1 Corinthians 12:24
What does 1 Corinthians 12:24 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 12:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 12:24 means
By contrast, the more presentable parts need no special attention, but God has composed the body in such a way that the parts lacking honor receive greater honor. This is divine design, not human favoritism. God builds equity into the body, ensuring that no member is neglected. The principle encourages those with more visible gifts to make room for and dignify the less visible. It also comforts those who feel insignificant: God Himself has adjusted the body to care for you. Harmony grows when the church embraces God’s pattern of compensating honor toward overlooked members.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But those parts of the body which are beautiful have no need of such care: and so the body has been joined together by God in such a way as to give more honour to those parts which had need of it;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and our seemly things have no need; but God did temper the body together, to the lacking part having given more abundant honour,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, giving to that which wanted the more abundant honour.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but our comely [parts] have not need. ButGod has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to [the part] that lacked;
Context
Having argued for honoring less prominent parts (verses 22–23), Paul now locates that practice in God’s own arrangement. Verse 24 attributes the balancing of honor to God’s composition. This prepares for verse 25’s purpose statement—no schism, but mutual care—as the intended outcome of God’s design. Then verse 26 shows the practical effect: shared suffering and rejoicing. The sequence ties divine intent to communal behavior, moving from theology to lived unity.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
- Genesis 3:11
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
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