1 Corinthians 12 · Verse 19

1 Corinthians 12:19

And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1 Corinthians 12:19, King James Version

1 Corinthians 12:19 in other translations

BSBIf they were all one part, where would the body be?
WEBIf they were all one member, where would the body be?
ASVAnd if they were all one member, where were the body?
YLTand if all were one member, where the body?
DARBYBut if all were one member, where the body?
BBEAnd if they were all one part, where would the body be?
WebsterAnd if they were all one member, where were the body?

What does 1 Corinthians 12:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. where were the body--which, by its very idea, "hath many members" (1Co 12:12, 14), [Alford].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. And if all were one member. If there were nothing but an eye, an ear, or a limb, there would be no body. The idea which this seems intended to illustrate is, that if there was not variety of talent and endowment in the church, the church could not itself exist. If, for example, there were nothing but apostles, or prophets, or teachers; if there were none but those who spoke with tongues or could interpret them, the church could not exist. A variety of talents and attainments in their proper places is as useful as are the various members of the human body.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Tit 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 →

1 Corinthians 12:19 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.

εἰeiIfG1487
δὲdenowG1161
ἦνēnwereG1510
τὰta<the>G3588
πάνταpantaallG3956
ἓνhenoneG1520
μέλος,melosmember,G3196
ποῦpouwhereG4226
τὸto[would be] theG3588
σῶμα;sōmabody?G4983

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 12:18

    But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:19

    And if they were all one member, where were the body?

  • 1 Corinthians 12:20

    But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que si todos fueran un miembro, ¿dónde estuviera el cuerpo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or, si tous étaient un seul membre, où serait le corps?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber alle ein Glied wären, wo wäre der Leib?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quod si essent omnia unum membrum, ubi corpus?