What Does 1 Corinthians 9:12 Mean in the King James?

If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:12 · 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 word for hindering pictures cutting into a path: the speaker leaves a legitimate right unused so the gospel can pass unblocked.

THE MEANING

A right can be real without being exercised. Here, the speaker bears all things so that claiming support does not become an obstacle to the gospel of Christ; the restraint is chosen, and its cost is explicit.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that having a right means you must use it, or that leaving it unused means it was never yours.

THE ROOT

ἐγκόψωμεν

enkopsōmen

GROWS FROM

κόπτω

koptō

To cut or strike; in this word family, cutting into a course can impede it.

The image beneath “hinder” is an interruption cut into a path. The speaker refuses to make the gospel’s way harder to travel, even while bearing the cost of leaving his right unused.

ALSO GROWS

enkoptō: To hinder or impede; to cut into or interrupt a course.

ἐγκόπτω

This is the verb family of the word translated “hinder” here: an obstacle is made by cutting into the way forward.

ekkoptō: To cut off or cut down.

ἐκκόπτω

It carries the same cutting image, showing how this root family describes stopping movement by cutting into or severing its course.

THE PATTERN

A legitimate claim can be relinquished when exercising it would obstruct another good.

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Genesis 14:23 · KJVAbram leaves material gain unclaimed so another cannot claim credit for his prosperity.

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

1 Corinthians 8:13 · KJVA freedom is voluntarily set aside so that its exercise does not become a stumbling block to another.

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

2 Thessalonians 3:9 · KJVThe speaker names an available right and explains that he does not exercise it, choosing instead to shape what others can follow.

THE THREAD

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 · KJV

“Hindered” here is from the same Greek verb family as the word translated “hinder” in 1 Corinthians 9:12. In both verses, the image is a path interrupted; one shows restraint that keeps the gospel’s way open, the other an obstruction to reaching people.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us