1 Corinthians 12:17
What does 1 Corinthians 12:17 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 12:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 12:17 means
Paul presses the logic: if the whole body were an eye, there would be no hearing; if all were hearing, there would be no smelling. A body composed of one part cannot live or thrive. The church needs a range of senses—perspectives, gifts, and roles—to perceive and respond to God’s will. Specialization is good, but exclusivity is deadly. This verse honors the limits of any one gift and underlines the beauty of coordinated diversity. By showing the loss that uniformity brings, Paul invites believers to esteem the varied capacities God has distributed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
KJV
King James Version · 1611If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If all the body was an eye, where would be the hearing? if all was hearing, where would be the smelling?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862If the whole body <FI>were<Fi> an eye, where the hearing? if the whole hearing, where the smelling?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If the whole body were the eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If the whole body [were] an eye, where the hearing? if all hearing, where the smelling?
Context
After correcting self-excluding attitudes (verses 15–16), Paul demonstrates the practical absurdity of a one-part body. This prepares the reader to receive the theological basis for diversity in verse 18: God arranged the members. The sequence moves from imagination (what if all were one part?) to reality (God has placed each), then to conclusions about the nature of the body (verses 19–20). The argument is tightening: diversity is not optional; it is essential by God’s design.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 12:29
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
- Proverbs 20:12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
- Psalms 94:9
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?
- 1 Corinthians 12:21
And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
- Psalms 139:13
For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
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