Bible Strands

2 Corinthians 5:4

For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while explaining his confidence in the resurrection and the believer's future bodily state. He addresses the tension between present earthly existence and the promised future glory.

The words — The Greek σκηνῷ (skēnōi) literally means "tent," representing the fragile, temporary nature of the physical body. στενάζομεν (stenazomen) translates directly as "we groan," describing the present burden of earthly life.

The thread — The motif of groaning in a temporary dwelling appears in 2 Corinthians 5:2, while the imagery of mortality being swallowed by life echoes Isaiah 25:8. Paul later reinforces this transformation in 1 Corinthians 15:53.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that present physical suffering is temporary and purposeful. It requires readers to fix their hope on the future resurrection rather than their current earthly condition.

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

καὶkaiAndγὰρgarforοἱhoithoseὄντεςontesbeingἐνeninτῷtōtheσκήνειskēneitentστενάζομενstenazomenwe groanβαρούμενοι,baroumenoibeing burdened,ἐφ᾽eph᾽becauseᾧhōthatοὐounotθέλομενthelomenwe do wishἐκδύσασθαιekdusasthaito be unclothedἀλλ᾽all᾽butἐπενδύσασθαι,ependusasthaito be clothed,ἵναinathatκαταποθῇkatapothēamay be swallowed upτὸtotheθνητὸνthnētonmortalὑπὸhupobyτῆςtēs<the>ζωῆς.¶zōēslife.

King James Version

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Cross-references