What Does 1 Corinthians 1:27 Mean in the King James?

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;

1 Corinthians 1:27 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The things the world ranks lowest become the means by which its highest measures are put to shame.

THE MEANING

God’s choice is active in the reader’s world: what the world calls foolish and weak is not outside that choice. Its presence exposes the limits of the world’s measures of wisdom and power.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that being chosen requires being impressive, strong, or recognized by the world’s standards.

THE ROOT

καταισχύνῃ

kataischunē

GROWS FROM

αἰσχυν-

aischyn-

Shame or disgrace; the verb means to put to shame.

“confound” in this verse is kataischunē. The Greek word belongs to a family about shame and disgrace, bringing the wise and mighty’s confidence into public exposure. The repeated verb makes that reversal part of both halves of the verse.

ALSO GROWS

aischynē: Shame or disgrace

αἰσχύνη

The same word-family names the exposure that follows when the world’s measures fail.

epaischynomai: To be ashamed

ἐπαισχύνομαι

This related form shows the same root from the side of the one who feels the disgrace.

ἀσθενῆ

asthenē

GROWS FROM

ἀσθεν-

asthen-

Without strength, formed with a- (“without”) and a stem for strength.

“weak” in this verse is asthenē. This word-family joins weakness with sickness and vulnerability. Here that condition is among the things God chooses, so weakness is not evidence of exclusion.

ALSO GROWS

astheneia: Weakness or illness

ἀσθένεια

The same family names bodily vulnerability as well as lack of strength.

astheneō: To be weak or ill

ἀσθενέω

This verb shows the root describing a lived condition, not a permanent identity.

THE PATTERN

God’s choice of what appears small or weak exposes the limits of human measures of power.

And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Judges 7:2 · KJVThe force is reduced so that the outcome exposes the limits of human strength and self-credit.

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.

Psalm 8:2 · KJVStrength appears through the mouths of babes and sucklings, overturning expectations about where power comes from.

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?

James 2:5 · KJVThose the world counts poor are named as chosen and rich in faith.

THE THREAD

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 · KJV

The word for “weakness” here, ⁨ἀσθένεια⁩ (astheneia), belongs to the same Greek family as “weak” in this verse. It opens the choice of the weak as a place where strength is made complete.

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