1 Corinthians 12:17

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1 Corinthians 12:17 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible 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?

King James Version KJV

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

American Standard Version ASV

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Bible in Basic English BBE

If all the body was an eye, where would be the hearing? if all was hearing, where would be the smelling?

Free Bible Version FBV

If the whole body was an eye, how could you hear anything? If the whole body was an ear, how could you smell anything?

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smellling?

Young's Literal Translation YLT

If the whole body [were] an eye, where the hearing? if the whole hearing, where the smelling?

World English Bible WEB

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?

Noah Webster Bible WBS

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

If the whole body were the eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

Translation for Translators T4T

If our body were only an eye, ◄we would not be able to hear./how could we hear?► [RHQ] If our body were only an ear, ◄we would not be able to smell anything!/how could we smell anything?► [RHQ]

Plain English Version PEV

Suppose the whole body was an eye, it wouldn’t hear anything. Or suppose the whole body was an ear, it wouldn’t smell anything.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Corinthians 12:17

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

1 Corinthians 12:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

GRK ει ολον το σωμα οφθαλμος που η ακοη ει ολον ακοη που η οσφρησις

ει ei G1487 if COND

ολον holos G3650 all Adj-NSN

το ho G3588 the/this/who Art-NSN

σωμα sōma G4983 body Noun-NSN

οφθαλμος ophthalmos G3788 eye Noun-NSM

που pou G4226 where? Adv-I

η ho G3588 the/this/who Art-NSF

ακοη akoē G189 hearing Noun-NSF

ει ei G1487 if COND

ολον holos G3650 all Adj-NSN

ακοη akoē G189 hearing Noun-NSF

που pou G4226 where? Adv-I

η ho G3588 the/this/who Art-NSF

οσφρησις osphrēsis G3750 sense of smell Noun-NSF

Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — 1 Corinthians 12:17

ει ei G1487 "if" COND

This word means 'if' and is used to express conditions or questions. It appears in many Bible verses, such as Matthew 11:14 and Romans 8:25, introducing a condition or hypothesis.

Definition: εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. __I. Conditional, if; __1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; __(a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; __(b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; __(with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; __(d) aor.: Luk.16:11 19:8, Jhn.13:32, 18:23, Rev.20:15, al. __2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί: Mat.12:28, Jhn.7:4, Rom.5:17, al. __3. Of an unfulfilled condition, with indic, impf., aor. or plpf., before ἄν, with imp. or aor. (see: ἄν, I, i). __4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mrk.15:44, 1Jn.3:13, al. __5. C. indic., as in LXX (Num.14:3o, 1Ki.14:45, al. = Heb. אִם), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, §272): Mrk.8:12, Heb.3:11" (LXX) 4:3 (LXX). __6. Rarely (cl.) with optative, to express a merely possible condition: Act.24:19 27:39, 1Co.14:10 15:37, I Pe3:14, 17. __II. Interrogative, if, whether. __1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc.: with indic. pres., Mat.26:63, Mrk.15:36, Act.19:2, 2Co.13:5, al.; fut., Mrk.3:2, Act.8:22, al.; aor., Mrk.15:44, 1Co.1:16, al.; with subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Php.3:12. __2. As in LXX (= Heb. אִם and interrog. הֲ, Gen.17:17, al.; see WM, 639f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mrk.8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luk.13:23, 22:49, Act.19:2, al. __III. With other particles. __1. εἰ ἄρα, εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see: ἄρα, γε. __2. εἰ δὲ καί, but if also: Luk.11:18; but even if, 1Co.4:7, 2Co.4:3 11:16. __3. εἰ δὲ μή, but if not, but if otherwise: Mrk.2:21, 22 Jhn.14:2, Rev.2:5, al. __4. εἰ καί, if even, if also, although: Mrk.14:29, Luk.11:8, 1Co.7:21, 2Co.4:16, Php.2:17, al. __5. καὶ εἰ, even if, see: καί __6. εἰ μή, if not, unless, except, but only: Mat.24:22, Mrk.2:26 6:5, Jhn.9:33, 1Co.7:17 (only), Gal.1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή, 2:16; see Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή, pleonastic (Bl., §65, 6), 1Co.14:5 15:2, 1Ti.5:19. __7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Eze.33:27, al.): Heb.6:14. __8. εἴ πως, if haply: Act.27:12, Rom.1:10. __9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε, whether . . . or; Rom.12:6-8, 1Co.3:22 13:8, al. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 459 NT verses. KJV: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether See also: 1 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 10:7; 1 Peter 1:6.

ολον holos G3650 "all" Adj-NSN

The Greek word for 'all' or 'whole', meaning complete in every way, is used in the Bible to describe things that are entire or total, like in Luke 5:5 and Acts 11:26.

Definition: ὅλος, -η, -ον, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] of persons and things, whole, entire, complete; __1. of indefinite ideas, with subst. anarth.: Luk.5:5, Act.11:26 28:30, Tit.1:11; ὅλον ἄνθρωπον (an entire man; see Field, Notes, 93), Jhn.7:23; ὅλη Ἰερουσαλήμ (= πᾶσα Ἰ, Mat.2:3; see Bl., §47, 9), Act.21:31. __2. Definite, with art.; __(a) preceding subst.: Mat.4:23, 24 Luk.8:39, 1Co.12:17, al.; __(b) following subst.: Mrk.1:33, Luk.9:25, Jhn.4:53, Act.21:30, al.; __(with) between art. and subst., where subst. is an abstract noun (Plat., al.). __3. Attached to adj. or verb: Mat.13:33, Luk.13:21, Jhn.9:34, al.; adverbially, δι ̓ ὅλου (MM, xviii), Jhn.19:23. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 100 NT verses. KJV: all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole See also: 1 Corinthians 5:6; Luke 11:36; Hebrews 3:2.

το ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-NSN

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

σωμα sōma G4983 "body" Noun-NSN

The word for body refers to the whole physical person, used literally or figuratively in the Bible, as seen in Matthew 27:58 and 1 Corinthians 6:13.

Definition: σῶμα, -τος, τό, [in LXX for גְּוִיָּה ,בָּשָׂר, etc., and for Aram. נְבֵלָה ;] a body. __1. Prop., of the human body, __(a) as always in Hom. (opposite to δέμας), of the dead body: Mat.27:58, 59 Mrk.15:43, al.; __(b) of the living body: Luk.11:34, 1Co.6:13, al.; ἐν σ. εἶναι, Heb.13:3; as the instrument of the soul, τὰ διὰ τοῦ σ., 2Co.5:10; opposite to πνεῦμα, Rom.8:10, 1Co.5:3 7:4, Jas.2:26; to ψυχή, Mat.6:25 10:28, Luk.12:22 (cf. Wis.1:1, al.); to τὸ π. καὶ ἡ ψ., 1Th.5:23; σ. ψυχικόν, opposite to σ. πνευματικόν, 1Co.15:44; ὁ ναὸς τοῦ σ. αὐτοῦ (genitive epexeg.), Jhn.2:21; τὸ σ. τ. ταπεινώσεως (Hebraistic "genitive of definition"; M, Pr., 73f.; Bl., §35, 5), opposite to τὸ σ. τ. δοξῆς αὐτοῦ, Php.3:21; similarly, τὸ σ. τ. σαρκός, Col.1:22; σ. τοῦ θανάτου (subject to death), Rom.7:24; σ. τ. ἁμαρτίας, Rom.6:6; __(with) periphr., ἀνθρώπου, then absol., σῶμα (Soph., Xen., al.), a person, and in later writers (Polyb., al.), a slave: Rev.18:13 (cf. MM, i, ii, xxiv; Deiss., BS, 160). __2. Of the bodies of animals: living, Jas.3:3; dead, Heb.13:11 ( Exo.29:14, al.). __3. Of inanimate objects (cf. Eng. "heavenly bodies"): 1Co.15:37, 38 40 (Diod., al.). __4. Of any corporeal substance (Plat., al.): opposite to σκιά, Col.2:17. Metaphorical, of a number of persons united by a common bond; in NT, of the Church as the spiritual body of Christ: Rom.12:5, 1Co.10:16, 17 12:13, 27, Eph.1:23 2:16 4:4, 12, 16 5:23, 30, Col.1:18, 24 2:19 3:15; ἓν σ. κ. ἓν πνεῦμα, Eph.4:4. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 122 NT verses. KJV: bodily, body, slave See also: 1 Corinthians 5:3; Galatians 6:17; 1 Peter 2:24.

οφθαλμος ophthalmos G3788 "eye" Noun-NSM

The Greek word for eye, it can also mean vision or sight, as in Matthew 5:38 and Luke 6:41. Figuratively, it can represent envy or a jealous glance, as seen in Galatians 4:15.

Definition: ὀφθαλμός, -οῦ, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for עַיִן ;] the eye (as in cl., chiefly pl.): Mat.5:38, Mrk.9:47, Luk.6:41, Jhn.9:6, al.; τοὺς ὀ. ἐξορύθσσειν (figuratively), Gal.4:15; ἐπᾶραι, Luk.6:20, Jhn.6:5; ἀνοῖξα, Act.9:40; id., of restoring sight, Mat.20:33, Jhn.9:10, al.; ἐν ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ, 1Co.15:52; by anthropom., of God, Heb.4:13, 1Pe.3:12; pleonastically (cf. Thackeray, Gr., 42f.), εἶδον οἱ ὀ. μοθ, Luk.2:30 (similarly, ib. 4:20 10:23, Jhn.12:40, 1Co.2:9, 1Jn.1:1, Rev.1:7). Metaphorical (as otherwise in cl.; see LS, see word); __(a) of ethical qualities: ὀ. πονηρός (meton., for envy; cf. Heb. עַיִן רַע, Pro.28:22; cf. Sir.14:10 34:13), Mat.6:22, 23 Mrk.7:22, Luk.11:34; ἁπλοῦς, Mat.6:22, Luk.11:34; ἐπιθυμία (which see) ὀφθαλμῶν (cf. Ecc.4:8, Sir.14:9), 1Jn.2:16; ὀ. μεστοὶ μοιχαλἰδος, 2Pe.2:14; __(b) of mental vision: Mat.13:15, Mrk.8:18, Luk.19:42, Jhn.12:40, Rom.11:8, Gal.3:1, Eph.1:18, al.; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς before genitive (on the absence of the art., seeBl, §46, 9.II; M, Pr., 81), Mat.21:42, Mrk.12:11. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 86 NT verses. KJV: eye, sight See also: 1 Corinthians 2:9; Luke 11:34; 1 Peter 3:12.

που pou G4226 "where?" Adv-I

This Greek word means 'where' and is used to ask about a location, as seen in Matthew 2:2 and Mark 14:12. It can also indicate something is not found, like in Luke 8:25 and Romans 3:27. It's often translated as 'where' or 'whither'.

Definition: ποῦ interrog. adv., [in LXX for אַי, אַיֵּה, אָן ;] __1. prop., where?: Mat.2:2 26:17, Mrk.14:12, 14, Luk.17:17, 37 22:9, 11, Jhn.1:39 7:11 8:10, 19 9:12 11:34; ποῦ (ἐστιν), indicating that the subject in question is not to be found, Luk.8:25, Rom.3:27, 1Co.1:20 12:17 12:19 15:55, Gal.4:15, 2Pe.3:4; ποῦ φανεῖται, 1Pe.4:18. __2. = ὅπου (WM, 640; B1., § 50, 5): with indic., Mat.2:4, Mrk.15:47, Jhn.1:40 11:57 20:2, 13 20:15 Rev.2:13; with subjc., Mat.8:20, Luk.9:58 12:17. __3. In colloq. (as in Eng.) = ποῖ, whither: in direct questions, Jhn.7:35 9:12 13:36 16:5; in indir. quest., Jhn.3:8 8:14 12:35 14:5, Heb.11:8, 1Jn.2:11.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 39 NT verses. KJV: where, whither See also: 1 Corinthians 1:20; John 14:5; 1 Peter 4:18.

η ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-NSF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

ακοη akoē G189 "hearing" Noun-NSF

Refers to the act of hearing or the sense of hearing, as in 1 Corinthians 12:17 and 2 Peter 2:8. It can also mean a thing heard or a report.

Definition: ἀκοή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἀκούω), [in LXX: Exo.15:26, al. for שׁמע, its parts and derivatives, exc. Deu.11:22 (שׁמר) ;] __1. hearing, the sense of hearing: 1Co.12:17, 2Pe.2:8; "Hebraic dative," ἀκοῇ ακούειν (frequently in LXX; V. M, Pr., 14, 75), Mat.13:14, Act.28:26. __2. organ of hearing, the ear (Arist., al.; MM, VGT, see word): 2Ti.4:3-4; pl., Mrk.7:35, Luk.7:1, Act.17:20, Heb.5:11. __3. a thing heard, i.e., __(a) a message, teaching: Jhn.12:38 and Rom.16:16,17" (LXX), Gal.3:2,5 R, mg.; λόγος ἀκοῆς, 1Th.2:13, Heb.4:2; __(b) a report, rumour: with genitive, of person(s), Mat.4:24, 14:1, 24:6; Mrk.1:28 13:7 (Cremer, 82, 623; MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 22 NT verses. KJV: audience, ear, fame, which ye heard, hearing, preached, report, rumor See also: 1 Corinthians 12:17; John 12:38; Hebrews 4:2.

ει ei G1487 "if" COND

This word means 'if' and is used to express conditions or questions. It appears in many Bible verses, such as Matthew 11:14 and Romans 8:25, introducing a condition or hypothesis.

Usage: Occurs in 459 NT verses. KJV: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether See also: 1 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 10:7; 1 Peter 1:6.

ολον holos G3650 "all" Adj-NSN

The Greek word for 'all' or 'whole', meaning complete in every way, is used in the Bible to describe things that are entire or total, like in Luke 5:5 and Acts 11:26.

Usage: Occurs in 100 NT verses. KJV: all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole See also: 1 Corinthians 5:6; Luke 11:36; Hebrews 3:2.

ακοη akoē G189 "hearing" Noun-NSF

Refers to the act of hearing or the sense of hearing, as in 1 Corinthians 12:17 and 2 Peter 2:8. It can also mean a thing heard or a report.

Usage: Occurs in 22 NT verses. KJV: audience, ear, fame, which ye heard, hearing, preached, report, rumor See also: 1 Corinthians 12:17; John 12:38; Hebrews 4:2.

που pou G4226 "where?" Adv-I

Usage: Occurs in 39 NT verses. KJV: where, whither See also: 1 Corinthians 1:20; John 14:5; 1 Peter 4:18.

η ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-NSF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

οσφρησις osphrēsis G3750 "sense of smell" Noun-NSF

The sense of smell is the ability to perceive odors, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:17, where it is listed as one of the senses.

Definition: ὄσφρησις, -εως, ἡ (ὀσφραίνομαι, to smell), the sense of smell, smelling: 1Co.12:17.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1 NT verses. KJV: smelling See also: 1 Corinthians 12:17.

Study Notes — 1 Corinthians 12:17

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
1 Corinthians 12:17 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Cambridge Bible on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17
Sermons on 1 Corinthians 12:17

Context — The Body of Christ

15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And 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.

17If 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?

18But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be?

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	1 Corinthians 12:21	The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
2	Psalms 139:13–16	For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.
3	Proverbs 20:12	Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
4	1 Corinthians 12:29	Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
5	Psalms 94:9	He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
6	1 Samuel 9:9	(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

1 Corinthians 12:17 Summary

The verse 1 Corinthians 12:17 is saying that if we were all the same, the body of Christ would be incomplete and unable to function properly. Just like our physical bodies need different parts like eyes, ears, and a nose to experience the world, the church needs people with different gifts and abilities to fulfill its purpose, as seen in Romans 12:4-5. If everyone was the same, we would be missing out on the unique contributions and perspectives that each person brings, as emphasized in 1 Corinthians 12:18. By embracing and valuing our differences, we can work together to form a complete and effective body of Christ, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:16.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main point of 1 Corinthians 12:17?

The main point of 1 Corinthians 12:17 is to illustrate the importance of diversity in the body of Christ, emphasizing that if everyone had the same function, the body would be incomplete, as seen in the examples of the eye and the ear, and supported by the principle that God has arranged the members of the body according to His design, as stated in 1 Corinthians 12:18.

Is the apostle Paul saying that some parts of the body are more important than others?

No, Paul is not saying that some parts are more important, but rather that each part has its own unique function and is necessary for the body to function properly, as he explains in 1 Corinthians 12:15-16, using the examples of the foot and the ear.

How does this verse relate to the concept of unity in the church?

This verse highlights the importance of unity in diversity, showing that just as different parts of the body work together to form a complete whole, believers with different gifts and functions can come together to form a unified and effective body of Christ, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:16 and Romans 12:4-5.

What can we learn from the use of senses in this verse?

The use of senses like sight, hearing, and smell in 1 Corinthians 12:17 teaches us that our individual strengths and abilities are like different senses, each necessary to experience and understand the world around us, and that together, they provide a more complete picture of God's plan, as seen in Proverbs 24:3-4, which emphasizes the importance of wisdom and understanding.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways that I can appreciate and value the different gifts and functions within my own church or community, as encouraged in 1 Corinthians 12:22?
How can I use my own unique gifts and abilities to contribute to the overall health and function of the body of Christ, as exhorted in Romans 12:6-8?
What are some potential consequences of a church or community where everyone tries to be the same or have the same function, and how can we avoid this, as warned in 1 Corinthians 12:19?
In what ways can I seek to understand and learn from others who have different perspectives or gifts, as encouraged in Proverbs 1:7 and Philippians 2:3-4?
How can I balance the need for unity with the importance of diversity and individuality within the church, as taught in John 17:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13?

Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 12:17

If the whole body were an eye,.... And nothing else, where were the hearing?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:17

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? Superior as the eye is, it would not do if it were the sole member.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17

There are several actions to be performed by the body of a man, either for the support and the upholding of it in life, or for the accommodation of it while it lives; seeing, hearing, and smelling (which are the three actions here mentioned) are not indeed necessary for the upholding of life, but they are highly useful for a man’ s better being, and the accommodation of bodily life; therefore there is need of a variety of bodily members, organs or instruments of sight as well as of hearing, and organs of smelling as well as hearing; the wise God hath created no member of man’ s body in vain, each one hath its use in order to the being or well-being of the body: so it is in the church of God, as the apostle, , argueth; but he goes yet further on, first, in his comparison of the natural and mystical body.

Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? Ver. 17. If the whole body, &c.] It is proper to God to be πανοφθαλμος, all eye; Sic spectat universos quasi singulos, sic singulos quasi solos.

Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17

(17) If the whole body were an eye.—Here is shown how absurd it would be for the body to be merely one member, and in 1 Corinthians 12:19 is shown the converse absurdity of the members losing their individuality. There is a corporate body composed of divers members. That is the difference between a dead machine and a living organism.

Cambridge Bible on 1 Corinthians 12:17

17. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?] “Observe here the difference between the Christian doctrine of unity and equality, and the world’s idea of levelling all to one standard. The intention of God with respect to the body is not that the rude hand should have the delicacy of the eye, or the foot have the power of the brain.”—Robertson. “To desire such an equality as this,” says Calvin, “would produce a confusion which would bring about immediate ruin.” The duty of each is to do his work in the place in which God has set him, with a proper consideration for the rights and the needs of his brother Christians who occupy other positions in the world. “If each man,” continues Robertson, “had the spirit of self-surrender, the spirit of the Cross, it would not matter to himself whether he were doing the work of the main-spring or of one of the inferior parts.”

Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:17

If the whole body ... - The idea in this verse is, that all the parts of the body are useful in their proper place, and that it would be as absurd to require or expect that all the members of the

Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:17

17. Whole body—If all are clergy where are the laity? If all are captains where are the privates?

Sermons on 1 Corinthians 12:17

	Sermon	Description
	Manhood in Relation to the Lord's Testimony by T. Austin-Sparks	T. Austin-Sparks delves into the concept of 'a man in Christ' as mentioned by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2, emphasizing the importance of understanding manhood in relatio
	"A Man in Christ" by T. Austin-Sparks	T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of being 'a man in Christ,' highlighting the dignity and individuality of humanity as conceived by God. He addresses the balance betwee
	(Apostolic Vision) First Be Reconciled by Dale Heisey	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the spirit of reconciliation in our lives. He shares a story set in Greenland about a drunkard who caused harm to his wife.
	I Don’t Need You by Basilea Schlink	In this meditation by Basilia Shlink, the apostle Paul's teachings on the unity of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 are explored. The concept of unity is emphasized as Paul d
	Lesser Known Characters 05 Barnabas-Whole Hearted by Joseph Balsan	In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a man who was able to lift a fallen horse by communicating with it. The preacher then relates this story to the concept of ministr
	Can We Be With Christ Apart From His Body? by David Wilkerson	David Wilkerson emphasizes the interconnectedness of believers as members of the body of Christ, drawing from Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians. He illustrates that just as a human
	Bible Reading by F.W. Grant	F.W. Grant emphasizes the importance of the Bible Reading meeting as a crucial test of the assembly's state, where knowledge is shared, tested, and used for mutual edification. He