1 Corinthians 9:7

5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

6 Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

8 Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
KJV
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
WEB
What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
ASV
What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
DARBY
Who ever carries on war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who herds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?
BLB
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense at any time? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink from the milk of the flock?
ÅB
Hvem gjør vel nogensinne krigstjeneste på egen lønning? hvem planter en vingård og spiser ikke av dens frukt? eller hvem før en flokk og spiser ikke av flokkens melk?
OTB
Hvem tjener vel som soldat på egen bekostning? Hvem planter en vingård og spiser ikke av dens frukt? Eller hvem gjeter en flokk og drikker ikke av flokkens melk?
B1930
Hvem gjør vel nogensinne krigstjeneste på egen lønning? hvem planter en vingård og eter ikke av dens frukt? eller hvem før en hjord og eter ikke av hjordens melk?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 27:18

    Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 20:6

    Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.

    Read in context
  • 2 Timothy 2:3–4

    Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6–8

    I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 1:18

    Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 27:27

    You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 23:2–3

    Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Acts 20:28

    Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

    Read in context