1 Corinthians 3 · Verse 7

1 Corinthians 3:7

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7, King James Version

1 Corinthians 3:7 in other translations

BSBSo neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
WEBSo then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
ASVSo then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
YLTso that neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is watering, but He who is giving growth--God;
DARBYSo that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer; but God the giver of the increase.
BBESo then the planter is nothing, and the waterer is nothing; but God who gives the increase.
WebsterSo then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase.

What does 1 Corinthians 3:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. neither is he that ... anything ... but God--namely, is all in all. "God" is emphatically last in the Greek, "He that giveth the increase (namely), God." Here follows a parenthesis, 1Co 3:8-21, where "Let no man glory in men" stands in antithetic contrast to "God" here.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Any thing. This is to be taken comparatively. They are nothing ia comparison with God. Their agency is of no importance compared with his. 1Cor 1:28. It does mean that their agency ought not to be performed; that it is not important, and indispensable in its place; but that the honour is due to God. Their agency is indispensable. God could make seed or a tree grow if they were not planted in the earth. But he does not do it. The agency of the husbandman is indispensable in the ordinary operations of his providence. If he does not plant, God will not make the grain or the tree grow. God blesses his labours; he does not work a miracle. God attends effort with success; he does not interfere in a miraculous manner to accommodate the indolence of men. So in the matter of salvation. The efforts of ministers would be of no avail without God. They could do nothing in the salvation of the soul, unless he should give the increase. But their labours are as indispensable and as necessary, as are those of the farmer in the production of a harvest. And as every farmer could say, "my labours are nothing without God, who alone can give the increase," so it is with every minister of the gospel.

(a) "neither" Jn 15:5, 2Cor 12:9-11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 So then, neither is he that planteth any thing - God alone should have all the glory, as the seed is his, the ground is his, the laborers are his, and the produce all comes from himself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one, employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the same design…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 →

1 Corinthians 3:7 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.

ὥστεhōsteSoG5620
οὔτεouteneitherG3777
ὁhothe [one]G3588
φυτεύωνphuteuōnplantingG5452
ἐστίνestinisG1510
τιtianythingG5100
οὔτεoutenorG3777
ὁhothe [one]G3588
ποτίζων,potizōnwatering,G4222
ἀλλ᾽all᾽but [only]G235
ὁhothe [One]G3588
αὐξάνωνauxanōngiving growth —G837
θεός·theosGod;G2316

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 3:7

  • John 15:5

    I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

  • Galatians 6:3

    For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • Psalms 115:1

    Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:2

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

  • Isaiah 40:17

    All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

  • Daniel 4:35

    And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

  • Isaiah 41:29

    Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
13:2; Ps 115:1; Isa 40:17; 41:29; Da 4:35; Joh 15:5; 2Co 12:9; Ga 6:3

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 3:6

    I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:7

    So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:8

    Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que, ni el que planta es algo, ni el que riega; sino Dios, que da el crecimiento.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		De sorte que ni celui qui plante n’est rien, ni celui qui arrose, mais Dieu qui donne l’accroissement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Also ist weder der da pflanzt etwas, noch der da begießt, sondern Gott, der das Wachstum gibt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Itaque neque qui plantat est aliquid, neque qui rigat: sed qui incrementum dat, Deus.