What Does 1 Corinthians 12:30 Mean in the King James?

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:30 · 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.

THE KEY

The Greek speaks of “gifts of healings” in the plural: shared life holds varied capacities, and no single person carries them all.

THE MEANING

These questions answer themselves: not every person speaks in tongues or interprets, and the same is true of healing. Your shared life holds distinct capacities rather than requiring every person to carry each one.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that everyone must possess every gift dissolves here: the questions mark these capacities as distributed, not universal.

THE ROOT

χαρίσματα

charismata

GROWS FROM

χαρ-

char-

Favor freely expressed or granted.

The English “gifts” can sound like possessions, but this word belongs to the family of favor. The verse presents these capacities as favor taking different forms across the body.

ALSO GROWS

charis: favor

χάρις

This is the source word behind the gifts: the capacity is favor made concrete.

charizomai: to grant freely, show favor

χαρίζομαι

Favor moves outward through granting; the verse’s varied gifts are not all held by one person.

ἰαμάτων

iamatōn

GROWS FROM

ἰα-

ia-

To heal or cure.

The Greek names “gifts” and “healings” in the plural, while English can make healing sound like one uniform specialty. The wording leaves room for varied expressions of healing, and asks whether everyone carries them.

ALSO GROWS

iaomai: to heal, cure

ἰάομαι

The action of healing is part of the same word family as the healings named here.

iasis: healing, cure

ἴασις

This related noun names healing itself, showing how the family holds both the act and its expression.

THE PATTERN

A shared work is carried through varied capacities distributed among many people.

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Exodus 31:6 · KJVThe work is carried by more than one person, with wisdom placed across those whose hands contribute.

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1 Corinthians 12:11 · KJVOne shared source distributes different workings to each person.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10 · KJVThe many forms of favor become shared capacities that serve others.

THE THREAD

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Romans 12:6 · KJV

Romans uses ⁨χαρίσματα⁩ (charismata, favor-given gifts) alongside ⁨χάρις⁩ (charis, favor), the same word family behind “gifts” here. It also names these gifts as differing, showing that variation is part of how favor takes form.

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