What Does 1 Corinthians 12:7 Mean in the King James?
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
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
What the breath makes visible in each person is given for a good carried in common.
THE MEANING
A visible expression of the breath is given to each person, and it is directed toward the good shared by all. What appears in you contributes to a life larger than you alone.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that a spiritual gift proves private rank or self-sufficiency: the verse names its purpose as common benefit.
THE ROOT
συμφέρον
symphéron
GROWS FROM
φέρω (pherō), joined with σύν (syn)
φέρω (pherō) means carry, bear, or bring; σύν (syn) means together. Their compound carries the sense of bringing together and, from there, what is beneficial.
“profit withal” in this verse is symphéron. The word rendered “profit” carries an image of bringing together. What is given to each matters through what it carries into the common good.
ALSO GROWS
symphérō: Bring together; be beneficial.
συμφέρω
The verse’s “profit withal” is built from this verb, making shared benefit the direction of each gift.
diaphérō: Differ, vary, or be distinct.
διαφέρω
The same carrying stem can name difference: contributions remain distinct while serving a shared life.
πνεῦμα
pneuma
GROWS FROM
πνέω
pneō
To breathe or blow.
The same word can name breath, wind, and spirit, so the manifestation is the breath’s activity made perceptible. What appears is living movement, not merely an abstract possession.
ALSO GROWS
pneō: Breathe or blow.
πνέω
This verb shows the movement held within the word translated “Spirit.”
pnoē: Breath or wind.
πνοή
This related word makes clear how breath and wind belong to the same word family as pneuma.
φανέρωσις
phanerōsis
GROWS FROM
φανερόω
phaneroō
To make visible or evident; to disclose.
“Manifestation” can sound like an abstract event, but φανέρωσις names a making-visible. Joined to breath, it points to the breath’s activity becoming recognizable in lived expression.
ALSO GROWS
phanerós: Visible or evident.
φανερός
The related adjective names the state of being open to view.
phaneróō: Make visible or reveal.
φανερόω
The verb shows the action beneath “manifestation”: something becomes apparent.
THE PATTERN
A capacity given to one finds its purpose as it contributes to the good shared with others.
And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.THE THREAD
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.“Expedient” translates a form of the same Greek word family as “profit withal”: what benefits is what carries toward shared good. Here that measure is applied to freedom; in 12:7, it is applied to each visible gift.
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