1 Corinthians 12:26
What does 1 Corinthians 12:26 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 12:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 12:26 means
Paul describes the body’s solidarity: if one member suffers, all suffer with it; if one is honored, all rejoice with it. This empathy is the natural fruit of being one body. Shared pain and shared joy prevent isolation in hardship and envy in success. They also reveal spiritual health: the closer the members, the more they feel together. In the church, such identification reflects Christ’s compassion and fosters stability. The verse calls believers to attentive love—bearing burdens and celebrating graces—so that no member stands alone in sorrow or joy.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if there is pain in one part of the body, all the parts will be feeling it; or if one part is honoured, all the parts will be glad.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and whether one member doth suffer, suffer with <FI>it<Fi> do all the members, or one member is glorified, rejoice with <FI>it<Fi> do all the members;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it: or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And if one member suffer, all the members suffer with [it]; and if one member be glorified, all the members rejoice with [it].
Context
Following the purpose statement of verse 25, this verse paints the experiential reality of unity. Emotional and practical solidarity flows from God’s design and mutual care. With this picture in view, verse 27 will make a direct application to the Corinthians: they are the body of Christ. Verses 28–30 will then list roles and gifts in the church and ask rhetorical questions to show that not all have the same function. The movement is from principle to identity to structure.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
- Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
- 1 Peter 3:8
Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:
- Hebrews 13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body.
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