1 Corinthians 3:6
What does 1 Corinthians 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 3:6 means
Paul likens ministry to farming: he “planted” by founding the church; Apollos “watered” by teaching and strengthening it. Yet the decisive cause of life and increase is God. This clarifies that variety in roles does not imply rivalry, and visible results do not originate with human skill. The image honors faithful labor—planting and watering matter—while insisting that all fruit is God’s gift. This verse calls believers to gratitude rather than partisanship, and to dependence rather than boasting. It also encourages ministers: they are responsible for faithfulness to their task, not for producing outcomes only God can give. God’s sovereignty over growth frees from envy and despair.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God gave the increase.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I planted, Apollos watered, but God was giving growth;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I have planted, Apollo watered: but God gave the increase.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I have planted; Apollos watered; butGod has given the increase.
Context
Continuing the servant framework begun in verse 5, Paul now specifies the complementary ministries of himself and Apollos. This sets up the theological center in verse 7: the planter and waterer are not the point; God is. The agricultural metaphor also anticipates transition to the building metaphor in verses 9–15. First the field—God gives growth; then the building—God owns the house and evaluates the work done upon the foundation. The movement keeps insisting that unity and reward are determined by God’s perspective, not human comparisons.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 62:11
God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.
- 2 Corinthians 3:2
Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;
- Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
- Isaiah 55:10
For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
- Psalms 62:9
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity.
- Acts 18:26
and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately.
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