2 Corinthians 12:7
5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6 Even 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,
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But 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.
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
- or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
- KJV
- And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
- WEB
- By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
- ASV
- And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.
- DARBY
- And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.
- BLB
- and the surpassingness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I should not be over-exalted, a thorn in [my] flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, so that I should not be over-exalted.
- ÅB
- Og for at jeg ikke skal opphøye meg av de høye åpenbarelser, er det gitt meg en torn i kjødet, en Satans engel, for at han skal slå meg, så jeg ikke skal opphøye meg.
- OTB
- På grunn av åpenbaringenes ekstraordinære storhet, for å hindre meg fra å bli hovmodig, ble en torn i kjødet gitt meg, en Satans engel for å plage meg—for å hindre meg fra å bli hovmodig!
- B1930
- Og forat jeg ikke skal ophøie mig av de høie åpenbarelser, er det gitt mig en torn i kjødet, en Satans engel, forat han skal slå mig, så jeg ikke skal ophøie mig.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 33:55
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle.
Read in contextJudges 2:3
So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”
Read in context2 Chronicles 32:25–26
But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
Read in contextGalatians 4:13
You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Read in context1 Corinthians 5:5
hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
Read in contextGenesis 32:31
The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.
Read in contextDaniel 5:20
But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.
Read in context1 Timothy 3:6
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
Read in context