1 Corinthians 12:15

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church to correct their factionalism and comparative valuation of spiritual gifts. He places this statement immediately after declaring that the body consists of many parts rather than a single one.

The words — The text presents ἐὰν (ean, "if") and εἴπῃ (eipē, "shall say") to frame a hypothetical claim by the foot that structural difference from a hand negates bodily belonging. This conditional structure establishes that self-doubt cannot alter objective inclusion.

The thread — The botanical metaphor of objects communicating flawed self-assessment parallels the imagery in Judges 9:8 and 2 Kings 14:9. These passages similarly use natural imagery to illustrate misguided claims of superiority or exclusion.

Why it lands — The passage states that claiming exclusion due to functional difference does not remove one from the body. It requires readers to accept their designated function without demanding another's role or measuring worth by comparative utility.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

Cross-references

Judges 9:8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
2 Kings 14:9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.