2 Corinthians 13:9

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

2 Corinthians 13:9, King James Version

2 Corinthians 13:9 in other translations

BSB	In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
WEB	For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect.
ASV	For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.
YLT	for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for--your perfection!
DARBY	For we rejoice when we may be weak and ye may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.
BBE	For we are glad when we are feeble and you are strong: and this is our prayer, even that you may be made complete.
Webster	For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

What does 2 Corinthians 13:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. are glad--Greek, "rejoice." when we are weak--having no occasion for displaying our power; and so seeming "weak," as being compassed with "infirmities" (2Co 10:10; 11:29, 30). ye ... strong--"mighty" in faith and the fruits of the Spirit. and--not in the oldest manuscripts. we wish--Greek, "pray for." your perfection--literally, "perfect restoration"; literally, that of a dislocated limb. Compare 2Co 13:11, "Be perfect," the same Greek word; also in 1Co 1:10, "perfectly joined together"; Ep 4:12, "the perfecting of the saints."

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. For we are glad, when we are weak, etc. We rejoice in your welfare, and are willing to submit to self-denial and to infirmity, if it may promote your spiritual strength. In the connexion in which this stands it seems to mean, "I am content to appear weak, provided you do no wrong; I am willing not to have occasion to exercise my power in punishing offenders, and had rather lie under the reproach of being actually weak, than to have occasion to exercise my power by punishing you for wrong-doing; and provided you are strong in the faith and in the hope of the gospel, I am very willing, nay, I rejoice that I am under this necessity of appearing weak."

And this also we wish. I desire this in addition to your doing no evil.

Even your perfection. The word here used occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, though the verb from which it is derived (καταρτιζω) occurs often, Mt 4:21, 21:16, Mk 1:19, Lk 6:40, Romm 9:22, 1Cor 1:10 2Cor 13:11, Gal 6:1, 1Thes 3:10, et al. 2Cor 13:11. On the meaning of the word, see Rom 9:22. The idea of restoring, putting in order, fitting, repairing, is involved in the word always; and hence the idea of making perfect--i, e., of completely restoring anything to its proper place. Here it evidently means that Paul wished their entire reformation--so that there should be no occasion for exercising discipline. Doddridge renders it, "perfect good order." Macknight, "restoration." For this restoration of good order Paul had diligently laboured in these epistles; and this was an object near to his heart.

(b) "even your perfection" 1Thes 3:10, Heb 6:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 For we are glad, when we are weak - It will give me indescribable pleasure that I should still appear to be poor, despicable, and destitute of this extraordinary power with which God has clothed me, so that you be strong in all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. And this also we wish, even your perfection - We cannot be satisfied that persons, with such eminent endowments, and who have once received the truth as it is in Jesus, should be deficient in any of the graces that constitute the mind of Christ; such as brotherly love, charity, harmony, unity, and order. I have given the above paraphrase to this verse, because of the last term καταρτισιν, which we render perfection. Καταρτισις, from κατα, intensive, andαρτιζω, to fit or adapt, signifies the reducing of a dislocated limb to its proper place; and hence, as Beza says on this passage: "The apostle's meaning is, that whereas the members of the Church were all, as it were, dislocated and out of joint, they should be joined together in love; and they should endeavor to make perfect what was amiss among them, either in faith or morals." It is a metaphor, also, taken from a building; the several stones and timbers being all put in their proper places and situations, so that the whole building might be complete, and be a proper habitation for the owner. The same figure, though not in the same terms, the apostle uses, Eph 2:20-22. The perfection or rejointing which the apostle wishes is that which refers to the state of the Church in its fellowship, unity, order, etc. And perfection in the soul is the same, in reference to it, as perfection in the Church is to its order and unity. The perfection or rejointing of the soul implies its purification, and placing every faculty, passion, and appetite in its proper place; so that the original order, harmony, unity, and purity of the soul may be restored; and the whole builded up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph 2:22.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:7-10

The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil. The apostle not only desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in holiness. We are earnestly to pray to God for those we caution, that they may…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 13:7-10 →

2 Corinthians 13:9 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.

χαίρομενchairomenWe rejoiceG5463

γὰρgarforG1063

ὅτανhotanwhenG3752

ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165

ἀσθενῶμεν,asthenōmenmay be weak,G770

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771

δὲdehoweverG1161

δυνατοὶdunatoistrongG1415

ἦτε·ētemay be;G1510

τοῦτοtoutoBut thisG3778

καὶkaialsoG2532

εὐχόμεθα,euchomethaWe pray forG2172

τὴνtēntheG3588

ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771

κατάρτισιν.katartisinperfection.G2676

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

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 13:9

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
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.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
2 Corinthians 12:5-10
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 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. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. …
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:23
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
2 Corinthians 13:7-8
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

when.
8; 11:30; 12:5-10; 1Co 4:10
even.
7,11; 7:1; Eph 4:13; Php 3:12-15; Col 1:28; 4:12; 1Th 3:10; 2Ti 3:17
Heb 6:1; 12:23; 13:21; 1Pe 5:10

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

Context

2 Corinthians 13:8
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
2 Corinthians 13:9
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Por lo cual nos gozamos que seamos nosotros flacos, y que vosotros estéis fuertes; y aun deseamos vuestra perfección.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car nous nous réjouissons lorsque nous, nous sommes faibles, et que vous, vous êtes puissants: et nous demandons ceci aussi, votre perfectionnement.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn wir freuen uns, wenn wir schwach sind, ihr aber mächtig seid; um dieses bitten wir auch, um eure Vervollkommnung.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Gaudemus enim, quoniam nos infirmi sumus, vos autem potentes estis. Hoc et oramus, vestram consummationem.