For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.
Parallel translations
- KJV For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
- BSB For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
- NKJV For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
- NASB For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the body.
- NLT For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whoever eats and drinks without discerning the Lord's body brings judgment on himself. Failing to recognize the meal's significance and the body of believers is serious.
Overview
Paul warns that careless participation invites divine judgment because it fails to 'discern the Lord's body.' This likely includes both recognizing the meal as Christ's body given for us and honoring the church as his body, which the Corinthians neglected by despising the poor. Reverent discernment of Christ and his people is essential to worthy participation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Cor 11:27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
- Heb 5:14But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
- 1 Cor 11:30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
- 1 Cor 11:24When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
- 1 Cor 11:32–34But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
- Eccl 8:5Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.
- Jas 5:12But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear — not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”; so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy.
- Jas 3:1Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
- Rom 13:2Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 11:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.