The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:4 Explained

2 Corinthians 5:4

KJV: For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

YLT: for we also who are in the tabernacle do groan, being burdened, seeing we wish not to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves, that the mortal may be swallowed up of the life.

Darby: For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

ASV: For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  we that are  in  [this] tabernacle  do groan,  being burdened:  not  for that  we would  be unclothed,  but  clothed upon,  that  mortality  might be swallowed up  of  life. 

What does 2 Corinthians 5:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse expands 2 Corinthians 5:2. The Christian does not groan in his or her present body because he or she wants to get rid of it. At least that was not what Paul meant here. We groan because we long to receive the immortal bodies that God will give us. God"s promises of something better make us dissatisfied with what we have now. We long for the time when immortal life will in a sense consume what is mortal and dies. This is another paradox. Paul was confident that if death would destroy his present body he would certainly receive a glorious future body that God would provide. Paul"s concern in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 seems to have been to contrast our mortal state and our immortal state, not to introduce the idea of an intermediate body. [1]

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 - Longing To Be "at Home With The Lord"
This mortal life is a pilgrimage, and our body is a tent, so slight, so transitory, so easily taken down; but what does it matter, since there is awaiting us a mansion prepared by God? Often in this veil of flesh we groan. It cages us, anchors us down to earth, hampers us with its needs, obstructs our vision, and becomes the medium of temptation. How good it would be if our physical body could be suddenly transmuted into the glorified ethereal body which should be like the resurrection body of our Lord! It would be sweet to escape the wrench of death. But if not, then through death we shall carry with us the germ of the glorified body. That which shall be quickened will first die, but God will give it a body as it shall please Him.
The gate of death may look gloomy on this side, but on the other it is of burnished gold, and opens directly into the presence-chamber of Jesus. We long to see Him and to be with Him; and such desires are the work of the Holy Spirit and the first fruits of heaven. But remember that just inside the door there is Christ's judgment seat, where He will adjudge our life and apportion our reward. Prepare, my soul, to give an account of thy talents! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 5

1  That in his assured hope of immortal glory,
9  and in expectation of it, he labors to keep a good conscience;
12  not that he may boast of himself,
14  but as one that, having received life from Christ,
17  endeavors to live as a new creature to Christ only,
18  and by his ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile others also in Christ to God

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 5:4

Not for that we would be unclothed [επ ωι ου τελομεν εκδυσασται]
Rather, “For that The transposition of the negative ου — ou weakens the sense. Paul does not wish to be a mere disembodied spirit without his spiritual garment. [source]
That what is mortal may be swallowed up of life [ινα καταποτηι το τνητον υπο της ζωης]
“Only what is mortal perishes; the personality, consisting of soul and body, survives,” (Plummer). See note on 2 Corinthians 1:22 for “the earnest of the spirit.” [source]
Being burdened [βαρούμενοι]
Compare weight ( βάρος ) of glory, 2 Corinthians 4:17. [source]
Not for that we would be unclothed [ἐφ ' ᾧ οὐ θέλομεν ἐκδύσασθαι]
Lit., because we are not willing to divest ourselves (of the mortal body). Regarding the coming of the Lord as near, the apostle contemplates the possibility of living to behold it. The oppression of soul (groan ) is not from pains and afflictions of the body, nor from the fear of death, but from the natural shrinking from death, especially if death is to deprive him of the body (unclothe ) only to leave him without a new and higher organism. Therefore he desires, instead of dying, to have the new being come down upon him while still alive, investing him with the new spiritual organism (clothed upon ), as a new garment is thrown over an old one, and absorbing (swallowed up ) the old, sensuous life.“For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey,This pleadng anxious being e'er resigned, Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day,-DIVIDER-
Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind?”Gray, “Elegy.” [source]

Swallowed up []
A new metaphor. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:54. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 5:4

Luke 21:34 Overcharged [βαρηζῶσιν]
Weighed down. Compare Luke 9:32; 2 Corinthians 5:4. [source]
John 21:7 Fisher's coat [ἐπενδύτην]
An upper garment or blouse. Only here in the New Testament. In the Septuagint, 1 Samuel 18:4, the robe which Jonathan gave to David. 2 Samuel 13:18, the royal virgin garment of Tamar. The kindred verb, ἐπενδύομαι , occurs twice (2 Corinthians 5:2, 2 Corinthians 5:4), meaning “to be clothed upon,” with the house which is from heaven, i.e., clothed as with an upper garment. See on that passage. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:54 Is swallowed up [κατεπόθη]
From Isaiah 25:8. The quotation agrees with the Hebrew: He shall swallow up death forever, rather than with the Septuagint, Death has prevailed and swallowed men up, which reverses the meaning of the Hebrew. Compare 2 Corinthians 5:4. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:2 To be clothed upon [ἐπενδύσασθαι]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 5:4. Compare ἐπενδύτης fisher'scoat, John 21:7(see note). Lit., to put on over. The metaphor changes from building to clothing, a natural transformation in the mind of Paul, to whom the hail-cloth woven for tents would suggest a vesture. [source]
Hebrews 13:17 With grief [στενάζοντες]
Lit. groaning. See Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:2, 2 Corinthians 5:4; James 5:9. [source]
Hebrews 11:29 Were drowned [κατεπόθησαν]
Lit. were drunk down. See on Matthew 23:24. Comp. lxx, Exodus 15:4, and in N.T. 1 Corinthians 15:54; 2 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Corinthians 5:4. [source]
2 Peter 1:14 Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle [ταχινή ἐστιν ἡ ἀπόθεσις τοῦ σκηνώματός μου]
Lit., quick is the putting off of my tabernacle. Rev., the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly. Possibly in allusion to his advanced age. Putting off is a metaphor, from putting off a garment. So Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:3, 2 Corinthians 5:4, being clothed, unclothed, clothed upon. The word occurs, also, 1 Peter 3:21, and is used by Peter only. Cometh swiftly, implying the speedy approach of death; though others understand it of the quick, violent death which Christ prophesied he should die. “Even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.” See John 21:18, John 21:19. Compare, also John 13:36, and note the word follow in both passages. “Peter had now learnt the full force of Christ's sayings, and to what end the following of Jesus was to bring him” (Lumby). [source]
2 Peter 1:13 Tabernacle [σκηνώματι]
A figurative expression for the body, used also by Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:4, though he employs the shorter kindred word σκῆνος . Peter also has the same mixture of metaphors which Paul employs in that passage, viz., building and clothing. See next verse. Peter's use of tabernacle is significant in connection with his words at the transfiguration, “Let us make three tabernacle (Matthew 17:4). The word, as well as the entire phrase, carries the idea of brief duration - a frail tent, erected for a night. Compare 2 Peter 1:14. [source]
2 Peter 1:13 So long as [επ οσον]
For this phrase see Matthew 9:15; Romans 11:13.Tabernacle (σκηνωματι — skēnōmati). Old word, in literal sense in Deuteronomy 33:18 for the usual σκηνη — skēnē (Peter‘s word at the Transfiguration, Mark 9:5), earliest use (in N.T. only here, 2 Peter 1:14; Acts 7:46 of the tabernacle of the covenant) in this metaphorical sense of life as a pilgrimage (1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 2:11), though Paul has σκηνος — skēnos so in 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:4. Peter feels the nearness of death and the urgency upon him.To stir you up Present active infinitive of διεγειρω — diegeirō late (Arist., Hippocr., Herodian, papyri), perfective Old word, from υπομιμνησκω — hupomimnēskō (2 Peter 1:12), in N.T. only here, 2 Peter 3:1; 2 Timothy 1:5. “By way of reminding you.” [source]
2 Peter 1:13 Tabernacle [σκηνωματι]
Old word, in literal sense in Deuteronomy 33:18 for the usual σκηνη — skēnē (Peter‘s word at the Transfiguration, Mark 9:5), earliest use (in N.T. only here, 2 Peter 1:14; Acts 7:46 of the tabernacle of the covenant) in this metaphorical sense of life as a pilgrimage (1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 2:11), though Paul has σκηνος — skēnos so in 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:4. Peter feels the nearness of death and the urgency upon him. [source]
Revelation 3:5 In white garments [εν ιματιοις λευκοις]
Apparently the spiritual bodies in the risen life as in 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:4 and often in Revelation (Revelation 3:4, Revelation 3:5; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:13.; Revelation 19:8).I will in no wise blot out (ου μη εχαλειπσω — ou mē exaleipsō). Strong double negative ου μη — ou mē and the first aorist active (or future) of εχαλειπω — exaleiphō old word, to wipe out (Acts 3:19).Of the book of life Ablative case with εκ — ek This divine register first occurs in Exodus 32:32. and often in the O.T. See Luke 10:20; Philemon 4:3; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:27. The book is in Christ‘s hands (Revelation 13:8; Revelation 21:27).His name (το ονομα αυτου — to onoma autou). The name of the one who overcomes (ο νικων — ho nikōn). Clear reminiscence of the words of Christ about confessing to the Father those who confess him here (Matthew 10:32; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Luke 12:8). Whether John knew the Synoptic Gospels (and why not?) he certainly knew such sayings of Jesus. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 5:4 mean?

And for - being in the tent we groan being burdened because that not we do wish to be unclothed but to be clothed that may be swallowed up the mortal by - life
καὶ γὰρ οἱ ὄντες ἐν τῷ σκήνει στενάζομεν βαρούμενοι ἐφ’ οὐ θέλομεν ἐκδύσασθαι ἀλλ’ ἐπενδύσασθαι ἵνα καταποθῇ τὸ θνητὸν ὑπὸ τῆς ζωῆς

οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὄντες  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
σκήνει  tent 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: σκῆνος  
Sense: a tabernacle, a tent.
στενάζομεν  we  groan 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: στενάζω  
Sense: a sigh, to groan.
βαρούμενοι  being  burdened 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: βαρέω  
Sense: to burden, weigh down, depress.
ἐφ’  because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
θέλομεν  we  do  wish 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἐκδύσασθαι  to  be  unclothed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: ἐκδύω  
Sense: to take off.
ἐπενδύσασθαι  to  be  clothed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: ἐπενδύομαι  
Sense: to put on over.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
καταποθῇ  may  be  swallowed  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταπίνω  
Sense: to drink down, swallow down.
θνητὸν  mortal 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: θνητός  
Sense: liable to death, mortal.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ζωῆς  life 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ζωή  
Sense: life.

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