2 Corinthians 12:5

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:5, King James Version

2 Corinthians 12:5 in other translations

BSB	I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
WEB	On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
ASV	On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.
YLT	Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,
DARBY	Of such a one I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.
BBE	On account of such a one I will have glory: for myself I will take no glory, but only in my feeble body.
Webster	Of such one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities.

What does 2 Corinthians 12:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. of myself--concerning myself. Self is put in the background, except in respect to his infirmities. His glorying in his other self, to which the revelations were vouchsafed, was not in order to give glory to his fleshly self, but to bring out in contrast the "infirmities" of the latter, that Christ might have all the glory.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. Of such an one will I glory. Of such a man it would be right to boast. It would be admitted that it is right to exult in such a man, and to esteem him to be peculiarly favoured by God. I will boast of him as having received peculiar honour from the Lord. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the words rendered "of such an one" should be translated "of such a thing," or of such a transaction; meaning, "I can indeed justly boast of my being caught up to heaven, as of a thing the whole glory of which pertains to him who has thus exalted me; but of myself, or of anything in me, I will not boast." So Rosenmuller explains it. But it seems to me that the connexion requires that we should understand it of a person, and that the passage is partly ironical. Paul speaks in the third person. He chooses to keep himself directly out of view. And though he refers really to himself, yet he would not say this directly, but says that of such a man they would admit it would be proper to boast.

Yet of myself. Directly. It is not expedient for me to boast of myself. "You would allow me to boast of such a man as I have referred to; I admit that it is not proper for me to boast directly of myself."

But in mine infirmities. My weaknesses, trials, pains, sufferings; such as many regard as infirmities. 2Cor 11:30.

(a) "of myself" 2Cor 12:9,10, 11:30 (*) "infirmities" "me weakness"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 Of such a one will I glory - Through modesty he does not mention himself, though the account can be understood of no other person; for, did he mean any other, the whole account would be completely irrelevant.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

There can be no doubt the apostle speaks of himself. Whether heavenly things were brought down to him, while his body was in a trance, as in the case of ancient prophets; or whether his soul was dislodged from the body for a time, and taken up into heaven, or whether he was taken up, body and soul together, he knew not. We are not capable, nor is it fit we should yet know, the particulars of that glorious place and…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 12:1-6 →

2 Corinthians 12:5 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.

ὑπὲρhuperConcerningG5228

τοῦtou<the>G3588

τοιούτουtoioutousuch a manG5108

καυχήσομαι,kauchēsomaiI will boast,G2744

ὑπὲρhuperconcerningG5228

δὲdehoweverG1161

ἐμαυτοῦemautoumyselfG1473

οὐounotG3756

καυχήσομαιkauchēsomaiI will boastG2744

εἰeionlyG1487

μὴmēexceptG3361

ἐνeninG1722

ταῖςtaistheG3588

ἀσθενείαιςastheneiaisweaknessesG769

μου·mouof mine;G3165

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

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 12:5

2 Corinthians 11:30
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
1 Corinthians 2:3
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

such.
2-4
yet.
9,10; 11:30

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

Context

2 Corinthians 12:4
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2 Corinthians 12:5
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2 Corinthians 12:6
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	De este tal me gloriaré, mas de mí mismo nada me gloriaré, sino en mis flaquezas.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Je me glorifierai d’un tel homme, mais je ne me glorifierai pas de moi-même, si ce n’est dans mes infirmités.
German Elberfelder 1871	Über einen solchen werde ich mich rühmen; über mich selbst aber werde ich mich nicht rühmen, es sei denn meiner Schwachheiten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Pro hujusmodi gloriabor: pro me autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis.