If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
Parallel Translations
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If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
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And if the eare saye I am not the eye: therfore I am not of the body: is he therfore not of the body?
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And if the eare would say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?
Cross-references (4)
Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 12:16 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Romans 12:3 For I say through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
- Romans 12:10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
- 1 Corinthians 12:22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
- Philippians 2:3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (5 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I…
16 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?
Ver. 16. If the ear] A man had better be blind, lame, dumb, than deaf; because by the ear life enters into the soul, Isa 55:3.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And if the ear shall say,.... The organ that…
And if the ear shall say,.... The organ that receives sounds, and can distinguish them, and in which member is placed the sense of hearing; and may design such as are hearers of the word of God, not merely externally, but internally; who hear so as to love, savour, and relish it; so as to understand and believe it, and to act in compliance with it; and distinguish it for themselves, though they may not be able to give a distinct account of it to others, or instruct others in it:
because I am not the eye: the organ of seeing, in which is seated the visive faculty, and which receives light, and uses it for the good of the body, whose superintendent it is; and may be expressive of the ministers of the Gospel, who are that to the church, as eyes are to the body; they are the light of the world, have a clear insight into the doctrines of the Gospel, and communicate their light to others; they are set in the highest place in the church, and as watchmen and overseers there, to instruct; guide, and direct the members of it:
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I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? it certainly is; and so such as are only hearers of the Gospel, being affectionate, believing, understanding and fruitful hearers; though they have not such large knowledge and clear light, so as to be capable of overseeing and instructing others, yet are true and useful members of the church, are highly respected by Christ the head, and to be had in esteem by their fellow members, who may be superior to them.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain The ear - A less noble part. The eye…
The ear - A less noble part. The eye - The most noble.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 16. No one must claim that he is not…
16. No one must claim that he is not sharer of the Church because he is only a hearer and not an overseer, any more than the ear is excluded from the body because it is not the eye.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain And if the ear shall say, Because I am…
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body . [This passage exposes the folly of those who were belittling themselves in the presence of their fellow-Christians. Being in the church, they were organically united to the entire church body. If they felt that their inferiority in gifts excluded them, they were not thereby excluded. Their false views and false assertions did not alter their true condition. Paul associates the members of action (foot and hand) and the members of sensation (eye and ear), and represents each as complaining against the other, because men are apt to be envious and to disparage themselves as to those who have superior gifts similar to their own. We are not envious of those whose gifts are dissimilar. It is the foot and not the eye that envies the hand.]
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.