1 Corinthians 8 · Verse 9

1 Corinthians 8:9

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1 Corinthians 8:9, King James Version

1 Corinthians 8:9 in other translations

BSBBe careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
WEBBut be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
ASVBut take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
YLTbut see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,
DARBYBut see lest anywise this your right to eat itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.
BBEBut take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble.
WebsterBut take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.

What does 1 Corinthians 8:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. this liberty of yours--the watchword for lax Corinthians. The very indifference of meats, which I concede, is the reason why ye should "take heed" not to tempt weak brethren to act against their conscience (which constitutes sin, Ro 14:22, 23).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. But take heed. This is the reply of Paul to the argument of the Corinthians in 1Cor 8:8. "Though all that you say should be admitted to be true, as it must be; though a man is neither morally better nor worse for partaking of meat or abstaining from it; yet the grand principle to be observed is, so to act as not to injure your brethren. Though you may be no better or worse for eating or not eating, yet, if your conduct shall injure others, and lead them into sin, that is a sufficient guide to determine you what to do in the case. You should abstain entirely. It is of far more importance that your brother should not be led into sin, than it is that you should partake of meat which you acknowledge (1Cor 8:8) is in itself of no importance."

Lest by any means. μηπως. You should be careful that by no conduct of yours your brother be led into sin. This is a general principle that is to regulate Christian conduct in all matters that are in themselves indifferent.

This liberty of your's. This which you claim as a right; this power which you have, and the exercise of which is in itself lawful. The liberty or power (εξουσια) here referred to was that of partaking of the meat that was offered in sacrifice to idols, 1Cor 8:8. A man may have a right abstractedly to do a thing, but it may not be prudent or wise to exercise it.

Become a stumbling-block. An occasion of sin. Mt 5:29, also, Rom 14:13. See that it be not the occasion of leading others to sin, and to abandon their Christian profession, 1Cor 8:10.

To them that are weak. To those professing Christians who are not fully informed or instructed in regard to the true nature of idolatry, and who still may have a superstitious regard for the gods whom their fathers worshipped.

(3) "this liberty" "power" (b) "liberty" Rom 14:13,20, Gall 5:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 But take heed - Lest by frequenting such feasts and eating things offered to idols, under the conviction that an idol is nothing, and that you may eat those things innocently, this liberty of yours should become a means of grievously offending a weak brother who has not your knowledge, or inducing one who respects you for your superior knowledge to partake of these things with the conscience, the persuasion and belief, that an idol is something, and to conclude, that as you partake of such things, so he may also, and with safety. He is not possessed of your superior information on this point, and he eats to the idol what you take as a common meal.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Eating one kind of food, and abstaining from another, have nothing in them to recommend a person to God. But the apostle cautions against putting a stumbling-block in the way of the weak; lest they be made bold to eat what was offered to the idol, not as common food, but as a sacrifice, and thereby be guilty of idolatry. He who has the Spirit of Christ in him, will love those whom Christ loved so as to die for them…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 →

1 Corinthians 8:9 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.

βλέπετεblepetedo be carefulG991
δὲdehoweverG1161
μήmēlestG3361
πωςpōsperhapsG4458
ἡhētheG3588
ἐξουσίαexousiarightG1849
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
αὕτηhautēthisG3778
πρόσκομμαproskommaan occasion of stumblingG4348
γένηταιgenētaimay becomeG1096
τοῖςtoisto thoseG3588
ἀσθενέσιν.asthenesinweak.G772

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 8:9

  • Galatians 5:13

    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

  • Romans 14:20-21

    For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

  • 1 Peter 2:16

    As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

  • 2 Peter 2:19

    While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

  • Romans 14:1-2

    Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:24

    Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

  • Romans 14:13-15

    Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:12

    But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:32

    Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

  • 1 Corinthians 8:10

    For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

  • 1 Corinthians 9:22

    To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

  • Luke 17:1-2

    Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
take.
10; 10:24,29; Mt 18:6,7,10; Lu 17:1,2; Ro 14:20,21; Ga 5:13
1Pe 2:16; 2Pe 2:19
liberty. or, power. a stumbling-block.
10:32; Le 19:14; Isa 57:14; Eze 14:3; 44:12; Ro 14:13-15,20; Ga 5:13
Re 2:14
weak.
12; 9:22; Isa 35:3; Ro 14:1,2; 15:1; 2Co 11:21

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 8:8

    But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:9

    But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:10

    For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

Read all of 1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 8:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas mirad que esta vuestra libertad no sea tropezadero á los que son flacos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais prenez garde que cette liberté que vous avez ne devienne une pierre d’achoppement pour les faibles.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sehet aber zu, daß nicht etwa dieses euer Recht den Schwachen zum Anstoß werde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Videte autem ne forte hæc licentia vestra offendiculum fiat infirmis.