If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
Parallel translations
- WEB If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
- BSB If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
- NKJV If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
- NASB If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
- NLT If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
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
If the whole body were an eye, there would be no hearing; if all hearing, no smell. A body of identical parts could not function.
Overview
Paul shows the absurdity of wishing everyone had the same gift. A body needs varied senses and functions to operate. Likewise the church needs differing gifts; uniformity would cripple her, while God-given diversity enables the body to serve fully and well.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 139:13–16For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
- Prov 20:12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
- Ps 94:9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
- 1 Cor 12:21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
- 1 Cor 12:29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
- 1 Sam 9:9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 12:17 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.