So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Parallel translations
- WEB So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
- BSB So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- NKJV So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
- NASB So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
- NLT It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
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
Neither the planter nor the waterer counts for anything; only God who gives the growth matters. All glory for spiritual fruit belongs to God alone.
Overview
Paul presses his point: human laborers are 'nothing' in comparison to God, who alone produces growth. This is not to deny their usefulness but to deny them any glory that belongs to God. For a church idolizing leaders, the lesson is to look past the servants to the God who works through them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 15:5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
- Gal 6:3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
- Ps 115:1Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
- 2 Cor 12:9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- 1 Cor 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- Isa 40:17All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
- Dan 4:35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
- Isa 41:29Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:7 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
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