1 Corinthians 9:7

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while defending his right to financial support alongside Barnabas. The words — στρατεύεται (strateuetai) literally means serves as a soldier, and ὀψωνίοις (opsōniois) denotes expense or wages. The thread — The agricultural examples parallel Deuteronomy 20:6 and Proverbs 27:18, while the military metaphor reappears in 2 Timothy 2:3. Why it lands — The text employs three rhetorical questions to establish that laborers naturally and rightfully claim the material benefits of their work.

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

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

Cross-references

Proverbs 27:18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
Deuteronomy 20:6 Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
2 Timothy 2:3 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
Proverbs 27:27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
Song of Solomon 8:12 But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
Isaiah 7:22 and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.