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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

1 Corinthians 8:9

However watch out that your mastery of the situation does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Conscience;   Evil;   Example;   Expediency;   Fraternity;   Idolatry;   Neophytes;   Prudence;   Stumbling;   Temptation;   Scofield Reference Index - Law of Christ;   Thompson Chain Reference - Helps-Hindrances;   Liberty;   Liberty-Bondage;   Stumbling-Blocks;   The Topic Concordance - Meat;   Sacrifice;   Stumbling/slipping;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Liberty, Christian;   Offence;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Meats;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Stumbling block;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Authority;   Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Disease;   Strong and Weak;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Lutherans;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Collection;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abstinence;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Knowledge;   Paul;   Stumbling Block;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Conscience;   Food;   Idolatry;   Wine and Strong Drink;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Fornication ;   Liberty (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Stumbling Block,;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Idolatry;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Abstinence;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Authority in Religion;   Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Drunkenness;   Food;   Gnosticism;   Heed;   Jude, the Epistle of;   Nicolaitans;   Offence;   Pauline Theology;   Salvation;   Stumbling-Block;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 11;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
King James Version (1611)
But take heed lest by any meanes, this libertie of yours become a stumbling blocke to them that are weake.
King James Version
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
English Standard Version
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
New American Standard Bible
But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
New Century Version
But be careful that your freedom does not cause those who are weak in faith to fall into sin.
Amplified Bible
Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Legacy Standard Bible
But see to it that this authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Berean Standard Bible
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Contemporary English Version
Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything.
Darby Translation
But see lest anywise this your right [to eat] itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.
Easy-to-Read Version
But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom to eat anything may make those who have doubts about what they can eat fall into sin.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But take heede lest by any meanes this power of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.
George Lamsa Translation
But be careful lest this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
Good News Translation
Be careful, however, not to let your freedom of action make those who are weak in the faith fall into sin.
Lexham English Bible
But watch out lest somehow this right of yours becomes a cause for stumbling to the weak.
Literal Translation
But be careful lest this authority of yours become a cause of stumbling to the weak ones.
American Standard Version
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
Bible in Basic English
But take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble.
Hebrew Names Version
But be careful that by any means this liberty of yours doesn't become a stumbling block to the weak.
International Standard Version
But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.Romans 14:13,20; Galatians 5:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But beware that this your power become not a stumbling-block to the infirm ones.
Murdock Translation
See to it, however, lest this your authority become a stumbling-block to the weak.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But take heede lest by any meanes this libertie of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.
English Revised Version
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
World English Bible
But be careful that by any means this liberty of yours doesn't become a stumbling block to the weak.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But take heed, lest by any means this your liberty become a stumbling-block to the weak.
Weymouth's New Testament
But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But se ye, lest perauenture this your leeue be maad hurtyng to sijke men.
Update Bible Version
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
Webster's Bible Translation
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.
New English Translation
But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.
New King James Version
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
New Living Translation
But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
New Life Bible
Since you are free to do as you please, be careful that this does not hurt a weak Christian.
New Revised Standard
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But be taking heed, lest, by any means, your right, itself, become, an occasion of stumbling, unto the weak;
Douay-Rheims Bible
But take heed lest perhaps this your liberty become a stumblingblock to the weak.
Revised Standard Version
Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But take hede that youre libertie cause not ye weake to faule.
Young's Literal Translation
but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But take hede that this youre liberty be not an occasion of fallynge vnto ye weake.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But just because you are free to eat what you want doesn't mean you should intentionally flaunt your freedom at a weaker person's expense.

Contextual Overview

7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Moreover, some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat food which has been sacrificed to them, they think of it as really affected by the idol; and their consciences, being weak, are thus defiled. 8 Now food will not improve our relationship with God — we will be neither poorer if we abstain nor richer if we eat. 9 However watch out that your mastery of the situation does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 You have this "knowledge"; but suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you sitting, eating a meal in the temple of an idol. Won't he be built up wrongly to eat this food which has been sacrificed to idols? 11 Thus by your "knowledge" this weak person is destroyed, this brother for whom the Messiah died; 12 and so, when you sin against the brothers by wounding their conscience when it is weak, you are sinning against the Messiah! 13 To sum up, if food will be a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat again, lest I cause my brother to sin.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

take: 1 Corinthians 8:10, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 10:29, Matthew 18:6, Matthew 18:7, Matthew 18:10, Luke 17:1, Luke 17:2, Romans 14:20, Romans 14:21, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16, 2 Peter 2:19

liberty: or, power

a stumblingblock: 1 Corinthians 10:32, Leviticus 19:14, Isaiah 57:14, Ezekiel 14:3, Ezekiel 44:12, Romans 14:13-15, Romans 14:20, Galatians 5:13, Revelation 2:14

weak: 1 Corinthians 8:12, 1 Corinthians 9:22, Isaiah 35:3, Romans 14:1, Romans 14:2, Romans 15:1, 2 Corinthians 11:21

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 10:29 - made Israel Song of Solomon 7:13 - I have Matthew 17:27 - lest 1 Corinthians 8:7 - with 1 Corinthians 9:18 - that I 1 Corinthians 10:23 - things are lawful 2 Corinthians 6:3 - General Galatians 2:13 - the other Philippians 2:4 - General Revelation 22:14 - may have

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:65
Among these nations you will not find repose, and there will be no rest for the sole of your foot; rather Adonai will give you there anguish of heart, dimness of eyes and apathy of spirit.
Psalms 116:7
My soul, return to your rest! For Adonai has been generous toward you.
Isaiah 60:8
"Who are these, flying along like clouds, like doves to their dovecotes?
Ezekiel 7:16
But if any of them manage to escape, they will head for the mountains like doves from the valleys, all of them moaning, each for his sin.
Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.
John 16:33
"I have said these things to you so that, united with me, you may have shalom. In the world, you have tsuris. But be brave! I have conquered the world!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But take heed lest by any means,.... This is either a reply to the instance of such as argued in favour of eating things offered to idols; or a limitation and explanation of the apostle's own concession, that it made a man, with respect to the favour of God, neither better nor worse: yet care should be taken, lest

this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak; he owns they had a liberty, or a right, or power, as the word may be rendered, of eating, or not eating, as they pleased; but then they ought to be cautious, lest they should be the means of offending, or causing to offend, such who were weak in the faith, and had not that knowledge of Christian liberty they had: not the use of their power and liberty is here denied, but the abuse of it is guarded against; for though the action itself was indifferent, yet as it might be used, it might be sinful, being attended with very bad consequences, such as hereafter mentioned.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But take heed - This is the reply of Paul to the argument of the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 8:8. “Though all that you say should be admitted to be true, as it must be; though a man is neither morally better nor worse for partaking of meat or abstaining from it; yet the grand principle to be observed is, so to act as not to injure your brethren. Though you may be no better or worse for eating or not eating, yet if your conduct shall injure others, and lead them into sin, that is a sufficient guide to determine you what to do in the case. You should abstain entirely. It is of far more importance that your brother should not be led into sin, than it is that you should partake of meat which you acknowledge 1 Corinthians 8:8 is in itself of no importance.”

Lest by any means - μή πως mē pōs. You should be careful that by no conduct of yours your brother be led into sin. This is a general principle that is to regulate Christian conduct in all matters that are in themselves indifferent.

This liberty of yours - This which you claim as a right; this power which you have, and the exercise of which is in itself lawful. The “liberty” or power ἐξουσία exousia here referred to was that of partaking of the meat that was offered in sacrifice to idols; 1 Corinthians 8:8. A man may have a right abstractly to do a thing, but it may not be prudent or wise to exercise it.

Become a stumbling-block - An occasion of sin; see the note at Matthew 5:29; also see the note at Romans 14:13. See that it be not the occasion of leading others to sin, and to abandon their Christian profession; 1 Corinthians 8:10.

To them that are weak - To those professing Christians who are not fully informed or instructed in regard to the true nature of idolatry, and who still may have a superstitious regard for the gods whom their fathers worshipped.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 8:9. But take heed — Lest by frequenting such feasts and eating things offered to idols, under the conviction that an idol is nothing, and that you may eat those things innocently, this liberty of yours should become a means of grievously offending a weak brother who has not your knowledge, or inducing one who respects you for your superior knowledge to partake of these things with the conscience, the persuasion and belief, that an idol is something, and to conclude, that as you partake of such things, so he may also, and with safety. He is not possessed of your superior information on this point, and he eats to the idol what you take as a common meal.


 
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