1 Corinthians 10:17

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1 Corinthians 10:17, King James Version

1 Corinthians 10:17 in other translations

BSB	Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
WEB	Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.
ASV	seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.
YLT	because one bread, one body, are we the many--for we all of the one bread do partake.
DARBY	Because we, being many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.
BBE	Because we, being a number of persons, are one bread, we are one body: for we all take part in the one bread.
Webster	For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

What does 1 Corinthians 10:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. one bread--rather, "loaf." One loaf alone seems to have been used in each celebration. and one body--Omit "and"; "one loaf [that is], one body." "We, the many (namely, believers assembled; so the Greek), are one bread (by our partaking of the same loaf, which becomes assimilated to the substance of all our bodies; and so we become), one body" (with Christ, and so with one another). we ... all--Greek, "the whole of us."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. For we. We Christians.

Being many. Greek, The many. οιπολλοι. The idea is not, as our translation would seem to indicate, that Christians were numerous, but that all (for οιπολλοι is here evidently used in the sense of παντες, all) were united, and constituted one society.

Are one bread. One loaf; one cake. That is, we are united, or are one. There is evident allusion here to the fact that the loaf or cake was composed of many separate grains of wheat, or portions of flour united in one; or, that as one loaf was broken and partaken by all, it was implied that they were all one. We are all one society; united as one, and for the same object. Our partaking of the same bread is an emblem of the fact that we are one. In almost all nations the act of eating together has been regarded as a symbol of unity or friendship.

And one body. One society; united together.

For we are all partakers, etc. And we thus show publicly that we are united, and belong to the same great family. The argument is, that if we partake of the feasts in honour of idols with their worshippers, we shall thus show that we are a part of their society.

(*) "one bread" "Loaf"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 For we, being many, are one bread - The original would be better translated thus: Because there is one bread, or loaf; we, who are many, are one body. As only one loaf was used at the passover, and those who partook of it were considered to be one religious body; so we who partake of the eucharistical bread and wine, in commemoration of the sacrificial death of Christ, are one spiritual society, because we are all made partakers of that one Christ whose blood was shed for us to make an atonement for our sins; as the blood of the paschal lamb was shed and sprinkled in reference to this of which it was the type.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:15-22

Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 10:15-22 →

1 Corinthians 10:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτιhotiBecause [there is]G3754

εἷςheisoneG1520

ἄρτοςartosloafG740

ἓνhenoneG1520

σῶμαsōmabodyG4983

οἱhoitheG3588

πολλοίpolloimanyG4183

ἐσμεν·esmenwe are;G1510

οἱhoi<the>G3588

γὰρgarforG1063

πάντεςpantesallG3956

ἐκekofG1537

τοῦtoutheG3588

ἑνὸςhenosoneG1520

ἄρτουartouloafG740

μετέχομεν.¶metechomenwe partake.G3348

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 10:17

Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Corinthians 12:12
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:12-13
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Galatians 3:26-28
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Ephesians 2:15-16
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

we being.
12:12,27; Ro 12:5; Ga 3:26-28; Eph 1:22,23; 2:15,16; 3:6; 4:12,13
Eph 4:25; Col 2:19; 3:11,15
that.
3,4,21; 11:26-28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:17
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:18
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque un pan, es que muchos somos un cuerpo; pues todos participamos de aquel un pan.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car nous qui sommes plusieurs, sommes un seul pain, un seul corps, car nous participons tous à un seul et même pain.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn ein Brot, ein Leib sind wir, die Vielen, denn wir alle sind des einen Brotes teilhaftig.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quoniam unus panis, unum corpus multi sumus, omnes qui de uno pane participamus.