If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
Parallel translations
- KJV And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
- BSB And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
- NKJV And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
- NASB And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
- NLT And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?
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
Like the foot, an ear cannot disown itself by claiming it is not an eye. No member is excluded simply because its function differs.
Overview
Paul repeats the point with a second illustration to reinforce that differing gifts do not negate belonging. The ear's distinctness from the eye is exactly what makes it useful. Each believer's unique calling is part of God's design, and discontent with one's role does not remove one from the body of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Rom 12:3For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
- 1 Cor 12:22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
- Phil 2:3doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- Rom 12:10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
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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 12:16 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.