2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 12:5–12

5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations.

So to keep me from becoming conceited,a I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12The marks of a true apostle — signs, wonders, and miracles — were performed among you with great perseverance.

Footnotes

  • a 12:7 Some translators end the previous paragraph after verse 6, and begin verse 7 with So to keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations,

Read all of 2 Corinthians 12

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Corinthians 12:5

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
I will boastκαυχήσομαιkauchēsomaiVerb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person SingularG2744 I boast, glory
aboutὙπὲρHyperPrepositionG5228 in behalf of, above
such a manτοιούτουtoioutouDemonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine SingularG5108 of such a kind, such
butδὲdeConjunctionG1161 but, on the other hand, and
I will not boastκαυχήσομαιkauchēsomaiVerb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person SingularG2744 I boast, glory
aboutὑπὲρhyperPrepositionG5228 in behalf of, above
myselfἐμαυτοῦemautouPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 1st Person SingularG1683 of myself
exceptεἰeiConjunctionG1487 if
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
weaknessesἀσθενείαιςastheneiaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG769 want of strength, weakness, illness

2 Corinthians 12:6

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
EvenγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
ifἐὰνeanConjunctionG1437 if
I wantedθελήσωthelēsōVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person SingularG2309 I will, wish, desire
to boastκαυχήσασθαιkauchēsasthaiVerb - Aorist Infinitive MiddleG2744 I boast, glory
I would not beἔσομαιesomaiVerb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person SingularG1510 I am, exist
a foolἄφρωνaphrōnAdjective - Nominative Masculine SingularG878 senseless, foolish, inconsiderate
becauseγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
I would be speakingἐρῶerōVerb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG2046 I say, speak
truthἀλήθειανalētheianNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularG225 truth
ButδέdeConjunctionG1161 but, on the other hand, and
I refrainφείδομαιpheidomaiVerb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person SingularG5339 I spare, abstain
will creditλογίσηταιlogisētaiVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person SingularG3049 I reckon, count, decide
meἐμὲemePersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularG1473 I
with more thanὑπὲρhyperPrepositionG5228 in behalf of, above
he seesβλέπειblepeiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG991 I look, see
in meμεmePersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularG1473 I
orἢēConjunctionG2228 or, than
hearsἀκούειakoueiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG191 I hear, listen
fromἐξexPrepositionG1537 from out, out from among, from
meἐμοῦemouPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person SingularG1473 I

2 Corinthians 12:7

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
orκαὶkaiConjunctionG2532 and, even, also, namely
because of theseτῇtēArticle - Dative Feminine SingularG3588 the
surpassingly greatὑπερβολῇhyperbolēNoun - Dative Feminine SingularG5236 surpassing excellence, exceedingly
revelationsἀποκαλύψεωνapokalypseōnNoun - Genitive Feminine PluralG602 an unveiling, uncovering, revealing
SoΔιὸDioConjunctionG1352 wherefore
toἵναhinaConjunctionG2443 in order that, so that
keep me from becoming conceitedὑπεραίρωμαιhyperairōmaiVerb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 1st Person SingularG5229 I raise beyond, uplift
IμοιmoiPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularG1473 I
was givenἐδόθηedothēVerb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularG1325 I offer, give
a thornσκόλοψskolopsNoun - Nominative Masculine SingularG4647 a stake or thorn
inτῇtēArticle - Dative Feminine SingularG3588 the
fleshσαρκίsarkiNoun - Dative Feminine SingularG4561 flesh, body
a messengerἄγγελοςangelosNoun - Nominative Masculine SingularG32 an angel, messenger
of SatanΣατανᾶSatanaNoun - Genitive Masculine SingularG4567 an adversary, Satan
toἵναhinaConjunctionG2443 in order that, so that
tormentκολαφίζῃkolaphizēVerb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularG2852 I strike with the fist, maltreat
meμεmePersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularG1473 I

2 Corinthians 12:8

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
Three timesτρὶςtrisAdverbG5151 three times
I pleaded withπαρεκάλεσαparekalesaVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG3870 I summon, entreat, admonish, comfort
theτὸνtonArticle - Accusative Masculine SingularG3588 the
LordΚύριονKyrionNoun - Accusative Masculine SingularG2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
toἵναhinaConjunctionG2443 in order that, so that
take it awayἀποστῇapostēVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularG868 I lead away, seduce, depart, abstain from
fromἀπ’ap’PrepositionG575 from, away from
meἐμοῦemouPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person SingularG1473 I

2 Corinthians 12:9

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
ButκαὶkaiConjunctionG2532 and, even, also, namely
He saidεἴρηκένeirēkenVerb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG2046 I say, speak
to meμοιmoiPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularG1473 I
MyμουmouPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person SingularG1473 I
graceχάριςcharisNoun - Nominative Feminine SingularG5485 grace, favor, kindness
is sufficientἈρκεῖArkeiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularG714 I am sufficient, I suffice, am content, satisfied
for youσοιsoiPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person SingularG4771 you
forγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
powerδύναμιςdynamisNoun - Nominative Feminine SingularG1411 might, power, marvelous works
is perfectedτελεῖταιteleitaiVerb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person SingularG5055 I end, accomplish, pay
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
weaknessἀσθενείᾳastheneiaNoun - Dative Feminine SingularG769 want of strength, weakness, illness
ThereforeοὖνounConjunctionG3767 therefore, then
I will boastκαυχήσομαιkauchēsomaiVerb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person SingularG2744 I boast, glory
all the moreμᾶλλονmallonAdverbG3123 more, rather
gladlyἭδισταHēdistaAdverb - SuperlativeG2236 most gladly, pleasantly
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
myμουmouPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person SingularG1473 I
weaknessesἀσθενείαιςastheneiaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG769 want of strength, weakness, illness
so thatἵναhinaConjunctionG2443 in order that, so that
theἡhēArticle - Nominative Feminine SingularG3588 the
powerδύναμιςdynamisNoun - Nominative Feminine SingularG1411 might, power, marvelous works
of ChristΧριστοῦChristouNoun - Genitive Masculine SingularG5547 anointed, the Messiah, the Christ
may restἐπισκηνώσῃepiskēnōsēVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularG1981 I raise a tent over, dwell
onἐπ’ep’PrepositionG1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
meἐμὲemePersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularG1473 I

2 Corinthians 12:10

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
That is whyδιὸdioConjunctionG1352 wherefore
for the sakeὑπὲρhyperPrepositionG5228 in behalf of, above
of ChristΧριστοῦChristouNoun - Genitive Masculine SingularG5547 anointed, the Messiah, the Christ
I delightεὐδοκῶeudokōVerb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG2106 I am resolved, well-pleased
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
weaknessesἀσθενείαιςastheneiaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG769 want of strength, weakness, illness
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
insultsὕβρεσινhybresinNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG5196 insult, damage, loss
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
hardshipsἀνάγκαιςanankaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG318 necessity, constraint, compulsion
inἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
persecutionsδιωγμοῖςdiōgmoisNoun - Dative Masculine PluralG1375 persecution
difficultiesστενοχωρίαιςstenochōriaisNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG4730 a narrow space, great distress
ForγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
whenὅτανhotanConjunctionG3752 when, whensoever
I am weakἀσθενῶasthenōVerb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person SingularG770 I am weak, sick
thenτότεtoteAdverbG5119 then
I amεἰμιeimiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG1510 I am, exist
strongδυνατόςdynatosAdjective - Nominative Masculine SingularG1415 powerful, able, possible

2 Corinthians 12:11

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
I have becomeΓέγοναGegonaVerb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG1096 I come into being, am born
a foolἄφρωνaphrōnAdjective - Nominative Masculine SingularG878 senseless, foolish, inconsiderate
youὑμεῖςhymeisPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person PluralG4771 you
droveἠναγκάσατεēnankasateVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person PluralG315 I force, compel
meμεmePersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularG1473 I
In factγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
youὑμῶνhymōnPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person PluralG4771 you
shouldὤφειλονōpheilonVerb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG3784 I owe, ought
have commendedσυνίστασθαιsynistasthaiVerb - Present Infinitive Middle or PassiveG4921 I commend, prove, am composed of, cohere
meἐγὼegōPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularG1473 I
sinceγὰρgarConjunctionG1063 for
I am in no way inferiorὑστέρησαhysterēsaVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG5302 I am lacking, fall short, suffer need
to thoseτῶνtōnArticle - Genitive Masculine PluralG3588 the
super-apostlesὙπερλίανHyperlianAdverbG5228 in behalf of, above
evenκαὶkaiConjunctionG2532 and, even, also, namely
thoughεἰeiConjunctionG1487 if
I amεἰμιeimiVerb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularG1510 I am, exist
nothingοὐδένoudenAdjective - Nominative Neuter SingularG3762 no one, none, nothing

2 Corinthians 12:12

EnglishGreekSounds likeGrammarWord study
TheτὰtaArticle - Nominative Neuter PluralG3588 the
marksσημεῖαsēmeiaNoun - Nominative Neuter PluralG4592 a sign, miracle, indication
of aτοῦtouArticle - Genitive Masculine SingularG3588 the
trueμὲνmenParticleG3303 truly, indeed
apostleἀποστόλουapostolouNoun - Genitive Masculine SingularG652 an apostle, a messenger, an envoy, a delegate
signsσημείοιςsēmeioisNoun - Dative Neuter PluralG4592 a sign, miracle, indication
wondersτέρασινterasinNoun - Dative Neuter PluralG5059 a wonder, portent
andκαὶkaiConjunctionG2532 and, even, also, namely
miraclesδυνάμεσινdynamesinNoun - Dative Feminine PluralG1411 might, power, marvelous works
were performedκατειργάσθηkateirgasthēVerb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularG2716 I work out, produce, accomplish
amongἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
youὑμῖνhyminPersonal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person PluralG4771 you
withἐνenPrepositionG1722 in, on, among
greatπάσῃpasēAdjective - Dative Feminine SingularG3956 all, the whole, every kind of
perseveranceὑπομονῇhypomonēNoun - Dative Feminine SingularG5281 endurance, steadfastness

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Corinthians 12:5 2 Corinthians 11:30 · 1 Corinthians 2:3

2 Corinthians 12:6 2 Corinthians 11:16 · 2 Corinthians 12:11 · 2 Corinthians 11:31 · 2 Corinthians 10:8–10

2 Corinthians 12:7 Numbers 33:55 · Judges 2:3 · 2 Chronicles 32:25–26 · 1 Corinthians 5:5 · Genesis 32:31 · Galatians 4:13 · Daniel 5:20 · 1 Timothy 3:6 · 2 Chronicles 26:16 · Deuteronomy 8:14 · Job 2:7 · Genesis 32:25

2 Corinthians 12:8 Hebrews 5:7 · Matthew 26:39–44 · 1 Samuel 15:11 · Psalm 77:2–11 · 2 Samuel 12:16–18

2 Corinthians 12:9 Philippians 4:13 · 2 Corinthians 12:10 · Isaiah 40:29–31 · Ephesians 3:16 · Joshua 1:9 · Isaiah 43:2 · 1 Corinthians 10:13 · Hebrews 4:16 · 2 Corinthians 3:5–6 · 2 Corinthians 12:5 · 1 Corinthians 15:10 · 1 Corinthians 2:5

2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Corinthians 12:9 · Ephesians 6:10 · Romans 5:3 · 2 Corinthians 13:4 · James 1:2 · 1 Peter 1:6–7 · 2 Corinthians 6:4 · Luke 6:22 · 2 Corinthians 1:4 · Acts 5:41 · 2 Corinthians 13:9 · John 15:21

2 Corinthians 12:11 2 Corinthians 11:5 · 2 Corinthians 11:1 · 1 Corinthians 15:8–10 · Ephesians 3:8

2 Corinthians 12:12 Romans 15:18–19 · 2 Corinthians 4:2 · John 4:48 · 2 Corinthians 11:6 · 1 Corinthians 9:1–2 · 1 Corinthians 14:18 · 2 Corinthians 11:4 · 1 Corinthians 1:5–7

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.