1 COR 1:25 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) because God’s foolishness is better than humankind’s wisdom, and God’s weakness is greater than humankind’s strength.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

UST This is because what God does that seems foolish is wiser than anything that humans do, and what God does that seems weak is stronger than anything that humans do.

BLB For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God stronger than men.

AICNT For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

OEB For God’s “folly” is wiser than people, and God’s “weakness” is stronger than people.

WEBBE because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

LSV because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men;

FBV For the foolishness of God is wiser than we are; and the weakness of God is stronger than we are.

TCNT For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

T4T Unbelievers may think [IRO] that God was acting foolishly by doing that, but the truth is that he was acting more wisely than unbelievers who just think that [IRO] they are wise. And unbelievers may think that God was acting weakly by sending his son to die, but he was acting more powerfully than unbelievers who just think [IRO] that they act powerfully.

LEB For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,[fn] and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.[fn]

1:25 Literally “man”

BBE Because what seems foolish in God is wiser than men; and what seems feeble in God is stronger than men.

Moff For the "foolishness" of God is wiser than men,
⇔ and the "weakness" of God is stronger than men.

Wymth Because that which the world deems foolish in God is wiser than men's wisdom, and that which it deems feeble in God is mightier than men's might.

ASV Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

DRA For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

YLT because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men;

Drby Because the foolishness of [fn]God is wiser than men, and the weakness of [fn]God is stronger than men.

1.25 Elohim

RV Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

SLT For the foolish thing of God is wiser than men; and the weak thing of God is stronger than men.

Wbstr Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

KJB-1769 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

KJB-1611 Because the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men: and the weakenesse of God is stronger then men.
(Because the foolishness of God is wiser then men: and the weakeness of God is stronger then men.)

Bshps For the foolishnesse of God, is wiser then men, and the weakenesse of God, is stronger then men.
(For the foolishness of God, is wiser then men, and the weakeness of God, is stronger then men.)

Gnva For the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men, and the weakenesse of God is stronger then men.
(For the foolishness of God is wiser then men, and the weakeness of God is stronger then men. )

Cvdl For the foolishnes of God is wyser then men: and the weaknes of God is stroger the men.
(For the foolishness of God is wiser then men: and the weaknes of God is stroger the men.)

TNT For the folishnes of God is wyser then men: and the weakenes of God is stronger then men.
(For the foolishness of God is wiser then men: and the weakenes of God is stronger then men. )

Wycl For that that is foli thing of God, is wiser than men; and that that is the feble thing of God, is strengere than men.
(For that that is folly thing of God, is wiser than men; and that that is the feeble thing of God, is strengere than men.)

Luth Denn die göttliche Torheit ist weiser, denn die Menschen sind, und die göttliche Schwachheit ist stärker, denn die Menschen sind.
(Because the divinee folly is wiser, because/than the people are, and the divinee weakness is stärker, because/than the people are.)

ClVg quia quod stultum est Dei, sapientius est hominibus: et quod infirmum est Dei, fortius est hominibus.
(because that stupidity it_is of_God, sapientius it_is to_humans: and that weak it_is of_God, braveus it_is to_humans. )

UGNT ὅτι τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, σοφώτερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν, καὶ τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἰσχυρότερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
(hoti to mōron tou Theou, sofōteron tōn anthrōpōn estin, kai to asthenes tou Theou, isⱪuroteron tōn anthrōpōn.)

SBL-GNT ὅτι τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ θεοῦ σοφώτερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν, καὶ τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ θεοῦ ἰσχυρότερον τῶν ⸀ἀνθρώπων.
(hoti to mōron tou theou sofōteron tōn anthrōpōn estin, kai to asthenes tou theou isⱪuroteron tōn ⸀anthrōpōn.)

RP-GNT Ὅτι τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ θεοῦ σοφώτερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν, καὶ τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ θεοῦ ἰσχυρότερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν.
(Hoti to mōron tou theou sofōteron tōn anthrōpōn estin, kai to asthenes tou theou isⱪuroteron tōn anthrōpōn estin.)

TC-GNT Ὅτι τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ σοφώτερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστί, καὶ τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἰσχυρότερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων [fn]ἐστί.
(Hoti to mōron tou Theou sofōteron tōn anthrōpōn esti, kai to asthenes tou Theou isⱪuroteron tōn anthrōpōn esti. )

1:25 εστι ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

In this section Paul wrote about a serious problem in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian believers were dividing up into competing groups. They were following whichever human leader they admired the most. Paul tried to solve this problem by reminding the Corinthians of the message of the cross. He wanted them to stop following human wisdom and to follow God’s wisdom.

Paragraph 1:20–25

In this paragraph Paul talked more about foolishness and wisdom. The gospel message expresses God’s power and wisdom. For different reasons, both Jewish people and Greek people may reject it. However, to those who believe the message/gospel, it brings salvation from sin and death.

1:25a

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom,

For although God appears to have done something foolish, he is wiser than any human being,
For although people might think God was foolish, he was wise. God’s plan was, in fact, wiser than any human wisdom.
Even though God’s plan to redeem humans from sin seems like nonsense to unbelievers, it is wise. God’s plan is wiser than anything human beings could plan.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here introduces the basis for what Paul wrote in 1:24. Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1:24b-c) since the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men and the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of men (1:25a-b). The message of the cross that appears foolish and weak to unbelievers is actually wise and strong.

the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom: The phrase the foolishness of God here refers to what God did when he sent Jesus to die on the cross. Paul did not really mean that God did something foolish when he sent Christ to die on a cross. Paul was speaking ironically. Even though unbelievers think that the message about Christ is foolish, God is much wiser than all people. Some other ways to translate this are:

what seems to be God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (GNT)

even when God appears to be acting foolishly, he is still more wise than any man

the foolishness of God: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the foolishness of God is more literally “the foolish thing of God.” It refers to the thing that God did that people think is foolish. God sent his Son to die on the cross. This was something that people considered foolish.

is wiser than man’s wisdom: This phrase in the Greek is more literally “is wiser than people/men.” The BSB has added the word wisdom for stylistic reasons. In some languages it may be more natural to omit it. For example:

is wiser than men (RSV)

is wiser than people are

is wiser than any human being

1:25b

and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

and when God appears to be weak, he is still more powerful than any human being.
Although unbelievers think that God was weak when he allowed Christ to die, he wasn’t. God is much more powerful than the most powerful person.
Even though unbelievers think that God was weak when he allowed Christ to be crucified. God showed/demonstrated his power which is greater/stronger than that of human beings.

the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength: In the Greek this clause is more literally “the weak thing of God is stronger than people.” This clause also refers to how God allowed/sent Christ to die on the cross to save mankind. This is another use of irony. Paul did not actually mean that God was weak.

It appeared that God was not powerful enough to prevent the soldiers from killing Jesus. However, what God did was more powerful than anything people could do. It was powerful enough to break the power of sin and death in order to save people. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

what seems to be God’s weakness is stronger than human strength (GNT)

when God appears to be weak, he is still stronger than any man

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι τό μωρόν τοῦ Θεοῦ σοφώτερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν καί τό ἀσθενές τοῦ Θεοῦ ἰσχυρότερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων)

Here, For introduces the reason why the seemingly foolish message about Christ is power and wisdom ([1:24](../01/24.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this connection with a word that introduces a reason or a short phrase that connects this verse to the previous verse or verses. Alternate translation: [God works through foolishness because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ & τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ Θεοῦ

Paul describes God as having foolishness and weakness. He does not actually think that God is weak and foolish, but he is speaking of them from the perspective of the world and its wisdom. From the perspective of the world, Paul’s God is indeed foolish and weak. What Paul means to say is that what the world sees as foolishness and weakness is still wiser and stronger than anything that humans have to offer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this way of speaking with an expression that indicates that Paul is using irony or speaking from another person’s perspective. Alternate translation: [the apparent foolishness of God … the apparent weakness of God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

(Occurrence -1) τῶν ἀνθρώπων

The words translated men in both places in this verse do not refer just to male people. Rather, Paul means any human of any sex. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate men to refer to both genders or use a gender-neutral word. Alternate translation: [women and men … women and men]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ μωρὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ & ἐστίν

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe foolishness that comes from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this form with a phrase that indicates that God does foolishness. Alternate translation: [the foolish things that God does are]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

σοφώτερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐστίν

wiser_‹than› ¬the humans is

Paul does not include all the words that are needed in many languages to make a complete comparison. If you do need these words in your language, you could add whatever is needed to make the comparison complete, such “the wisdom.” Alternate translation: [is wiser than the wisdom of men]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ ἀσθενὲς τοῦ Θεοῦ

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe weakness that comes from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by translating this idea with a phrase that indicates that God does weakness. Alternate translation: [the weak things that God does are]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἰσχυρότερον τῶν ἀνθρώπων

stronger_‹than› ¬the humans

Paul does not include all the words that are needed in many languages to make a complete comparison. If you do need these words in your language, you could add whatever is needed to make the comparison complete, such “the strength.” Alternate translation: [stronger than the strength of men]

Parallel 1 COR 1:25

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

Paragraph 1:20–25

1:25a

1:25b

Parallel 1 COR 1:25