1 Corinthians 3:8

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. And each one will be rewarded for his own work.

Revised Standard Version
He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He that planteth and he that watreth are nether better then the other. Every man yet shall receave his rewarde accordynge to his laboure.

Hebrew Names Version
Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

International Standard Version
The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and each will receive a reward for his own work.Psalm 62:12; Romans 2:6; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Galatians 6:4-5; Revelation 2:23; 22:12;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

New Century Version
The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose, and each will be rewarded for his own work.

Update Bible Version
Now he that plants and he that waters are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor.

English Standard Version
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

World English Bible
Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every one shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.

Weymouth's New Testament
Now in aim and purpose the planter and the waterer are one; and yet each will receive his own special reward, answering to his own special work.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he that plauntith, and he that moistith, ben oon; and ech schal take his owne mede, aftir his trauel.

English Revised Version
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Berean Standard Bible
He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

Contemporary English Version
The one who plants is just as important as the one who waters. And each one will be paid for what they do.

Amplified Bible
He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

American Standard Version
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Bible in Basic English
Now the planter and the waterer are working for the same end: but they will have their separate rewards in the measure of their work.

Complete Jewish Bible
planter and waterer are the same. However, each will be rewarded according to his work.

Darby Translation
But the planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Etheridge Translation
But he who planteth and he who watereth are one, (and) each according to his labour his recompence receiveth.

Murdock Translation
And he that planted, and he that watered are on a par; each receiveth his reward, according to his labor.

King James Version (1611)
Now hee that planteth, and hee that watereth, are one: and euery man shal receiue his own reward according to his owne labour.

New Living Translation
The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

New Life Bible
The one who plants and the one who waters are alike. Each one will receive his own reward.

New Revised Standard
The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And he that planteth, and he that watreth, are one, and euery man shall receiue his wages, according to his labour.

George Lamsa Translation
Thus the planter and the waterer are equal: and each one shall receive his own wages according to his own labor.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Moreover, he that planteth and he that watereth, are one: - howbeit, each one, his own reward, shall receive, - according to his own labour.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that planteth, & he that watreth, are one, and euery man shal receaue his rewarde accordyng to his labour.

Good News Translation
There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done.

Christian Standard Bible®
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

King James Version
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Lexham English Bible
Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one, but each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Literal Translation
So he planting and he watering are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Young's Literal Translation
and he who is planting and he who is watering are one, and each his own reward shall receive, according to his own labour,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for him that planteth, and he that watreth, ye one is as the other: but yet shal euery one receaue his rewarde acordinge to his laboure.

Mace New Testament (1729)
he that planteth, and he that watereth, have the same design: and each shall receive his proper reward, in proportion to his own labour.

New English Translation
The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.

New King James Version
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Each will be rewarded for their work in the process. One cowboy ain't more important than the next.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Contextual Overview

⁵Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are God's house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won't be torn out; you'll survive—but just barely. You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple. Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool—that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God. ¹⁰ But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way? When one of you says, "I'm on Paul's side," and another says, "I'm for Apollos," aren't you being totally infantile? Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are God's house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won't be torn out; you'll survive—but just barely. You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple. Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool—that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he that planteth: 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 4:6, John 4:36-38

and every: 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 9:17, 1 Corinthians 9:18, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Psalms 62:12, Daniel 12:3, Matthew 5:11, Matthew 5:12, Matthew 10:41, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:6, Galatians 6:7, Galatians 6:8, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Peter 5:4, 2 John 1:8, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 22:12

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 15:7 - your work Psalms 18:20 - rewarded Luke 19:19 - Be 1 Corinthians 3:14 - General Galatians 6:5 - General Colossians 3:24 - ye shall

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"

Genesis 3:2
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"

Genesis 3:9
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"

Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."

Genesis 3:12
The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?"

Genesis 3:21
God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them.

Genesis 3:22
God said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!"

Deuteronomy 5:25
Moses Teaches Israel on the Plains of Moab Moses called all Israel together. He said to them, Attention, Israel. Listen obediently to the rules and regulations I am delivering to your listening ears today. Learn them. Live them. God , our God, made a covenant with us at Horeb. God didn't just make this covenant with our parents; he made it also with us, with all of us who are alive right now. God spoke to you personally out of the fire on the mountain. At the time I stood between God and you, to tell you what God said. You were afraid, remember, of the fire and wouldn't climb the mountain. He said: I am God , your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of slaves. No other gods, only me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God. I hold parents responsible for any sins they pass on to their children to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation. But I'm lovingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments. No using the name of God , your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverent use of his name. No working on the Sabbath; keep it holy just as God , your God, commanded you. Work six days, doing everything you have to do, but the seventh day is a Sabbath, a Rest Day—no work: not you, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maid, your ox, your donkey (or any of your animals), and not even the foreigner visiting your town. That way your servants and maids will get the same rest as you. Don't ever forget that you were slaves in Egypt and God , your God, got you out of there in a powerful show of strength. That's why God , your God, commands you to observe the day of Sabbath rest. Respect your father and mother— God , your God, commands it! You'll have a long life; the land that God is giving you will treat you well. No murder. No adultery. No stealing. No lies about your neighbor. No coveting your neighbor's wife. And no lusting for his house, field, servant, maid, ox, or donkey either—nothing that belongs to your neighbor! These are the words that God spoke to the whole congregation at the mountain. He spoke in a tremendous voice from the fire and cloud and dark mist. And that was it. No more words. Then he wrote them on two slabs of stone and gave them to me. As it turned out, when you heard the Voice out of that dark cloud and saw the mountain on fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your leaders, and said, "Our God has revealed to us his glory and greatness. We've heard him speak from the fire today! We've seen that God can speak to humans and they can still live. But why risk it further? This huge fire will devour us if we stay around any longer. If we hear God 's voice anymore, we'll die for sure. Has anyone ever known of anyone who has heard the Voice of God the way we have and lived to tell the story? "From now on, you go and listen to what God , our God, says and then tell us what God tells you. We'll listen and we'll do it." God heard what you said to me and told me, "I've heard what the people said to you. They're right—good and true words. What I wouldn't give if they'd always feel this way, continuing to revere me and always keep all my commands; they'd have a good life forever, they and their children! "Go ahead and tell them to go home to their tents. But you, you stay here with me so I can tell you every commandment and all the rules and regulations that you must teach them so they'll know how to live in the land that I'm giving them as their own." So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don't veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you'll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you're about to possess.

Job 38:1
And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:

Proverbs 15:3
God doesn't miss a thing— he's alert to good and evil alike.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now he that planteth, and he that watereth are one,.... Not in every respect so; they were different as men, they were not the same individual persons, nor in the same office; Paul was an apostle, Apollos only a preacher of the Gospel; nor had they the same measure of gifts, nor did they labour alike, or were of the same usefulness; but they had one and the same commission to preach the Gospel; and the Gospel they preached was the same; and so were their views, aims, and ends, which were the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls; and they had the same love and affection for one another; they were one in their work, judgment, and affection; and which carries in it a strong reason and argument why the members of this church should not contend and divide about them:

and every man shall receive his own reward; either from men, that double honour he is worthy of, maintenance and respect; or rather from God, not a reward of debt, for his labours are by no means meritorious of anything at the hands of God, from whom he has all the grace, strength, and abilities he labours with; but of grace, even the reward of the inheritance, because he serves the Lord Christ; which is by bequest, through the death of the testator, and common to all the children of God, and heirs of glory:

according to his own labour; and not another's; and not according to the success of it, but according to that itself; not that that is the measure of the reward, for the reward infinitely exceeds it; but is that to which God has graciously annexed the promise of the reward, as an encouragement to it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Are one - ἕν εἰσιν hen eisin. They are not the same person; but they are one in the following respects:

(1) They are united in reference to the same work. Though they are engaged in different things - for planting and watering are different kinds of work, yet it is one in regard to the end to be gained. The employments do not at all clash, but tend to the same end. It is not as if one planted, and the other was engaged in pulling up.

(2) Their work is one, because one is as necessary as the other. If the grain was not planted there would be no use in pouring water there; if not watered, there would be no use in planting. The work of one is as necessary, therefore, as the other; and the one should not undervalue the labors of the other.

(3) They are one in regard to God. They are both engaged in performing one work; God is performing another. There are not three parties or portions of the work, but two. They two perform one part of the work; God alone performs the other. Theirs would be useless without him; he would not ordinarily perform his without their performing their part. They could not do his part it they would - as they cannot make a plant grow; he could perform their part - as he could plant and water without the farmer; but it is not in accordance with his arrangements to do it.

And every man - The argument of the apostle here has reference only to ministers; but it is equally true of all people, that they shall receive their proper reward.

Shall receive - On the Day of Judgment, when God decides the destiny of men. The decisions of that Day will be simply determining what every moral agent ought to receive.

His own reward - His fit, or proper (τον ἴδιον ton idion) reward; that which pertains to him, or which shall be a proper expression of the character and value of his labor - The word “reward” μισθὸν misthon denotes properly that which is given by contract for service rendered; an equivalent in value for services or for kindness; see the note at Romans 4:4. In the Scriptures it denotes pay, wages, recompense given to day-laborers, to soldiers, etc. It is applied often, as here, to the retribution which God will make to people on the Day of Judgment; and is applied to the “favors” which he will then bestow on them, or to the “punishment” which he will inflict as the reward of their deeds. Instances of the former sense occur in Matthew 5:12; Matthew 6:0; Luke 6:23, Luke 6:35; Revelation 11:18; of the latter in 2Pe 2:13, 2 Peter 2:15 - In regard to the righteous, it does not imply merit, or that they deserve heaven; but it means that, God will render to them that which, according to the terms of his new covenant, he has promised, and which shall be a fit expression of his acceptance of their services. It is proper, according to these arrangements, that they should be blessed in heaven. It would not be proper that they should be cast down to hell - Their original and their sole title to eternal life is the grace of God through Jesus Christ: the “measure,” or “amount” of the favors bestowed on them there, shall be according to the services which they render on earth. A parent may resolve to divide his estate among his sons, and their title to any thing may be derived from his mere favor but he may determine that it shall be divided according to their expressions of attachment, and to their obedience to him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 3:8. He that planteth and he that watereth are one — Both Paul and Apollos have received the same doctrine, preach the same doctrine, and labour to promote the glory of God in the salvation of your souls. Why should you be divided with respect to Paul and Apollos, while these apostles are intimately ONE in spirit, design, and operation?

According to his own labour. — God does not reward his servants according to the success of their labour, because that depends on himself; but he rewards them according to the quantum of faithful labour which they bestow on his work. In this sense none can say, I have laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought.