1 Corinthians 6 · Verse 5

1 Corinthians 6:5

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
1 Corinthians 6:5, King James Version

1 Corinthians 6:5 in other translations

BSBI say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
WEBI say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
ASVI say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren,
YLTunto your shame I speak: so there is not among you one wise man, not even one, who shall be able to discern in the midst of his brethren!
DARBYI speak to you to put you to shame. Thus there is not a wise person among you, not even one, who shall be able to decide between his brethren!
BBEI say this to put you to shame. Is there not among you one wise man who may be able to give a decision between his brothers?
WebsterI speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that will be able to judge between his brethren?

What does 1 Corinthians 6:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. your shame--Thus he checks their puffed-up spirit (1Co 5:2; compare 1Co 15:34). To shame you out of your present unworthy course of litigation before the heathen, I have said (1Co 6:4), "Set the least esteemed in the Church to judge." Better even this, than your present course. Is it so?--Are you in such a helpless state that, &c.? not a wise man--though ye admire "wisdom" so much on other occasions (1Co 1:5, 22). Paul alludes probably to the title, "cachain," or wise man, applied to each Rabbi in Jewish councils. no, not one--not even one, amidst so many reputed among you for wisdom (1Co 3:18; 4:6). shall be able--when applied to. brethren--literally, "brother"; that is, judge between brother and brother. As each case should arise, the arbitrator was to be chosen from the body of the church, such a wise person as had the charism, or gift, of church government.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. I speak to your shame. I declare that which is a reproach to you, that your matters of dispute are carried before heathen tribunals.

Is it so, etc. Can it be that in the Christian church--the church collected in refined and enlightened Corinth--there is not a single member so wise, intelligent, and prudent, that his brethren may have confidence in him, and refer their causes to him? Can this be the case in a church that boasts so much of its wisdom, and that prides itself so muck in the number and qualifications of its intelligent members?

(*) "judge" "Decide"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? - Have you none among yourselves that can be arbitrators of the differences which arise, that you go to the heathen tribunals?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels and disputes. In matters of great damage to ourselves or families, we may use lawful means to right ourselves, but Christians should be of a forgiving temper. Refer the matters in dispute, rather than go to law about them. They are trifles, and may easily be settled…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 →

1 Corinthians 6:5 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.

πρὸςprosForG4314
ἐντροπὴνentropēnshameG1791
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
λέγω.legōI say this.G3004
οὕτωςhoutōsThusG3779
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔνιeniis thereG1762
ἐνenamongG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
οὐδεὶςoudeisno [one]G3762
σοφός,sophoswise,G4680
ὃςhoswhoG3739
δυνήσεταιdunēsetaiwill be ableG1410
διακρῖναιdiakrinaito decideG1252
ἀνὰanainG303
μέσονmesonbetweenG3319
τοῦtoutheG3588
ἀδελφοῦadelphoubrotherG80
αὐτοῦ;autouof him?G846

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 6:5

  • 1 Corinthians 4:14

    I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:34

    Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

  • James 3:13-18

    Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. …

  • 1 Corinthians 4:10

    We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

  • Proverbs 14:8

    The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:14

    Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:18

    Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

  • Acts 1:15

    And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to your.
4:14; 11:14; 15:34
Is it.
3:18; 4:10; Pr 14:8; Jas 1:5; 3:13-18

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 6:4

    If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:5

    I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

  • 1 Corinthians 6:6

    But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 6

1 Corinthians 6:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Para avergonzaros lo digo. ¿Pues qué, no hay entre vosotros sabio, ni aun uno que pueda juzgar entre sus hermanos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je parle pour vous faire honte: ainsi il n’y a pas d’homme sage parmi vous, pas même un seul, qui soit capable de décider entre ses frères?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Zur Beschämung sage ichs euch. Also nicht ein Weiser ist unter euch, auch nicht einer, der zwischen seinen Brüdern zu entscheiden vermag?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ad verecundiam vestram dico. Sic non est inter vos sapiens quisquam, qui possit judicare inter fratrem suum?