Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026
the Second Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

2 Corinthians 12:5

On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
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 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 It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 4 was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. 8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then 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
and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon all the way to Gerar as far as Gaza, and all the way to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
Genesis 11:31
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (the son of Haran), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and with them he set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. When they came to Haran, they settled there.
Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:8
Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord .
Genesis 12:9
Abram continually journeyed by stages down to the Negev.
Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he mobilized his 318 trained men who had been born in his household, and he pursued the invaders as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:21
Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and take the possessions for yourself."
Acts 7:4
Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God made him move to this country where you now live.

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile