Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:51

What does 1 Corinthians 15:51 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:51 means

Paul unveils a mystery—truth once hidden, now revealed: not all believers will “sleep” (die), but all will be changed. Some will be alive at Christ’s coming, yet they too must undergo transformation. The mystery does not invent novelty; it discloses God’s gracious plan. Resurrection life will be given to both the dead and the living in a moment. Death is not required for glorification, but change is. This promise comforts the living and honors the dead. The same divine power that raises corpses will also refashion the living, ensuring every saint is fit for the kingdom’s glory.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again: but we shall not all be changed.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed,

Context

After stating that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom (v. 50), Paul reveals how God will overcome this barrier (v. 51). The next verse will specify the suddenness and signal of this change—the last trumpet (v. 52). The context demonstrates that both those who have died and those still alive at Christ’s coming will be transformed, maintaining unity of hope for the whole church.

v.50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

v.51This passage

v.52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20

    But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:14

    For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:6

    then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep;

  • Ephesians 1:9

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

  • 1 Corinthians 2:7

    but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:

  • Philippians 3:21

    who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

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.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to 1 Corinthians 15:51.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary