1 Corinthians 12 · Verse 20

1 Corinthians 12:20

But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1 Corinthians 12:20, King James Version

1 Corinthians 12:20 in other translations

BSBAs it is, there are many parts, but one body.
WEBBut now they are many members, but one body.
ASVBut now they are many members, but one body.
YLTand now, indeed, are many members, and one body;
DARBYBut now the members are many, and the body one.
BBEBut now they are all different parts, but one body.
WebsterBut now are they many members, yet but one body.

What does 1 Corinthians 12:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. now--as the case really is: in contrast to the supposition (1Co 12:19; compare 1Co 12:18). many members--mutually dependent.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · 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 12:20 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.

νῦνnunNowG3568
δὲdehoweverG1161
πολλὰpollamanyG4183
μὲνmenindeedG3303
μέλη,melē[are the] members,G3196
ἓνhen[there is] oneG1520
δὲdehoweverG1161
σῶμα.sōmabody.G4983

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 12:20

  • 1 Corinthians 12:14

    For the body is not one member, but many.

  • 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.

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:21

    And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas ahora muchos miembros son á la verdad, empero un cuerpo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais maintenant les membres sont plusieurs, mais le corps, un.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nun aber sind der Glieder zwar viele, der Leib aber ist einer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc autem multa quidem membra, unum autem corpus.