2 Corinthians 12:9
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. | But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. | And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourced2 Corinthians 12:7-10The thorn in the flesh
About 2 Corinthians 12Paul tells of "a man in Christ" who "was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words," and then of "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan" given to him "lest I should be exalted above measure." He asked the Lord three times to remove it, and the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness," so Paul concludes, "when I am weak, then am I strong." Preparing to come "the third time," he says, "I seek not yours, but you," and fears he may find sin unrepented of among them. 2 Corinthians 12:22 Corinthians 12:42 Corinthians 12:72 Corinthians 12:82 Corinthians 12:92 Corinthians 12:102 Corinthians 12:142 Corinthians 12:202 Corinthians 12:21
Why this verse matters here"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul answers, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| He has said | εἴρηκέν | eirēken | G2046 | to sayἐρῶ (erō) λέγω, [in LXX very freq., chiefly for אמר; λέγει for נְאֻם, Gen.22:16, al. ;] 1. in Hom., to pick out, gather, reckon, recount. 2. In Hdt. and Att., to say, speak, affirm, declare: absol., Act.13:15, 24:10; before orat. dir., Mat.9:34, Mrk.3:11, Jhn.1:29, al.; before ὅτι recit., Mrk.3:21, Luk.1:24, Jhn.6:14, al.; accusative and inf., Luk.11:18, Jhn.12:29, al.; after another verb of speaking, προσφωνεῖν κ. λέγειν, Mat.11:17, al.; ἀπεκρίθη (ἐλάλησεν) λέγων (καὶ λέγει; Dalman, Words, 24 ff.), Mat.25:9, Mrk.3:33, 7:28, Luk.24:6, 7, al.; of unspoken thought, λ. ἐν ἑαυτῷ, Mat.3:9, Luk.3:8, al.; of … |
| to me; | μοι· | moi | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| Suffices | ἀρκεῖ | arkei | G0714 | be sufficientἀρκέω (arkeō) ἀρκέω, -ῶ [in LXX for הוֹן, etc. ;] 1. to keep off; with dative, to assist. 2. to suffice: with dative of person(s), Jo 67, 2Co.12:9; impers., Mat.25:9, Jhn.14:8 (MM, see word). Pass., to be satisfied: with dative of thing(s), Luk.3:14, 1Ti.6:8, Heb.13:5; before ἐπί, III Jn 10.† (AS) |
| you | σοι | soi | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| grace | χάρις | charis | G5485 | graceχάρις (charis) χάρις, -ιτος, ἡ Abbott-Smith does not include the article here., accusative, χάριν (χάριτα in Act.24:27, Ju 4; see WH, App., 157), [in LXX chiefly for חֵן ;] 1. objectively, that which causes favourable regard, gracefulness, grace, loveliness of form, graciousness of speech (cl.; Ecc.10:12, Sir.21:16, al.): Col.4:6; λόγοι τ. χάριτος (genitive qual.), Luk.4:22. 2. Subjectively, … |
| of Mine; | μου· | mou | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| for | γὰρ | gar | G1063 | forγάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. … |
| power | δύναμις | dunamis | G1411 | powerδύναμις (dunamis) δύναμις, -εως, ἡ (δύναμαι), [in LXX for עֹז ,גּבוּרָה ,צָבָה ,(חֵיל) חַיִל, etc.; 35 words in all ;] power, might, strength; relatively, ability, power to perform: Mat.25:15, Act.3:12, Heb.11:11; κατὰ δ., 2Co.8:3; παρὰ δ., ib.; ὑπὲρ δ., 2Co.1:8; of pecuniary ability, 2Co.8:3, Rev.18:3; absol., power, might: Luk.24:49, Act.1:8; opposite to ἀσθένεια, 1Co.15:43; ἡ δ. τ. ἁμαρτίας, 1Co.15:56; of power in action, Rom.1:16, 20 1Co.1:18, Php.3:10, al.; ἡ δ. τ. θεοῦ, Mat.22:29, Mrk.12:24, Rom.1:20, al.; opposite to μόρφωσις, 2Ti.3:5; in doxologies, Rev.4:11 7:12, al.; ἐν δ., Mrk.9:1, Luk.4:36, Rom.1: … |
| of mine | μου | mou | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| in | ἐν | en | G1722 | in/on/amongἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af … |
| weakness | ἀσθενείᾳ | astheneia | G0769G | weakness: weakἀσθένεια (astheneia) ἀσθένεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀσθενής), [in LXX for כָּשַׁל, etc. ;] weakness, frailty, sickness: Luk.13:11-12, Jhn.11:4, Act.28:9, Rom.6:19 8:26, 2Co.11:30 13:4, Gal.4:13 (MM, see word), Heb.5:2 7:28 11:34; ἐν ἀ., Jhn.5:5, 1Co.2:3 15:43, 2Co.12:9; pl., Mat.8:17, Luk.5:15 8:2, 2Co.12:5 12:9-10, 1Ti.5:23, Heb.4:15.† SYN.: μαλακία, νόσος (see DB, iii, 323a) (AS) |
| is finished. | τελεῖται. | teleitai | G5055 | to finishτελέω (teleō) τελέω, -ῶ (τέλος), [in LXX for כָּלָה, pi., etc. ;] 1. to bring to an end, complete, finish: τ. δρόμον, 2Ti.4:7; τ. λόγους, Mat.7:28 19:1 26:1; τ. παραβολάς, Mat.13:53; τ. πόλεις, Mat.10:23; pass., Rev.15:8 20:3, 5 20:7; with ptcp., Mat.11:1. 2. to execute, perform, complete, fulfil: Luk.2:39, Act.13:29, Rom.2:27, 2Co.12:9, Gal.5:16, Jas.2:8, Rev.11:7; pass., Luk.12:50 18:31 22:37, Jhn.19:28, 30, Rev.10:7 15:1 17:17. 3. to pay (frequently in cl.): Mat.17:24, Rom.13:6 (cf. ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, συν-τελέω).† (AS) |
| Most gladly | ἥδιστα | hēdista | G2236 | most gladlyἥδιστα (hēdista) ἥδιστα, see: ἡδέως. ἡδέως adv. (ἡδύς, sweet), [in LXX: Pro.3:24 (עָרַב), etc. ;] gladly, with pleasure: Mrk.6:20 12:37, 2Co.11:19; superlat., ἥδιστα, very gladly (B1., § 11, 3), 2Co.12:9 12:15.† (AS) |
| therefore | οὖν | oun | G3767 | therefore/thenοὖν (oun) οὖν, particle expressing consequence or simple sequence (never standing first in a sentence), wherefore, therefore, then: Mat.3:10, Luk.3:9, Jhn.8:38, Act.1:21, Rom.5:9, al.; in exhortations, Mat.3:8, Luk.11:35, Act.3:19, Rom.6:12, al.; in questions, Mat.13:28, Mrk.15:12, Jhn.8:[5], Rom.6:1, al.; continuing a narrative or resuming it after a digression, Mat.1:17, Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:22 2:18 (and very frequently in this Gospel), Act.26:22, al.; ἄρα οὖν (see: ἄρα); ἐπεὶ οὖν, Heb.2:14; οὖν with ptcp. (= ἐπεὶ οὖν), Act.2:30, Rom.5:1, al.; ἐὰν οὖν (where οὖν rather in sense belongs to the apodosis), … |
| rather | μᾶλλον | mallon | G3123G | moreμᾶλλον (mallon) μάλα adv., [in LXX for אֲבָל, 3Ki.1:43, Dan LXX 10:21, al.; compar. for מ, Num.13:32 (31), al.; μᾶλλον ἠ (מ), Gen.19:9, al.; superlat., 2Ma.8:7, 4Ma.4:22 12:9 15:4 ;] I. Pos., very, very much, exceedingly (cl.; LXX ut supr.; in NT its place is taken by λίαν, σφόδρα, etc.). II. Compar., μᾶλλον. 1. Of increase, more; with qualifying words: πολλῷ, Mrk.10:48, Luk.18:39, Rom.5:15, 17, Php.2:12, al.; πόσῳ, Luk.12:24, Rom.11:12, al.; τοσούτῳ . . . ὅσῳ, Heb.10:25. … |
| will I boast | καυχήσομαι | kauchēsomai | G2744 | to boastκαυχάομαι (kauchaomai) καυχάομαι, -ῶμαι [in LXX for הָלַל hith., etc. ;] to boast or glory (in LXX, of joyous exultation, and so in the NT quotations, infr.; cf. DB, ii, 790b; Hort on Jas.1:9): absol., 1Co.1:31 (LXX) 1Co.4:7 13:3, 2Co.10:13 10:17" (LXX) 2Co.11:16 11:18 12:1 12:6, Eph.2:9, Jas.4:16; with accusative of thing(s), 2Co.9:2 11:30; before ἐν (LXX), Rom.2:23 5:3, 1Co.3:21, 2Co.5:12 10:15 11:12 12:5 12:9, Gal.6:13-14 Jas.1:9; ἐν (τ.) θεῷ, Rom.2:17 5:11; ἐν κυρίῳ, 1Co.1:31 (LXX) 2Co.10:17 (LXX); ἐν Χ. Ἰησοῦ, Php.3:3; before ἐπί with dative, Rom.5:2; περί, with genitive, 2Co.10:8; εἰς, 2Co.10:16; ὑπέρ, with … |
| in | ἐν | en | G1722 | in/on/amongἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af … |
| weaknesses | ἀσθενείαις | astheneiais | G0769G | weakness: weakἀσθένεια (astheneia) ἀσθένεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀσθενής), [in LXX for כָּשַׁל, etc. ;] weakness, frailty, sickness: Luk.13:11-12, Jhn.11:4, Act.28:9, Rom.6:19 8:26, 2Co.11:30 13:4, Gal.4:13 (MM, see word), Heb.5:2 7:28 11:34; ἐν ἀ., Jhn.5:5, 1Co.2:3 15:43, 2Co.12:9; pl., Mat.8:17, Luk.5:15 8:2, 2Co.12:5 12:9-10, 1Ti.5:23, Heb.4:15.† SYN.: μαλακία, νόσος (see DB, iii, 323a) (AS) |
| of mine, | μου, | mou | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| so that | ἵνα | ina | G2443 | in order that/toἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); … |
| may rest | ἐπισκηνώσῃ | episkēnōsē | G1981 | to rest upon/dwellἐπισκηνόω (episkēnoō) ἐπι-σκηνόω, -ῶ to tent upon, spread a tabernacle over: metaphorically, before ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ (RV, rest upon, cover), 2Co.12:9.† (AS) |
| upon | ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | G1909 | upon/to/againstἐπί (epi) ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ᾽, before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽), prep. with genitive, dative, accusative (accusative most frequently in NT), with primary sense of superposition, on, upon. I. C. genitive, 1. of place, answering the question, where? … |
| me myself | ἐμὲ | eme | G1473 | I/weἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). … |
| power | δύναμις | dunamis | G1411 | powerδύναμις (dunamis) δύναμις, -εως, ἡ (δύναμαι), [in LXX for עֹז ,גּבוּרָה ,צָבָה ,(חֵיל) חַיִל, etc.; 35 words in all ;] power, might, strength; relatively, ability, power to perform: Mat.25:15, Act.3:12, Heb.11:11; κατὰ δ., 2Co.8:3; παρὰ δ., ib.; ὑπὲρ δ., 2Co.1:8; of pecuniary ability, 2Co.8:3, Rev.18:3; absol., power, might: Luk.24:49, Act.1:8; opposite to ἀσθένεια, 1Co.15:43; ἡ δ. τ. ἁμαρτίας, 1Co.15:56; of power in action, Rom.1:16, 20 1Co.1:18, Php.3:10, al.; ἡ δ. τ. θεοῦ, Mat.22:29, Mrk.12:24, Rom.1:20, al.; opposite to μόρφωσις, 2Ti.3:5; in doxologies, Rev.4:11 7:12, al.; ἐν δ., Mrk.9:1, Luk.4:36, Rom.1: … |
| of Christ. | Χριστοῦ. | Christou | G5547 | ChristΧριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.