1 Corinthians 12:16

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
And	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
if	ἐὰν ean	G1437	a conditional particle · conditional particle
ear	οὖς· ous	G3775	the ear (physically or mentally) · noun — nominative singular neuter
say	εἴπῃ eipē	G2036	to speak or say (by word or writing) · verb — second aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular
Because	ὅτι hoti	G3754	demonstrative · conjunction
am	εἰμὶ eimi	G1510	I exist (used only when emphatic) · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
not	οὐκ ouk	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
eye	ὀφθαλμός, ophthalmos	G3788	the eye (literally or figuratively) · noun — nominative singular masculine
am	εἰμὶ eimi	G1510	I exist (used only when emphatic) · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
not	οὐκ ouk	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
of	ἐκ ek	G1537	literal or figurative · preposition
body	σώματος, sōmatos	G4983	the body (as a sound whole) · noun — genitive singular neuter
is	ἐστί estí	G2076	he (she or it) is
it	τοῦτο toûto	G5124	that thing
therefore	παρὰ para	G3844	properly · preposition
not	οὐ ou	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
of	ἐκ ek	G1537	literal or figurative · preposition
body	σώματος; sōmatos	G4983	the body (as a sound whole) · noun — genitive singular neuter

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but…
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
1 Corinthians 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

The apostle here makes out the truth of what was above asserted, and puts the gifted men among the Corinthians in mind of their duty, by comparing the church of Christ to a human body. I. By telling us that one body may have many members, and that the many members of the same body make but one body (Co1 12:12): As the body is one, and hath many members, and all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ; that is, Christ mystical, as divines commonly speak. Christ and his church making one body, as head and members, this body is made up of many parts or members, yet but one body; for all the members are baptized into the same body, and made to drink of the same Spir…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:15

The humbler members ought not to disparage themselves, or to be disparaged by others more noble (Co1 12:21-22). foot . . . hand--The humble speaks of the more honorable member which most nearly resembles itself: so the "ear" of the "eye" (the nobler and more commanding member, Num 10:31), (Co1 12:16). As in life each compares himself with those whom he approaches nearest in gifts, not those far superior. The foot and hand represent men of active life; the ear and eye, those of contemplative life.

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 12:15

If the foot shall say, etc. - As all the members of the body are necessarily dependent on each other, and minister to the general support of the system, so is it in the Church. All the private members are intimately connected among themselves, and also with their pastors; without which union no Church can subsist.

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:16

And if the ear shall say,.... The organ that receives sounds, and can distinguish them, and in which member is placed the sense of hearing; and may design such as are hearers of the word of God, not merely externally, but internally; who hear so as to love, savour, and relish it; so as to understand and believe it, and to act in compliance with it; and distinguish it for themselves, though they may not be able to give a distinct account of it to others, or instruct others in it: because I am not the eye: the organ of seeing, in which is seated the visive faculty, and which receives light, and uses it for the good of the body, whose superintendent it is; and may be expressive of the minister…

The Church Fathers

It cannot be denied that he, who seems weak among the brothers, is of the body; because he is not powerful.
— Ambrosiaster, Commentary on 1 Corinthians

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Tongues, Gift of — Granted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), in fulfilment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mark 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have…
Selfishness · Inconsistent with communion of saints — Inconsistent with communion of saints

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

1 Corinthians 12:16

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:15

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 12:15

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:16

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

1 Corinthians 12:16

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:15

Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 12:15

John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:16

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 1 Corinthians 12:14-27

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:14-21