Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 6:8

What does 1 Corinthians 6:8 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 6:8 means

Instead of being willing to suffer loss, the Corinthians themselves are committing wrong and cheating their own brothers. Paul turns the mirror toward the offenders, not only the plaintiffs. Their behavior contradicts the love and justice that should mark God’s family. The issue is not simply poor conflict resolution but active sin—taking advantage of fellow believers for gain. By harming those united to them in Christ, they show contempt for the very grace that saved them. Paul’s words move the matter from prudence to morality: cheating a brother is not a neutral tactic; it is unrighteousness demanding repentance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So far from doing this, you yourselves do wrong and take your brothers' property.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but ye--ye do injustice, and ye defraud, and these--brethren!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But you do wrong and defraud: and that to your brethren.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But ye do wrong, and defraud, and this [your] brethren.

Context

This verse tightens the indictment before the transition in verses 9–10 to a broader warning about unrighteous lifestyles. The move from lawsuits to a catalog of sins shows that Paul views these actions as part of a larger pattern incompatible with the kingdom. Verse 11 will then offer hope: the gospel has already changed them. That contrast between who they were and who they are grounds Paul’s call to live differently.

v.7Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?

v.8This passage

v.9Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

Cross references

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

  • James 5:4

    Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

  • Micah 2:2

    And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

  • Colossians 3:25

    For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:6

    that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

  • Leviticus 19:13

    Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

  • Malachi 3:5

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.

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