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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

2 Corinthians 12:5

About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Humility;   Thompson Chain Reference - Selfishness-Unselfishness;   Unselfishness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecstasy;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Grace;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Behalf;   Infirmity;   Meekness;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.
King James Version (1611)
Of such a one will I glory, yet of my selfe I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
King James Version
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
English Standard Version
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—
New American Standard Bible
In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses.
New Century Version
I will brag about a man like that, but I will not brag about myself, except about my weaknesses.
Amplified Bible
On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
Legacy Standard Bible
On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in weaknesses.
Berean Standard Bible
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
Contemporary English Version
I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.
Darby Translation
Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.
Easy-to-Read Version
I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Of such a man will I reioyce: of my selfe will I not reioyce, except it bee of mine infirmities.
George Lamsa Translation
Of such a person, I will boast; but of myself, I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Good News Translation
So I will boast about this man—but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am.
Lexham English Bible
On behalf of such a person I will boast, but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Literal Translation
On behalf of such a one I will boast. But I will not boast on my behalf, except in my weaknesses.
American Standard Version
On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.
Bible in Basic English
On account of such a one I will have glory: for myself I will take no glory, but only in my feeble body.
Hebrew Names Version
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
International Standard Version
I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses.2 Corinthians 11:30;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Of this I boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
Murdock Translation
Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Of such a man wyll I glorie, yet of my selfe wyll I not glorie, but in myne infirmities.
English Revised Version
On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.
World English Bible
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Of such an one I will glory; but I will not glory of myself, unless in my infirmities.
Weymouth's New Testament
Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For such maner thingis Y schal glorie; but for me no thing, no but in myn infirmytees.
Update Bible Version
On behalf of such a one I will glory: but on my own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.
Webster's Bible Translation
Of such one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities.
New English Translation
On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
New King James Version
Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
New Living Translation
That experience is worth boasting about, but I'm not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
New Life Bible
I will be proud about this man, but I will not be proud about myself except to say things which show how weak I am.
New Revised Standard
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; -
Douay-Rheims Bible
For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities.
Revised Standard Version
On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Of this man will I reioyce of my silfe will I not reioyce except it be of myne infirmities.
Young's Literal Translation
Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Here of will I boast, but of my selfe wil I make no boast, excepte it be of myne infirmyties.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I wish I could brag about the things I heard and saw, but I'm not going to. I'm only going to brag about my weaknesses.

Contextual Overview

1 I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in union with the Messiah who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the third heaven; whether he was in the body or outside the body I don't know, God knows. 3 And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don't know, God knows — 4 was snatched into Gan-‘Eden and heard things that cannot be put into words, things unlawful for a human being to utter. 5 About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 If I did want to boast, I would not be foolish; because I would be speaking the truth. But, because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what my words or deeds may warrant. 7 Therefore, to keep me from becoming overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me, so that I wouldn't grow conceited. 8 Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; 9 but he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness." Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

such: 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

yet: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 11:30

Reciprocal: Romans 8:26 - infirmities 1 Corinthians 2:3 - General 2 Corinthians 10:1 - base 2 Corinthians 10:10 - but 2 Corinthians 11:18 - I will 2 Corinthians 13:9 - when Hebrews 5:2 - is compassed

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
The border of the Kena‘ani was from Tzidon, as you go toward G'rar, to ‘Azah; as you go toward S'dom, ‘Amora, Admah and Tzvoyim, to Lesha.
Genesis 11:31
Terach took his son Avram, his son Haran's son Lot, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Avram's wife; and they left Ur of the Kasdim to go to the land of Kena‘an. But when they came to Haran, they stayed there.
Genesis 12:5
Avram took his wife Sarai, his brother's son Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, as well as the people they had acquired in Haran; then they set out for the land of Kena‘an and entered the land of Kena‘an.
Genesis 12:8
He left that place, went to the hill east of Beit-El and pitched his tent. With Beit-El to the west and ‘Ai to the east, he built an altar there and called on the name of Adonai .
Genesis 12:9
Then Avram traveled on, continuing toward the Negev.
Genesis 14:14
When Avram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, who had been born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:21
(v) The king of S'dom said to Avram, "Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself."
Acts 7:4
So he left the land of the Kasdim and lived in Haran. After his father died, God made him move to this land where you are living now.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Of such an one will I glory,.... The apostle in great modesty seems to speak of some other person, and not himself, as caught up into the third heaven, when he yet means himself; and does as it were distinguish himself from himself; himself in paradise from himself on earth; his sense is, that though he might lawfully glory of such a person so highly exalted and favoured, yet since this was his own case, he chose to forbear, and say no more of it:

yet of myself I will not glory; though he could, and might, and did glory in the Lord, who had done such great things for him; as that he was in Christ, and knew himself to be so, had been rapt up into heaven, and heard things unutterable; yet he would not glory of these things as from himself, as owing to any merit or worthiness of his, but as instances of mere favour, grace, and goodness; if he gloried of anything of himself in his present state and condition, it should be of his weaknesses:

but in mine infirmities; not his sinful ones, for these he mourned over, and was humbled before God and man under a sense of; but his many pressing difficulties of life, heavy reproaches, very great afflictions, and violent persecutions he endured for Christ's sake; see 2 Corinthians 12:10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Of such an one will I glory - Of such a man it would be right to boast. It would be admitted that it is right to exult in such a man, and to esteem him to be uniquely favored by God. I will boast of him as having received special honor from the Lord. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the words rendered “of such an one should be translated “of such a thing,” or of such a transaction; meaning” I can indeed justly boast of my being caught up to heaven as of a thing the whole glory of which pertains to him who has thus exalted me; but of myself, or of anything in me, I will not boast.” So Rosenmuller explains it. But it seems to me that the connection requires that we should understand it of a person, and that the passage is partly ironical. Paul speaks in the third person. He chooses to keep himself directly out of view. And though he refers really to himself, yet he wound not say this directly, but says that of such a man they would admit it would be proper to boast.

Yet of myself - Directly. It is not expedient for me to boast of myself. “You would allow me to boast of such a man as I have referred to; I admit that it is not proper for me to boast directly of myself.”

But in mine infirmities - My weaknesses, trials, pains, sufferings; such as many regard as infirmities; see the note on 2 Corinthians 11:30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 12:5. Of such a one will I glory — Through modesty he does not mention himself, though the account can be understood of no other person; for, did he mean any other, the whole account would be completely irrelevant.


 
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