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Saturday, September 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

2 Corinthians 12:5

I will brag about a man like that, but I will not brag about myself, except about my weaknesses.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Humility;   Thompson Chain Reference - Selfishness-Unselfishness;   Unselfishness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecstasy;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Grace;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Behalf;   Infirmity;   Meekness;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.
King James Version (1611)
Of such a one will I glory, yet of my selfe I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
King James Version
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
English Standard Version
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—
New American Standard Bible
In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses.
Amplified Bible
On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
Legacy Standard Bible
On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in weaknesses.
Berean Standard Bible
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
Contemporary English Version
I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.
Complete Jewish Bible
About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
Darby Translation
Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.
Easy-to-Read Version
I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Of such a man will I reioyce: of my selfe will I not reioyce, except it bee of mine infirmities.
George Lamsa Translation
Of such a person, I will boast; but of myself, I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Good News Translation
So I will boast about this man—but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am.
Lexham English Bible
On behalf of such a person I will boast, but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Literal Translation
On behalf of such a one I will boast. But I will not boast on my behalf, except in my weaknesses.
American Standard Version
On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.
Bible in Basic English
On account of such a one I will have glory: for myself I will take no glory, but only in my feeble body.
Hebrew Names Version
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
International Standard Version
I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses.2 Corinthians 11:30;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Of this I boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
Murdock Translation
Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Of such a man wyll I glorie, yet of my selfe wyll I not glorie, but in myne infirmities.
English Revised Version
On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.
World English Bible
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Of such an one I will glory; but I will not glory of myself, unless in my infirmities.
Weymouth's New Testament
Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For such maner thingis Y schal glorie; but for me no thing, no but in myn infirmytees.
Update Bible Version
On behalf of such a one I will glory: but on my own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.
Webster's Bible Translation
Of such one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities.
New English Translation
On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
New King James Version
Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
New Living Translation
That experience is worth boasting about, but I'm not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
New Life Bible
I will be proud about this man, but I will not be proud about myself except to say things which show how weak I am.
New Revised Standard
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; -
Douay-Rheims Bible
For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities.
Revised Standard Version
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Of this man will I reioyce of my silfe will I not reioyce except it be of myne infirmities.
Young's Literal Translation
Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Here of will I boast, but of my selfe wil I make no boast, excepte it be of myne infirmyties.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I wish I could brag about the things I heard and saw, but I'm not going to. I'm only going to brag about my weaknesses.

Contextual Overview

1 I must continue to brag. It will do no good, but I will talk now about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I do not know whether the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. 3And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things he is not able to explain, things that no human is allowed to tell. 5 I will brag about a man like that, but I will not brag about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 But if I wanted to brag about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not brag about myself. I do not want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me say. 7 So that I would not become too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me, a painful physical problem was given to me. This problem was a messenger from Satan, sent to beat me and keep me from being too proud. 8 I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me. 10 For this reason I am happy when I have weaknesses, insults, hard times, sufferings, and all kinds of troubles for Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

such: 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

yet: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 11:30

Reciprocal: Romans 8:26 - infirmities 1 Corinthians 2:3 - General 2 Corinthians 10:1 - base 2 Corinthians 10:10 - but 2 Corinthians 11:18 - I will 2 Corinthians 13:9 - when Hebrews 5:2 - is compassed

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
Their land reached from Sidon to Gerar as far as Gaza, and then to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
Genesis 11:31
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran's son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai (Abram's wife) and moved out of Ur of Babylonia. They had planned to go to the land of Canaan, but when they reached the city of Haran, they settled there.
Genesis 12:5
He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and everything they owned, as well as all the servants they had gotten in Haran. They set out from Haran, planning to go to the land of Canaan, and in time they arrived there.
Genesis 12:8
Then he traveled from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel and set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. There Abram built another altar to the Lord and worshiped him.
Genesis 12:9
After this, he traveled on toward southern Canaan.
Genesis 14:14
When Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called out his 318 trained men who had been born in his camp. He led the men and chased the enemy all the way to the town of Dan.
Genesis 14:21
The king of Sodom said to Abram, "You may keep all these things for yourself. Just give me my people who were captured."
Acts 7:4
So Abraham left the country of Chaldea and went to live in Haran. After Abraham's father died, God sent him to this place where you now live.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Of such an one will I glory,.... The apostle in great modesty seems to speak of some other person, and not himself, as caught up into the third heaven, when he yet means himself; and does as it were distinguish himself from himself; himself in paradise from himself on earth; his sense is, that though he might lawfully glory of such a person so highly exalted and favoured, yet since this was his own case, he chose to forbear, and say no more of it:

yet of myself I will not glory; though he could, and might, and did glory in the Lord, who had done such great things for him; as that he was in Christ, and knew himself to be so, had been rapt up into heaven, and heard things unutterable; yet he would not glory of these things as from himself, as owing to any merit or worthiness of his, but as instances of mere favour, grace, and goodness; if he gloried of anything of himself in his present state and condition, it should be of his weaknesses:

but in mine infirmities; not his sinful ones, for these he mourned over, and was humbled before God and man under a sense of; but his many pressing difficulties of life, heavy reproaches, very great afflictions, and violent persecutions he endured for Christ's sake; see 2 Corinthians 12:10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Of such an one will I glory - Of such a man it would be right to boast. It would be admitted that it is right to exult in such a man, and to esteem him to be uniquely favored by God. I will boast of him as having received special honor from the Lord. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the words rendered “of such an one should be translated “of such a thing,” or of such a transaction; meaning” I can indeed justly boast of my being caught up to heaven as of a thing the whole glory of which pertains to him who has thus exalted me; but of myself, or of anything in me, I will not boast.” So Rosenmuller explains it. But it seems to me that the connection requires that we should understand it of a person, and that the passage is partly ironical. Paul speaks in the third person. He chooses to keep himself directly out of view. And though he refers really to himself, yet he wound not say this directly, but says that of such a man they would admit it would be proper to boast.

Yet of myself - Directly. It is not expedient for me to boast of myself. “You would allow me to boast of such a man as I have referred to; I admit that it is not proper for me to boast directly of myself.”

But in mine infirmities - My weaknesses, trials, pains, sufferings; such as many regard as infirmities; see the note on 2 Corinthians 11:30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 12:5. Of such a one will I glory — Through modesty he does not mention himself, though the account can be understood of no other person; for, did he mean any other, the whole account would be completely irrelevant.


 
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