Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, which has been dividing itself around him and Apollos and passing premature verdicts on their leaders. He has just stated (v. 4) that the Lord, not his own conscience, is the one who judges him.
The words — καιροῦ (kairou), "appointed time," is the load-bearing word: the prohibition is not against judgment in general but against judgment before the set occasion. This is what separates the command from a blanket "never judge."
The thread — 1 Corinthians 3:13 says the Day will bring each person's work to light; 2 Corinthians 5:10 places all before the judgment seat of Christ to receive their due; James 5:7 calls for patient waiting until the Lord's coming.
Why it lands — It asks a reader to stop issuing final verdicts on people's motives and character, and to hold that evaluation where it belongs: with God, at the time He sets.
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
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Cross-references
- James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13 his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
- Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Romans 2:16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
- Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
- 1 Peter 1:7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.