2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord answers that his grace is sufficient and his power is perfected in weakness, so Paul gladly boasts in his weaknesses. It matters because it is one of Scripture's clearest promises that God's strength meets us precisely in our frailty.

Cross-references · 36

• Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
• 2 Cor 12:10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
• Isa 40:29–31He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
• Eph 3:16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
• Josh 1:9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
• Isa 43:2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
• Heb 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
• 1 Cor 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
• 2 Cor 3:5–6Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
• 2 Cor 12:5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
• 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
• 1 Cor 2:5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
• Col 1:11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
• Isa 35:3–4Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
• 1 Pet 4:13–14But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
• Luke 21:15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
• Exod 4:10–15And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
• 2 Cor 11:30If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
• 1 Tim 1:14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
• Matt 10:19–20But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
• Heb 11:34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
• Zeph 3:17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
• Deut 33:25–27Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
• Dan 10:16–19And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
• Ps 8:2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
• Col 1:28–29Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
• Matt 5:11–12Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
• Matt 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
• Jer 1:6–9Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
• Matt 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
• Isa 41:13–16For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
• Isa 4:5–6And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
• Exod 3:11–12And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
• Isa 11:2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
• 2 Cor 12:15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
• 2 Kgs 2:15And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

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.