1 Corinthians 16 · Verse 5

1 Corinthians 16:5

Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 16:5, King James Version

1 Corinthians 16:5 in other translations

BSBAfter I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia.
WEBI will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.
ASVBut I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia;
YLTAnd I will come unto you, when I pass through Macedonia--for Macedonia I do pass through--
DARBYBut I will come to you when I shall have gone through Macedonia; for I do go through Macedonia.
BBEBut I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia, for that is my purpose;
WebsterNow I will come to you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I am to pass through Macedonia.

What does 1 Corinthians 16:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 16:5-7
5-7. His first intention had been (2Co 1:15, 16) to pass through them (Corinth) to Macedonia, and again return to them from Macedonia, and so to Judea; this he had announced in the lost epistle (1Co 5:9); now having laid aside this intention (for which he was charged with levity, 2Co 1:17, &c., whereas it was through lenity, 2Co 1:23; 2:1), he announces his second plan of "not seeing them now by the way," but "passing through Macedonia" first on his way to them, and then "tarrying a while," and even "abiding and wintering with them." for I do pass--as much as to say, "This is what I at last resolve upon" (not as the erroneous subscription of the Epistle represents it, as if he was THEN at Philippi, on his way through Macedonia); implying that there had been some previous communication upon the subject of the journey, and also that there had been some indecisiveness in the apostle's plan [Paley]. In accordance with his second plan, we find him in Macedonia when Second Corinthians was written (2Co 2:13; 8:1; 9:2, 4), and on his way to Corinth (2Co 12:14; 13:1; compare Ac 20:1, 2). "Pass through" is opposed to "abide" (1Co 16:6). He was not yet in Macedonia (as 1Co 16:8 shows), but at Ephesus; but he was thinking of passing through it (not abiding as he purposed to do at Corinth).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Now I will come unto you. I purpose to come unto you. He had expected to see them on his way to Macedonia, but, on some account, had been induced to abandon that design. 2Cor 1:16; 2Cor 1:17.

When I shall pass through Macedonia. When I shall have passed through Macedonia. He proposed to go to Macedonia first, and, having passed through that country, visiting the churches, to go to Corinth. For the situation of Macedonia, Acts 16:9.

For I do pass through Macedonia. I design to do it. It is my present intention. Though he had abandoned, from some cause, the design of passing through Corinth on his way to Macedonia, yet he had not given up the design itself. It was still his intention to go there.

(c) "when I shall" 2Cor 1:15,16 (++) "do pass" "I intend to"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia - St. Paul was now at Ephesus; for almost all allow, in opposition to the subscription at the end of this epistle that states it to have been written from Philippi, that it was written from Ephesus: and this is supported by many strong arguments; and the 8th verse here seems to put it past all question: I will tarry at Ephesus; i.e. I am in Ephesus, and here I purpose to remain until pentecost. Though Macedonia was not in the direct way from Ephesus to Corinth, yet the apostle intended to make it in his way. And it was because it was not in the direct road, but lay at the upper end of the Aegean Sea, and very far out of his direct line, that he says, I do pass through Macedonia - I have purposed to go thither before I go to Corinth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:1-9

The good examples of other Christians and churches should rouse us. It is good to lay up in store for good uses. Those who are rich in this world, should be rich in good works, 1Ti 6:17, 18. The diligent hand will not make rich, without the Divine blessing, Pr 10:4, 22. And what more proper to stir us up to charity to the people and children of God, than to look at all we have as his gift? Works of mercy are real…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 16:1-9 →

1 Corinthians 16:5 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.

ἐλεύσομαιeleusomaiI will comeG2064
δὲdehoweverG1161
πρὸςprostoG4314
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ὅτανhotanwhenG3752
ΜακεδονίανMakedonianMacedoniaG3109
διέλθω·dielthōI may have gone through;G1330
ΜακεδονίανMakedonianMacedoniaG3109
γὰρgarforG1063
διέρχομαι,dierchomaiI am going through,G1330

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 16:5

  • Acts 19:21

    After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:19

    But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:15-17

    And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea. When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

  • Acts 20:1-3

    And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
Ac 19:21; 20:1-3; 2Co 1:15-17

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 16:4

    And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:5

    Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:6

    And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y á vosotros iré, cuando hubiere pasado por Macedonia, porque por Macedonia tengo de pasar:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or je me rendrai auprès de vous quand j’aurai traversé la Macédoine, car je traverse la Macédoine;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich werde aber zu euch kommen, wenn ich Macedonien durchzogen habe, denn ich ziehe durch Macedonien.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Veniam autem ad vos, cum Macedoniam pertransiero: nam Macedoniam pertransibo.