Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 12:23
and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while explaining spiritual gifts and bodily unity. He addresses the congregation as he corrects their tendency to value outwardly impressive members over foundational ones.
The words — δοκοῦμεν (dokoumen) means "we think" or "we consider," and ἀτιμότερα (atimotera) translates to "less honorable." The text states that the community regards certain body parts as dishonorable before describing how God elevates them.
The thread — The motif of covering nakedness and assigning honor to vulnerable areas appears in Genesis 3:7 and Genesis 3:21, where humans sew fig leaves and God provides garments of skin. Paul extends this pattern to the church, showing how divine valuation reverses human standards.
Why it lands — The passage demands that readers stop judging spiritual value by visible strength or social status. It requires the church to actively protect and elevate members who appear weak or insignificant.
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
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
Cross-references
- Genesis 3:21 And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.
- Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.