer should have a support, and that a suitable provision should not be withheld even from an ox; and if God so regarded the welfare of a brute when laboring, it was much more reasonable to suppose that he would require a suitable provision to be made for the ministers of religion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 9:8. Say I these things as a man? — Is this only human reasoning? or does not God say in effect the same things? Romans 6:19; Romans 6:19.