Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:18

What does 1 Corinthians 12:18 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 12:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 12:18 means

God Himself has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, just as He pleased. This grounds the church’s diversity in divine sovereignty and wisdom. Our differences are not accidents or mistakes, but intentional placements by God. Recognizing His design turns comparison into gratitude and anxiety into trust. The verse also implies accountability: if God placed me, I should serve where He set me. It encourages rest from striving for another’s role and calls for faithfulness in our own. What pleases God ought to satisfy His people as they serve together.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But now God has put every one of the parts in the body as it was pleasing to him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and now, God did set the members each one of them in the body, according as He willed,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But nowGod has set the members, each one of them in the body, according as it has pleased [him].

Context

Following the reductio of verse 17, Paul states the theological reason for diversity: God’s sovereign arrangement. This anchors the discussion and prepares for the summary in verses 19–20 that reiterate many members, one body. The coming verses 21–26 will then pivot to confront pride among the more prominent parts. Establishing God’s design first ensures that any correction of superiority rests on the same foundation as the correction of inferiority.

v.17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

v.18This passage

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

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 10:21

    In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.

  • Romans 12:3

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

  • 1 Corinthians 12:11

    but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:38

    but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.

  • Psalms 135:6

    Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;

  • Ephesians 1:9

    making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 Corinthians 12

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 Corinthians 12.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to 1 Corinthians 12:18.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary