Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
- KJV But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
- NKJV But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
- NASB But the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord.
- NLT As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
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
Paul cites Scripture: anyone who boasts should boast in the Lord. All legitimate glorying centers on God, not self.
Overview
Echoing Jeremiah 9:24, Paul redirects all boasting away from human achievement to the Lord Himself. The rivals gloried in themselves; Paul glories in God's grace and work. This principle dismantles spiritual pride and roots all true confidence in what God has done, supremely in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Jer 9:23–24This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- 1 Cor 1:31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- Jas 1:9–10The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
- Isa 65:16Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight.
- Ps 105:3Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
- Phil 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- Jer 4:2and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
- 1 Cor 1:29so that no one may boast in His presence.
- Gal 6:13–14For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
- Rom 5:11Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
- Isa 41:16You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
- Isa 45:25In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult.
- Ps 106:5that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, and rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, and give glory with Your inheritance.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 10:17 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.