1 Corinthians 6:13
What does 1 Corinthians 6:13 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 6:13 means
Another slogan—“Foods for the belly and the belly for foods”—is met with Paul’s correction. Food is temporary; God will bring both stomach and foods to an end. But the body’s purpose is higher: it is “for the Lord,” and the Lord is “for the body,” meaning He cares for it and claims it. Therefore sexual immorality cannot be treated like eating, as if morally neutral. God designed the body for union with Christ and holy living, not for fornication. Reducing sex to an appetite denies the body’s sacred calling and the Lord’s claim over it. Christian ethics honors that design.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will put an end to them together. But the body is not for the desires of the flesh, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the meats <FI>are<Fi> for the belly, and the belly for the meats. And God both this and these shall make useless; and the body <FI>is<Fi> not for whoredom, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Meat for the belly and the belly for the meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats; butGod will bring to nothing both it and them: but the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Context
This verse contrasts a casual view of bodily urges with God’s revealed purpose. It advances the argument from principle (v. 12) to theology of the body. Verse 14 will further elevate the body’s significance by appealing to the resurrection, showing that God’s plan for believers includes their bodies. Verses 15–17 will then draw out the implications of bodily union with Christ for sexual behavior.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 5:15
and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.
- John 6:27
Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
- Matthew 15:17
Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
- Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
- Mark 7:19
because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean.
- Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:
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