1 Corinthians 1:27

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

📖 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 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
• 1 Cor 1:20 : 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
• Ps 8:2 : 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
• Isa 29:14 : 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
• Isa 29:19 : 19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
• Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
• Matt 21:16 : 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
• 2 Cor 4:7 : 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
• 2 Cor 10:4-5 : 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting 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 10:10 : 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
• Luke 19:39-40 : 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
• Luke 21:15 : 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
• Acts 4:11-21 : 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
• Acts 6:9-9 : 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
• Acts 7:35 : 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
• Zeph 3:12 : 12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
• Matt 4:18-22 : 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
• Matt 9:9 : 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
• Isa 26:5-6 : 5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
• Acts 17:18 : 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
• Acts 24:24-25 : 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
• Acts 7:54 : 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.