1 Corinthians 15:43
What does 1 Corinthians 15:43 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:43 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 15:43 means
What is sown in dishonor—marked by shame, frailty, and the indignity of death—is raised in glory, bearing honor and radiance from God. What is sown in weakness—subject to illness, fatigue, and vulnerability—is raised in power, full of vitality and strength. Paul does not despise the present body; he acknowledges its fallen condition. The resurrection reverses these marks of the fall. The shift from dishonor to glory and weakness to power foretells a body suited to share Christ’s exaltation. Believers will not merely survive; they will shine with a God-given vigor that befits the kingdom to come.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
KJV
King James Version · 1611It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It is planted in shame; it comes again in glory: feeble when it is planted, it comes again in power:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752It is sown in dishonour: it shall rise in glory. It is sown in weakness: it shall rise in power.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
Context
Continuing the sown/raised contrasts begun in v. 42, Paul names dishonor/glory and weakness/power (v. 43), leading to the crucial contrast between natural and spiritual bodies (v. 44). These statements prepare for the theological explanation rooted in Adam and Christ (vv. 45–49). The flow emphasizes transformation that preserves identity but removes the fall’s deformities.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4
for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.
- Matthew 13:43
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.
- Mark 12:24
Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
- Psalms 102:23
He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.
- Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 Corinthians 15
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 Corinthians 15.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Glorification
Glorification is the final stage of salvation, where believers receive perfect, incorruptible bodies and are made completely like Christ.
Topic
The Gospel in the Bible
The gospel is the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, offered to all who believe.
Topic
Bible Verses About Original Sin
Original sin refers to the fallen spiritual condition of humanity as a result of Adam’s disobedience, impacting all people with a sinful nature.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Death
When you're afraid to die — what scripture promises about the last enemy.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Your Marriage Is Falling Apart
When the silence at home is louder than the words — verses to pray for your marriage.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You're Struggling With Addiction
When the cycle won't break — verses for the long road home.