Romans 12 · Verse 4

Romans 12:4

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Romans 12:4, King James Version

Romans 12:4 in other translations

BSBJust as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
WEBFor even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
ASVFor even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:
YLTfor as in one body we have many members, and all the members have not the same office,
DARBYFor, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office;
BBEFor, as we have a number of parts in one body, but all the parts have not the same use,
WebsterFor as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

What does Romans 12:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 12:4-5
4-5. For as we have many members, &c.--The same diversity and yet unity obtains in the body of Christ, whereof all believers are the several members, as in the natural body.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. For. This word here denotes a further illustration or proof of what he had just before said. The duty to which he was exhorting the Romans was, not to be unduly exalted or elevated in their own estimation. In order to produce proper humility, he shows them that God has appointed certain orders or grades in the church; that all are useful in their proper place; that we should seek to discharge our duty in our appropriate sphere; and thus that due subordination and order would be observed. To show this, he introduces a beautiful comparison drawn from the human body. There are various members in the human frame; all useful and honourable in their proper place; and all designed to promote the order, and beauty, and harmony of the whole. So the church is one body, consisting of many members, and each is fitted to be useful and comely in its proper place. The same comparison he uses with great beauty and force in 1Cor 12:4-31; also Eph 4:25 Eph 5:30. In that chapter the comparison is carried out to much greater length, and its influence shown with great force.

Many members. Limbs, or parts; feet, hands, eyes, ears, etc., 1Cor 12:14,15.

In one body. Constituting one body; or united in one, and making one person. Essential to the existence, beauty, and happiness of the one body or person.

The same office. The same use or design; not all appointed for the same thing; one is to see, another to hear, a third to walk with, etc., 1Cor 12:14-23.

(q) "many members" 1Cor 12:4,12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For as we have many members - As the human body consists of many parts, each having its respective office, and all contributing to the perfection and support of the whole; each being indispensably necessary in the place which it occupies, and each equally useful though performing a different function;

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 12:3-8

Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have…

Read the full comment on Romans 12:3-8 →

Romans 12:4 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.

καθάπερkathaperJust asG2509
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐνeninG1722
ἑνὶhenioneG1520
σώματιsōmatibodyG4983
πολλὰpollamanyG4183
μέληmelēmembersG3196
ἔχομεν,echomenwe have,G2192
τὰta<the>G3588
δὲdenowG1161
μέληmelēthe membersG3196
πάνταpantaallG3956
οὐounotG3756
τὴνtēntheG3588
αὐτὴνautēnsameG846
ἔχειecheihaveG2192
πρᾶξιν,praxinfunction,G4234

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

Cross references for Romans 12:4

  • 1 Corinthians 12:27

    Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

    For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

  • Ephesians 4:15-16

    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4

    Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

  • Ephesians 4:4

    There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 12:4,12,27; Eph 4:15,16

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

Context

  • Romans 12:3

    For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  • Romans 12:4

    For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

  • Romans 12:5

    So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Read all of Romans 12

Romans 12:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque de la manera que en un cuerpo tenemos muchos miembros, empero todos los miembros no tienen la misma operación;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car comme dans un seul corps nous avons plusieurs membres, et que tous les membres n’ont pas la même fonction,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn gleichwie wir in einem Leibe viele Glieder haben, aber die Glieder nicht alle dieselbe Verrichtung haben,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sicut enim in uno corpore multa membra habemus, omnia autem membra non eumdem actum habent: