1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians · Chapter 12

1 Corinthians 12:17

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.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.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.14For the body is not one member, but many.15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?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?17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.19And if they were all one member, where were the body?20But now are they many members, yet but one body.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.22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: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.24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.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.29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
IfεἰeiG1487G
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

allὅλονholonG3650
all

ὅλος (holos) ὅλος, -η, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] of persons and things, whole, entire, complete; 1. of indefinite ideas, with subst. anarth.: Luk.5:5, Act.11:26 28:30, Tit.1:11; ὅλον ἄνθρωπον (an entire man; see Field, Notes, 93), Jhn.7:23; ὅλη Ἰερουσαλήμ (= πᾶσα Ἰ, Mat.2:3; see Bl., §47, 9), Act.21:31. 2. Definite, with art.; (a) preceding subst.: Mat.4:23, 24 Luk.8:39, 1Co.12:17, al.; (b) following subst.: Mrk.1:33, Luk.9:25, Jhn.4:53, Act.21:30, al.; (with) between art. and subst., where subst. is an abstract noun (Plat., al.). …

body [were]σῶμαsōmaG4983
body

σῶμα (sōma) σῶμα, -τος, τό, [in LXX for גְּוִיָּה ,בָּשָׂר, etc., and for Aram. נְבֵלָה ;] a body. 1. Prop., of the human body, (a) as always in Hom. (opposite to δέμας), of the dead body: Mat.27:58, 59 Mrk.15:43, al.; …

an eye,ὀφθαλμός,ophthalmosG3788
eye

ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos) ὀφθαλμός, -οῦ, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for עַיִן ;] the eye (as in cl., chiefly pl.): Mat.5:38, Mrk.9:47, Luk.6:41, Jhn.9:6, al.; τοὺς ὀ. ἐξορύθσσειν (figuratively), Gal.4:15; ἐπᾶραι, Luk.6:20, Jhn.6:5; ἀνοῖξα, Act.9:40; id., of restoring sight, Mat.20:33, Jhn.9:10, al.; ἐν ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ, 1Co.15:52; by anthropom., of God, Heb.4:13, 1Pe.3:12; pleonastically (cf. Thackeray, Gr., 42f.), εἶδον οἱ ὀ. μοθ, Luk.2:30 (similarly, ib. 4:20 10:23, Jhn.12:40, 1Co.2:9, 1Jn.1:1, Rev.1:7). Metaphorical (as otherwise in cl.; see LS, see word); …

whereποῦpouG4226
where?

ποῦ (pou) ποῦ interrog. adv., [in LXX for אַי, אַיֵּה, אָן ;] 1. prop., where?: Mat.2:2 26:17, Mrk.14:12, 14, Luk.17:17, 37 22:9, 11, Jhn.1:39 7:11 8:10, 19 9:12 11:34; ποῦ (ἐστιν), indicating that the subject in question is not to be found, Luk.8:25, Rom.3:27, 1Co.1:20 12:17 12:19 15:55, Gal.4:15, 2Pe.3:4; ποῦ φανεῖται, 1Pe.4:18. 2. = ὅπου (WM, 640; B1., § 50, 5): with indic., Mat.2:4, Mrk.15:47, Jhn.1:40 11:57 20:2, 13 20:15 Rev.2:13; with subjc., Mat.8:20, Luk.9:58 12:17. …

hearing?ἀκοή;akoēG0189
hearing

ἀκοή (akoē) ἀκοή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἀκούω), [in LXX: Exo.15:26, al. for שׁמע, its parts and derivatives, exc. Deu.11:22 (שׁמר) ;] 1. hearing, the sense of hearing: 1Co.12:17, 2Pe.2:8; "Hebraic dative," ἀκοῇ ακούειν (frequently in LXX; V. M, Pr., 14, 75), Mat.13:14, Act.28:26. 2. organ of hearing, the ear (Arist., al.; MM, VGT, see word): 2Ti.4:3-4; pl., Mrk.7:35, Luk.7:1, Act.17:20, Heb.5:11. 3. a thing heard, i.e., (a) a message, teaching: Jhn.12:38 and Rom.16:16,17" (LXX), Gal.3:2,5 R, mg.; λόγος ἀκοῆς, 1Th.2:13, Heb.4:2; …

IfεἰeiG1487G
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

allὅλονholonG3650
all

ὅλος (holos) ὅλος, -η, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] of persons and things, whole, entire, complete; 1. of indefinite ideas, with subst. anarth.: Luk.5:5, Act.11:26 28:30, Tit.1:11; ὅλον ἄνθρωπον (an entire man; see Field, Notes, 93), Jhn.7:23; ὅλη Ἰερουσαλήμ (= πᾶσα Ἰ, Mat.2:3; see Bl., §47, 9), Act.21:31. 2. Definite, with art.; (a) preceding subst.: Mat.4:23, 24 Luk.8:39, 1Co.12:17, al.; (b) following subst.: Mrk.1:33, Luk.9:25, Jhn.4:53, Act.21:30, al.; (with) between art. and subst., where subst. is an abstract noun (Plat., al.). …

[were] hearing,ἀκοή,akoēG0189
hearing

ἀκοή (akoē) ἀκοή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἀκούω), [in LXX: Exo.15:26, al. for שׁמע, its parts and derivatives, exc. Deu.11:22 (שׁמר) ;] 1. hearing, the sense of hearing: 1Co.12:17, 2Pe.2:8; "Hebraic dative," ἀκοῇ ακούειν (frequently in LXX; V. M, Pr., 14, 75), Mat.13:14, Act.28:26. 2. organ of hearing, the ear (Arist., al.; MM, VGT, see word): 2Ti.4:3-4; pl., Mrk.7:35, Luk.7:1, Act.17:20, Heb.5:11. 3. a thing heard, i.e., (a) a message, teaching: Jhn.12:38 and Rom.16:16,17" (LXX), Gal.3:2,5 R, mg.; λόγος ἀκοῆς, 1Th.2:13, Heb.4:2; …

whereποῦpouG4226
where?

ποῦ (pou) ποῦ interrog. adv., [in LXX for אַי, אַיֵּה, אָן ;] 1. prop., where?: Mat.2:2 26:17, Mrk.14:12, 14, Luk.17:17, 37 22:9, 11, Jhn.1:39 7:11 8:10, 19 9:12 11:34; ποῦ (ἐστιν), indicating that the subject in question is not to be found, Luk.8:25, Rom.3:27, 1Co.1:20 12:17 12:19 15:55, Gal.4:15, 2Pe.3:4; ποῦ φανεῖται, 1Pe.4:18. 2. = ὅπου (WM, 640; B1., § 50, 5): with indic., Mat.2:4, Mrk.15:47, Jhn.1:40 11:57 20:2, 13 20:15 Rev.2:13; with subjc., Mat.8:20, Luk.9:58 12:17. …

sense of smell?ὄσφρησις;osphrēsisG3750
sense of smell

ὄσφρησις (osphrēsis) ὄσφρησις, -εως, ἡ (ὀσφραίνομαι, to smell), the sense of smell, smell­ing: 1Co.12:17.† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.