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2 Corinthians 12

2 Cor. 12:7 KJV (With Strong’s)

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7
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
lest
hina (Greek #2443)
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
KJV usage: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.
Pronounce: hin'-ah
Origin: probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588)
I should be exalted above measure
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
huperairomai (Greek #5229)
to raise oneself over, i.e. (figuratively) to become haughty
KJV usage: exalt self, be exalted above measure.
Pronounce: hoop-er-ah'-ee-rom-ahee
Origin: middle voice from 5228 and 142
through the abundance
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
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
of the revelations
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
apokalupsis (Greek #602)
disclosure
KJV usage: appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.
Pronounce: ap-ok-al'-oop-sis
Origin: from 601
, there was given
didomi (Greek #1325)
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
KJV usage: adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Pronounce: did'-o-mee
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses)
to me
moi (Greek #3427)
to me
KJV usage: I, me, mine, my.
Pronounce: moy
Origin: the simpler form of 1698
a thorn
skolops (Greek #4647)
withered at the front, i.e. a point or prickle (figuratively, a bodily annoyance or disability)
KJV usage: thorn.
Pronounce: skol'-ops
Origin: perhaps from the base of 4628 and 3700
y in the flesh
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
sarx (Greek #4561)
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such)
KJV usage: carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).
Pronounce: sarx
Origin: probably from the base of 4563
, thez messenger
aggelos (Greek #32)
a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
KJV usage: angel, messenger.
Pronounce: ang'-el-os
Origin: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings)
of Satan
Satan (Greek #4566)
Satan, i.e. the devil
KJV usage: Satan. Compare 4567.
Pronounce: sat-an'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (07854)
to
hina (Greek #2443)
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
KJV usage: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.
Pronounce: hin'-ah
Origin: probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588)
buffet
kolaphizo (Greek #2852)
to rap with the fist
KJV usage: buffet.
Pronounce: kol-af-id'-zo
Origin: from a derivative of the base of 2849
me
me (Greek #3165)
me
KJV usage: I, me, my.
Pronounce: meh
Origin: a shorter (and probably originally) form of 1691
, lest
hina (Greek #2443)
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
KJV usage: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.
Pronounce: hin'-ah
Origin: probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588)
I should be exalted above measure
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
huperairomai (Greek #5229)
to raise oneself over, i.e. (figuratively) to become haughty
KJV usage: exalt self, be exalted above measure.
Pronounce: hoop-er-ah'-ee-rom-ahee
Origin: middle voice from 5228 and 142
.
y
Ezek. 28:24• 24And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord God. (Ezek. 28:24)
;
Gal. 4:14• 14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (Gal. 4:14)
z
Job 2:7• 7So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. (Job 2:7)
;
Luke 13:16• 16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? (Luke 13:16)

More on:

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Flesh,
Satan,
Thorn in the Flesh

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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lest.
2 Cor. 10:5• 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor. 10:5)
;
2 Cor. 11:20• 20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. (2 Cor. 11:20)
;
Deut. 8:14• 14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; (Deut. 8:14)
;
Deut. 17:20• 20That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. (Deut. 17:20)
;
2 Chron. 26:16• 16But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. (2 Chron. 26:16)
;
2 Chron. 32:25‑26,31• 25But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
 26Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
 31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chron. 32:25‑26,31)
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Dan. 5:20• 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: (Dan. 5:20)
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1 Tim. 3:6• 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Tim. 3:6)
the abundance.
2 Cor. 12:1‑4• 1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
 2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
 3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
 4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Cor. 12:1‑4)
a thorn.
Gen. 32:25,31• 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
 31And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. (Gen. 32:25,31)
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Judg. 2:3• 3Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. (Judg. 2:3)
;
Ezek. 28:24• 24And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord God. (Ezek. 28:24)
;
Gal. 4:13• 13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. (Gal. 4:13)
the messenger.
Job 2:7• 7So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. (Job 2:7)
;
Luke 13:16• 16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? (Luke 13:16)
;
1 Cor. 5:5• 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Cor. 5:5)
to buffet.
Matt. 26:67• 67Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, (Matt. 26:67)
;
1 Cor. 4:11• 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; (1 Cor. 4:11)
• Hence, lest by the excess of the revelations he should be uplifted, there was given him what was alike painful and humbling. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10” by W. Kelly)
• To be near God in the glory, as out of the body, does not puff up. All is Christ, and Christ is all: self is forgotten. To have been there is another thing. The presence of God makes us feel our nothingness. The flesh can avail itself of our having been in it, when we are no longer there. (“2 Corinthians 12” by J.N. Darby)
• God left this task to Satan, as He used him for the humiliation of Job. Whatever graces may be bestowed on us, we must go through the ordinary exercises of personal faith, in which the heart only walks safely when the flesh is bridled. (“2 Corinthians 12” by J.N. Darby)
• Thorn if not “stake” for the flesh, sent to make nothing of him in the eyes of others, rendering him contemptible, it would seem from elsewhere in his preaching. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10” by W. Kelly)
• What the thorn in the flesh was in Paul's case is purposely left undetermined, even if one may gather more or less its nature; but its moral aim, its intended effect, cannot be doubted. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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7
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 buffetf me, that I might not be exalted.

JND Translation Notes

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f
As Matt. 26.67

W. Kelly Translation

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And that I should not be uplifted by the exceeding greatness of the revelationsa, there was given to me thornb for the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted overmuchc.

WK Translation Notes

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a
Some MSS. add "wherefore." There is extraordinary irregularity in the expression if we adopt that reading.
b
Or, "stake."
c
The last clause, "that I might not be exalted," is omitted by the best MSS., but it can hardly be doubted that it was added in error to correct a supposed repetition, which was meant for emphasis. This is an instructive fact.