Go
Articles on

1 Corinthians 12

1 Cor. 12:31 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
31
But
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
covetm earnestly
zeloo (Greek #2206)
to have warmth of feeling for or against
KJV usage: affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous(-ly affect).
Pronounce: dzay-lo'-o
Origin: from 2205
the best
kreitton (Greek #2909)
stronger, i.e. (figuratively) better, i.e. nobler
KJV usage: best, better.
Pronounce: krite'-tohn
Origin: comparative of a derivative of 2904
gifts
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
charisma (Greek #5486)
a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty
KJV usage: (free) gift.
Pronounce: khar'-is-mah
Origin: from 5483
n: and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
yet
eti (Greek #2089)
"yet," still (of time or degree)
KJV usage: after that, also, ever, (any) further, (t-)henceforth (more), hereafter, (any) longer, (any) more(-one), now, still, yet.
Pronounce: et'-ee
Origin: perhaps akin to 2094
show I
deiknuo (Greek #1166)
to show (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: shew.
Pronounce: dike-noo'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an obsolete primary of the same meaning
unto you
humin (Greek #5213)
to (with or by) you
KJV usage: ye, you, your(-selves).
Pronounce: hoo-min'
Origin: irregular dative case of 5210
a more excellent
kata (Greek #2596)
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
KJV usage: about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.
Pronounce: kat-ah'
Origin: a primary particle
huperbole (Greek #5236)
a throwing beyond others, i.e. (figuratively) supereminence; adverbially (with 1519 or 2596) pre- eminently
KJV usage: abundance, (far more) exceeding, excellency, more excellent, beyond (out of) measure.
Pronounce: hoop-er-bol-ay'
Origin: from 5235
way
hodos (Greek #3598)
a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means
KJV usage: journey, (high-)way.
Pronounce: hod-os'
Origin: apparently a primary word
.
m
1 Cor. 14:39• 39So that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues. (1 Cor. 14:39)
n
Matt. 5:6• 6Blessed they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for *they* shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6)
;
Luke 10:42• 42but there is need of one, and Mary has chosen the good part, the which shall not be taken from her. (Luke 10:42)

More on:

+
Gifts,
To Covet

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
covet.
1 Cor. 8:1• 1But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. (1 Cor. 8:1)
;
1 Cor. 14:1,39• 1Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual manifestations, but rather that ye may prophesy.
 39So that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues. (1 Cor. 14:1,39)
;
Matt. 5:6• 6Blessed they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for *they* shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6)
;
Luke 10:42• 42but there is need of one, and Mary has chosen the good part, the which shall not be taken from her. (Luke 10:42)
shew.
1 Cor. 13:1‑13• 1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
 2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 3And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.
 4Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous of others; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up,
 5does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek what is its own, is not quickly provoked, does not impute evil,
 6does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth,
 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 8Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away.
 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:
 10but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away.
 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child.
 12For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.
 13And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:1‑13)
;
Phil. 3:8• 8But surely I count also all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them to be filth, that I may gain Christ; (Phil. 3:8)
;
Heb. 11:4• 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks. (Heb. 11:4)
• Some gifts then, were more excellent than others; they were to be estimated according to the measure in which they served for the edification of the assembly. (“1 Corinthians 12” by J.N. Darby)
• At the same time the saints are encouraged to desire earnestly the greater gifts, but these were for edification, not for show. (“Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:16-31” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
31
But desire earnestly the greater gifts, and yet shew I unto you a way of more surpassing excellence.

W. Kelly Translation

+
31
But desire earnestly the greatera gifts, and yet I show you a way of exceeding excellence.

WK Translation Notes

+
a
Some MSS. read "better."