Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 5:6

What does 1 Corinthians 5:6 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 5:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 5:6 means

The Corinthians’ boasting is dangerous because sin spreads. Like a small lump of leaven that works through all the dough, tolerating manifest evil reshapes the whole church’s character. Pride blinds them to how quickly attitudes, excuses, and practices are imitated. The image warns that the health of Christ’s body depends on dealing with even “little” compromises, especially public ones. Their “glorying” may masquerade as patience or sophistication, but it erodes holiness. Wisdom faces the contagion honestly: love for the many requires addressing the one. The verse calls the church to humility, vigilance, and trust that God’s standards protect life together.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

This pride of yours is not good. Do you not see that a little leaven makes a change in all the mass?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Not good <FI>is<Fi> your glorying; have ye not known that a little leaven the whole lump doth leaven?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven corrupteth the whole lump?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Your boasting [is] not good. Do ye not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Context

After directing the disciplinary action (v. 5), Paul explains its necessity for the community. The leaven metaphor prepares for the Passover imagery in verse 7, where the church is called to cleanse out the old leaven in light of Christ’s sacrifice. Verse 6 thus bridges from the offender’s case to a general principle: tolerating sin endangers all. The next verses will root the call to purity in the gospel, not mere rule-keeping.

v.5to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

v.6This passage

v.7Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:

Cross references

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

  • James 4:16

    But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.

  • Matthew 13:33

    Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.

  • Matthew 16:6

    And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

  • 2 Timothy 2:17

    and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;

  • 1 Corinthians 5:2

    And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 Corinthians 5

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 Corinthians 5.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to 1 Corinthians 5:6.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary