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1 Corinthians 12

1 Cor. 12:31 KJV (With Strong’s)

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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
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m
1 Cor. 14:39• 39Wherefore, my brethren, seek earnestly for prophesying, and forbid not the speaking in tongues; (1 Cor. 14:39)
n
Matt. 5:6• 6Blessed they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6)
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Luke 10:42• 42but there is need of one; and Mary hath chosen the good part, such as shall not be taken from her. (Luke 10:42)

More on:

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Gifts,
To Covet

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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covet.
1 Cor. 8:1• 1But concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. (1 Cor. 8:1)
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1 Cor. 14:1,39• 1Pursue love, but earnestly desire the spiritual things, yet rather that ye may prophesy.
 39Wherefore, my brethren, seek earnestly for prophesying, and forbid not the speaking in tongues; (1 Cor. 14:1,39)
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Matt. 5:6• 6Blessed they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6)
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Luke 10:42• 42but there is need of one; and Mary hath chosen the good part, such as 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, yet have not love, I am become sounding brass and a clanging cymbal.
 2And if I have prophecy, and know all the mysteries and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to remove mountains, yet have not love, I am nothing.
 3And if I should dole out in food all my substance, and if I should deliver my body that I might be burned, and have not love, I am nothing profited.
 4Love is long-suffering, is kind; love is not emulous, is not vain-glorious, is not puffed up,
 5doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not its own things, is not easily provoked, reckoneth not the evil,
 6rejoiceth not over iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth,
 7beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
 8Love never faileth, but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall be done away.
 9For in part we know, and in part we prophesy;
 10but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
 11When I was a child, I talked as a child, I thought as a child, I reckoned as a child; when I am become a man, I have done with the things of a child.
 12For we see now through a mirror in a dark form, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know, even as I also was fully known.
 13But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but [the] greater of these [is] love. (1 Cor. 13:1‑13)
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Phil. 3:8• 8But moreover also I count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on whose account I lost all things and count them to be refuse that I may win Christ, (Phil. 3:8)
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Heb. 11:4• 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which it was witnessed that he was righteous, God witnessing in respect of his gifts; and through it he, having died, yet speaketh. (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

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

W. Kelly Translation

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

WK Translation Notes

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a
Some MSS. read "better."