2 Corinthians 4:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν.

Transliteration

Echomen de ton thēsauron touton en ostrakinois skeuesin, that the hyperbolē tēs dynameōs ē tou Theou, and not from us.

Grammar Details

• *Echomen*: present active indicative, 1st person plural - we have
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and/now
• *thēsauron*: accusative masculine singular - treasure
• *touton*: demonstrative pronoun, accusative masculine singular - this
• *en*: preposition + dative - in
• *ostrakinois*: dative neuter plural adjective - earthen/clay
• *skeuesin*: dative neuter plural - vessels/containers
• *hyperbolē*: nominative feminine singular - excellence/surpassing greatness
• *dynameōs*: genitive feminine singular - power/might
• *ē*: present subjunctive, 3rd person singular - may be
• *tou Theou*: genitive masculine singular - of God
• *ex*: preposition + genitive - from/out of
• *hēmōn*: genitive, 1st person plural pronoun - of us

Word Meanings

• *thēsauron*: treasure/wealth/valuable thing
• *ostrakinois*: earthen/made of clay/fragile
• *skeuesin*: vessels/containers/jars
• *hyperbolē*: excellence/surpassing greatness/exceeding
• *dynameōs*: power/might/strength/ability

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But we have this treasure in erthe vessels that ye excellent power of it myght appere to be of God and not of vs.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But this treasure haue we in earthen vessels, that ye power which excelleth might be of God, and not of vs.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of that power might be of God, and not of vs.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of the power be Gods, and not ours.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  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;

• World English Bible (2000)

  But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  An Eternal Weight of Glory But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Cor 5:1 : 1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
• 2 Cor 3:5-6 : 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Eph 2:8-9 : 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
• Lam 4:2 : 2 The precious children of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen vessels, the work of a potter's hands!
• 1 Cor 1:28 : 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
• Col 2:3 : 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• 1 Thess 1:5 : 5 Because our gospel came to you not only in words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. As you know, we lived among you for your sake.
• Col 1:27 : 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
• Eph 1:19-20 : 19 and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. This power is according to the working of His mighty strength, 20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
• Eph 2:5 : 5 made us alive together with Christ, even when we were dead in our transgressions—by grace you have been saved.
• 2 Cor 4:1 : 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we were shown mercy, we do not lose heart.
• 2 Cor 6:10 : 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
• 2 Cor 10:10 : 10 For some say, 'His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speech is contemptible.'
• 2 Cor 12:7-9 : 7 And because of the extraordinary revelations, so that I might not become conceited, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me, so that I would not become conceited. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
• 2 Cor 13:4 : 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, He lives by the power of God. Likewise, we are weak in Him, but we will live with Him by God’s power for your benefit.
• Gal 4:13-14 : 13 You know that it was because of a weakness in my flesh that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 And though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
• 1 Cor 2:3-5 : 3 I came to you in weakness, fear, and great trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not based on persuasive words of human wisdom but on a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 5 So that your faith would not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.
• 1 Cor 4:9-9 : 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole world—to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, and we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are insulted, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it. 13 When we are slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the scum of the earth, the refuse of all, even until now.
• Matt 13:44 : 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
• Matt 13:52 : 52 Then he said to them, "For this reason, every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom both new treasures and old ones."
• Judg 7:2 : 2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many people with you for me to hand Midian over to them, lest Israel boast against me, claiming, 'My own strength has delivered me.'
• Judg 7:13-14 : 13 When Gideon arrived, he overheard a man telling his companion about a dream. He said, "Listen, I had a dream: a round loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp, struck a tent with such force that it collapsed and fell completely flat." 14 His companion responded, "This can only mean the sword of Gideon son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has delivered Midian and the entire camp into his hands."
• Judg 7:16-20 : 16 Gideon divided the three hundred men into three groups. He placed trumpets and empty jars, with torches inside the jars, into the hands of all of them. 17 He said to them, "Watch me and do as I do. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then you also blow your trumpets all around the camp and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon!'" 19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the guards had been changed. They blew their trumpets and smashed the jars in their hands. 20 The three groups blew their trumpets and broke the jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"
• 2 Tim 2:20 : 20 In a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay; some are for honorable use and some for dishonorable.
• Col 2:12 : 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
• Eph 3:8 : 8 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
• Job 4:19 : 19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
• Job 10:9 : 9 Remember, You fashioned me from clay; will You now return me to dust?