1 Corinthians 1:27

Bible in Basic English (1941)

But God made selection of the foolish things of this world so that he might put the wise to shame; and the feeble things that he might put to shame the strong;

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀλλὰ τὰ μωρὰ τοῦ κόσμου ἐξελέξατο ὁ Θεὸς ἵνα τοὺς σοφούς καταισχύνῃ· καὶ τὰ ἀσθενῆ τοῦ κόσμου ἐξελέξατο ὁ Θεὸς ἵνα καταισχύνῃ τὰ ἰσχυρά·

Transliteration

But the mōra of the kosmou exelexato the Theos so that the sophous kataischynē; and the asthenē of the kosmou exelexato the Theos so that he kataischynē the ischyra;

Grammar Details

• *mōra*: adjective, accusative, neuter, plural - foolish things
• *kosmou*: noun, genitive, masculine, singular - of world
• *exelexato*: verb, aorist, middle, indicative, 3rd person, singular - chose for himself
• *Theos*: noun, nominative, masculine, singular - God
• *sophous*: adjective, accusative, masculine, plural - wise ones
• *kataischynē*: verb, aorist, active, subjunctive, 3rd person, singular - might shame/put to shame
• *asthenē*: adjective, accusative, neuter, plural - weak things
• *ischyra*: adjective, accusative, neuter, plural - strong things

Word Meanings

• *mōra*: foolish things/folly/things considered foolish
• *kosmou*: world/universe/ordered system
• *exelexato*: chose for himself/selected/picked out
• *sophous*: wise ones/sages/skilled persons
• *kataischynē*: might shame/might put to shame/might humiliate
• *asthenē*: weak things/feeble things/things without strength
• *ischyra*: strong things/powerful things/mighty things

Referenced Verses

• Jas 2:5 : 5 Give ear, my dear brothers; are not those who are poor in the things of this world marked out by God to have faith as their wealth, and for their heritage the kingdom which he has said he will give to those who have love for him?
• 1 Cor 1:20 : 20 Where is the wise? where is he who has knowledge of the law? where is the man of this world who has a love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
• Ps 8:2 : 2 You have made clear your strength even out of the mouths of babies at the breast, because of those who are against you; so that you may put to shame the cruel and violent man.
• Isa 29:14 : 14 For this cause I will again do a strange thing among this people, a thing to be wondered at: and the wisdom of their wise men will come to nothing, and the sense of their guides will no longer be seen.
• Isa 29:19 : 19 And the poor will have their joy in the Lord increased, and those in need will be glad in the Holy One of Israel.
• Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus made answer and said, I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children.
• Matt 21:16 : 16 Have you any idea what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes: have you not seen in the Writings, From the lips of children and babies at the breast you have made your praise complete?
• 2 Cor 4:7 : 7 But we have this wealth in vessels of earth, so that it may be seen that the power comes not from us but from God;
• 2 Cor 10:4-5 : 4 (For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places); 5 Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;
• 2 Cor 10:10 : 10 For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.
• Luke 19:39-40 : 39 And some of the Pharisees among the people said to him, Master, make your disciples be quiet. 40 And he said in answer, I say to you, if these men keep quiet, the very stones will be crying out.
• Luke 21:15 : 15 For I will give you words and wisdom, so that not one of those who are against you will be able to get the better of you, or to put you in the wrong.
• Acts 4:11-21 : 11 He is the stone which you builders had no use for, but which has been made the chief stone of the building. 12 And in no other is there salvation: for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, through which we may have salvation. 13 Now when they saw that Peter and John were without fear, though they were men of no education or learning, they were greatly surprised; and they took note of them that they had been with Jesus. 14 And, seeing that the man who had been made well was there with them, they were not able to say anything against it. 15 But when they had given them orders to go out of the Sanhedrin, they had a discussion among themselves, 16 Saying, What are we to do with these men? for certainly it is clear to all who are living in Jerusalem that a most important sign has been done by them, and it is not possible to say that it is not so. 17 But so that it may not go farther among the people, let us put them in fear of punishment if they say anything in future in this name. 18 And they sent for them, and gave them orders not to make statements or give teaching in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John in answer said to them, It is for you to say if it is right in the eyes of God to give attention to you more than to God: 20 For it is not possible for us to keep from saying what we have seen and have knowledge of. 21 And when they had said more sharp words to them, they let them go, not seeing what punishment they might give them, because of the people; for all men were giving praise to God for what had taken place.
• Acts 6:9-9 : 9 But some of those who were of the Synagogue named that of the Libertines, and some of the men of Cyrene and of Alexandria and those from Cilicia and Asia, had arguments with Stephen. 10 But they were not able to get the better of him, for his words were full of wisdom and of the Spirit.
• Acts 7:35 : 35 This Moses, whom they would not have, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? him God sent to be a ruler and a saviour, by the hand of the angel whom he saw in the thorn-tree.
• Zeph 3:12 : 12 But I will still have among you a quiet and poor people, and they will put their faith in the name of the Lord.
• Matt 4:18-22 : 18 And when he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, whose other name was Peter, and Andrew, his brother, who were putting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And straight away they let go the nets and went after him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in the boat with their father, stitching up their nets; and he said, Come. 22 And they went straight from the boat and their father and came after him.
• Matt 9:9 : 9 And when Jesus was going from there, he saw a man whose name was Matthew, seated at the place where taxes were taken; and he said to him, Come after me. And he got up and went after him.
• Isa 26:5-6 : 5 For he has made low those who are lifted up, all the people of the town of pride: he makes it low, crushing it down to the earth; he makes it low in the dust. 6 It will be crushed under the feet of the poor and the steps of those who are in need.
• Acts 17:18 : 18 And some of those who were supporters of the theories of the Epicureans and the Stoics, had a meeting with him. And some said, What is this talker of foolish words saying? And others, He seems to be a preacher of strange gods: because he was preaching of Jesus and his coming back from the dead.
• Acts 24:24-25 : 24 But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was of the Jews by birth, and sent for Paul, and gave hearing to him about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And while he was talking about righteousness and self-control and the judging which was to come, Felix had great fear and said, Go away for the present, and when the right time comes I will send for you.
• Acts 7:54 : 54 Hearing these things, they were cut to the heart and moved with wrath against him.