The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 12:20 Explained

1 Corinthians 12:20

KJV: But now are they many members, yet but one body.

YLT: and now, indeed, are many members, and one body;

Darby: But now the members are many, and the body one.

ASV: But now they are many members, but one body.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  now  [are they] many  members,  yet but  one  body. 

What does 1 Corinthians 12:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Uniformity is not the case in the human body, however. It has a variety of members, but it is one unified organism.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 12:20-31 - Each Contributing His Part
The hand and the foot obviously stand in need of each other; but the same interdependence marks the feebler and humbler parts of our frame. Indeed, it would appear as if we bestow more abundant honor on them by covering them with clothes or ornaments. In this way the least important parts of our nature are leveled up and compensated.
The Apostle's aim throughout this passage is to enforce the interdependence of believers. One gives to others that in which they are deficient, and he derives help from each of them in turn. The Christian Church is not an inert mass of mere learners and subjects who are to be authoritatively taught and ruled by a small fraction of its members. It is a great co-operative society, in which each is for all and all for each, and the object is to bring Christ into every department of our being and our fellowship, as the life-blood nourishes the body of man. A new word has lately come into use, to express the interdependence and mutual interests of men and nations; and nothing could more aptly describe the Apostle's ideal than that word solidarity. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 12

1  Spiritual gifts,
4  are diverse,
7  yet to profit all
8  And to that end are diversely bestowed;
12  as the members of a natural body tend all to the mutual decency,
22  service,
26  and helpfulness of the same body;
27  so we should do for one another, to make up the body of Christ

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 12:20

Many members, but one body [πολλα μελη εν δε σωμα]
The argument in a nutshell, in one epigram. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 12:20 mean?

Now however many even [are the] members one body
νῦν δὲ πολλὰ μὲν μέλη ἓν σῶμα

νῦν  Now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νῦν  
Sense: at this time, the present, now.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πολλὰ  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
μὲν  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
μέλη  [are  the]  members 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: μέλος  
Sense: a member, limb: a member of the human body.
ἓν  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
σῶμα  body 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: σῶμα  
Sense: the body both of men or animals.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Corinthians 12:20?

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