Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

1 Corinthians 12:14–20

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

7 selected · 3 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

22 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 14

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:27–28Rank 1 from verse 14
    Open

    27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

    28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:12Rank 2 from verse 14
    Open

    12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

  3. 1 Corinthians 12:19Rank 3 from verse 14
    Open

    19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

  4. Ephesians 4:25Rank 4 from verse 14
    Open

    25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

From verse 15

  1. Judges 9:8–15Rank 1 from verse 15
    Open

    8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

    9But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

    10And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

    11But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

    12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

    13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

    14Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

    15And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

  2. 2 Kings 14:9Rank 2 from verse 15
    Open

    9And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

From verse 16

  1. Romans 12:3Rank 1 from verse 16
    Open

    3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:22Rank 2 from verse 16
    Open

    22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

  3. Philippians 2:3Rank 3 from verse 16
    Open

    3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

  4. Romans 12:10Rank 4 from verse 16
    Open

    10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

From verse 17

  1. Psalms 139:13–16Rank 1 from verse 17
    Open

    13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

    14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

    15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

    16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:21Rank 2 from verse 17
    Open

    21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

  3. Proverbs 20:12Rank 3 from verse 17
    Open

    12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

  4. Psalms 94:9Rank 4 from verse 17
    Open

    9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

  5. 1 Corinthians 12:29Rank 5 from verse 17
    Open

    29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

From verse 18

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:28Rank 1 from verse 18
    Open

    28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:11Rank 2 from verse 18
    Open

    11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

  3. Romans 12:3Rank 3 from verse 18
    Open

    3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  4. 1 Corinthians 3:5Rank 4 from verse 18
    Open

    5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

  5. Luke 12:32Rank 5 from verse 18
    Open

    32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

From verse 20

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:14Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

    14For the body is not one member, but many.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:12Rank 2 from verse 20
    Open

    12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:14

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

member

↗

A limb or subordinate part of a body; an individual constituent belonging to a larger body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:15

COMBINED MEANING

foot

↗

Sense 1: The lower extremity used for standing or walking. Sense 2: A measure, base, or lowest part. Sense 3: As a verb, to tread or walk.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:16

COMBINED MEANING

ear

↗

Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

eye

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ of sight; by extension, sight or seeing. Sense 2: Regard, judgment, disposition, or watchful attention, expressed figuratively by the eye. Sense 3: A small opening, as the eye of a needle. Sense 4: To watch or regard.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:17

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

eye

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ of sight; by extension, sight or seeing. Sense 2: Regard, judgment, disposition, or watchful attention, expressed figuratively by the eye. Sense 3: A small opening, as the eye of a needle. Sense 4: To watch or regard.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hearing

↗

Sense 1: The act or faculty of perceiving sound. Sense 2: Audience, attention, or an opportunity to be heard. Sense 3: The range within which sound can be heard.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:18

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

set

↗

1. To put or place a person or thing in a position, relation, or condition; when passive, to be so placed, fixed, or adorned. 2. To establish, fix, appoint, assign, prescribe, or determine. 3. To arrange, prepare, present, display, or put in order or array. 4. To direct, turn, or firmly apply the face, heart, eyes, mind, affection, or action toward something. 5. To start, advance, send out, proceed on a course or work, or make an attack, as in set forward, set forth, or set upon where those meanings apply. 6. To value or esteem; or, in set at nought or set light by, to despise. 7. Of the sun, to go down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

members

↗

Sense 1: The limbs, organs, faculties, or other constituent parts of a body. Sense 2: Figuratively, persons joined as distinct parts of one body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

pleased

↗

Past-tense, past-participial, or adjectival form of please. Sense 1: Gave pleasure or satisfaction to, was agreeable or acceptable to, or was gratified. Sense 2: Chose, desired, willed, or saw fit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:19

COMBINED MEANING

member

↗

A limb or subordinate part of a body; an individual constituent belonging to a larger body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Corinthians 12:20

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

members

↗

Sense 1: The limbs, organs, faculties, or other constituent parts of a body. Sense 2: Figuratively, persons joined as distinct parts of one body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · 1 Corinthians 12:12–27

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

12:12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

12:13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

12:14For the body is not one member, but many.

Selected passage

12:15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

Selected passage

12:16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

Selected passage

12:17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Selected passage

12:18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Selected passage

12:19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

Selected passage

12:20But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Selected passage

12:21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

12:22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

12:23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

12:24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

12:25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

12:26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

12:27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.