1 Corinthians 1:27 kjv

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 nkjv

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

1 Corinthians 1:27 niv

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:27 esv

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

1 Corinthians 1:27 nlt

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 27 Meaning

The verse 1 Corinthians 1:27 conveys God's deliberate strategy to use what the world considers lowly, weak, and foolish to shame and overturn the wisdom and power valued by human society. It highlights a divine reversal of worldly standards, ensuring that all glory belongs to God, not to human capabilities or achievements.

1 Corinthians 1 27 Context

First Corinthians chapter one addresses the Corinthian church's divisions, particularly their pride in human wisdom and eloquent speakers, leading to factionalism. Paul introduces the paradox of "the word of the cross," which appears as foolishness to those relying on worldly wisdom but is the very power of God for salvation (1 Cor 1:18). He challenges the societal values of status, intellect, and power prevalent in the highly sophisticated and philosophically inclined city of Corinth. Verses 1 Cor 1:26-29 explicitly state God's purposeful choice of those deemed insignificant by the world, illustrating this divine principle to humble all human boasting before Him. This specific verse (1 Cor 1:27) solidifies Paul's argument by emphasizing that God intentionally selected the seemingly disadvantaged to overthrow the conventionally advantaged. It is a direct polemic against the intellectual snobbery and social elitism that was permeating the church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1 27 Word analysis

• But: (Greek: ἀλλά, alla) Indicates a strong contrast. It signals a departure from human expectations and values, introducing God's counter-intuitive method.
• God: (Greek: ὁ Θεός, ho Theos) Emphasizes the divine actor. This is a sovereign, deliberate choice of the omnipotent creator, not a random occurrence or human initiative.
• has chosen: (Greek: ἐξελέξατο, exelexato) From eklegomai, meaning "to pick out for oneself, to choose." This verb highlights intentional, purposeful selection by God. It is an active and past action with enduring effect, showing God's fixed purpose.
• the foolish things: (Greek: τὰ μωρά, ta mōra) From moros, meaning "dull, stupid, senseless, foolish." Refers not to actual intellectual deficiency, but to what is considered absurd or intellectually contemptible from the world's perspective. The word connects to the "foolishness" of the cross in 1 Cor 1:18.
• of the world: (Greek: τοῦ κόσμου, tou kosmou) Indicates the realm or standard from which the "foolish" things are perceived. It defines the frame of reference as human, earthly values and wisdom, which are contrasted with God's wisdom.
• to confound: (Greek: ἵνα καταισχύνῃ, hina kataischynē) From kataischynō, meaning "to disgrace, to put to shame, to bring to naught." This strong purpose clause reveals God's intent: not just to select, but specifically to humiliate and discredit the world's perceived strengths. It's a forceful overturning.
• the wise: (Greek: τοὺς σοφούς, tous sophous) Refers to those esteemed by worldly standards for their intellectual prowess, philosophical insights, rhetorical skill, or perceived superior knowledge. They are the targets of God's humbling strategy.
• and God has chosen: (Greek: καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο, kai ho Theos exelexato) A repetition of the preceding phrase, signifying another category of divine selection and reinforcing God's unwavering intention and sovereign initiative. This parallelism emphasizes the intentionality across two distinct types of "lowly" things.
• the weak things: (Greek: τὰ ἀσθενῆ, ta asthenē) From asthenēs, meaning "without strength, feeble, infirm." Denotes those lacking power, influence, or ability as judged by human standards. This contrasts with political, economic, or physical might.
• of the world: (Greek: τοῦ κόσμου, tou kosmou) Again, situates the definition of "weakness" within the world's perspective and evaluative system.
• to confound: (Greek: ἵνα καταισχύνῃ, hina kataischynē) Reiterated purpose, identical to the first use, confirming God's aim to put to shame.
• the things which are mighty: (Greek: τὰ ἰσχυρά, ta ischyra) Refers to those possessing great strength, power, authority, or influence according to worldly assessments. This includes political, military, social, and economic power structures.

• "But God has chosen the foolish things...of the world": This phrase immediately sets God's plan against human expectations, highlighting divine initiative in selecting the counter-intuitive. It signifies God's active decision to work through what is overlooked.
• "to confound the wise": This part reveals the direct purpose of God's choice: to utterly disgrace and negate the wisdom that prides itself in its own understanding apart from God.
• "and God has chosen the weak things...of the world": This repetition and parallel structure introduce a second category of the "lowly" (weakness vs. foolishness), further reinforcing the comprehensiveness of God's strategy. It underlines God's intentionality in choosing both the intellectually and the powerfully insignificant.
• "to confound the things which are mighty": This highlights God's aim to bring down and discredit all forms of worldly power and influence that operate independent of, or in opposition to, His divine will. It's about demonstrating the impotence of human strength before God's ultimate power.

1 Corinthians 1 27 Bonus section

This verse implies God's consistent working throughout biblical history where often the less likely candidates (e.g., Abraham, Moses, David, the humble disciples) were chosen over the prominent. It demonstrates that God is not impressed by human credentials or worldly achievements, but seeks those who are available, humble, and dependent on Him. God's strength is made perfect in weakness, not just for the individual, but also for displaying His unparalleled glory to the world. The foolishness and weakness mentioned are from a human perspective; from God's eternal perspective, these are perfectly wise and powerful choices for His divine plan of redemption and revelation.

1 Corinthians 1 27 Commentary

First Corinthians 1:27 is a pivotal statement in Paul's argument, articulating a profound reversal of conventional wisdom and power structures. God deliberately chooses the seemingly insignificant—what the world labels foolish and weak—as His instruments. This isn't because God lacks access to the world's "wise" or "mighty," but precisely to humiliate them. The selection of the weak is a strategic act of divine power designed to dismantle human pride and self-sufficiency. It illustrates that God's methods and values fundamentally oppose those of fallen humanity. This strategy ensures that human beings cannot boast in their own merits, intellect, or strength. Instead, the triumph belongs entirely to God, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty and power that works most powerfully through the humble and unassuming. The result is that God alone receives the glory.

Example: A shy, uncharismatic individual with little formal education might be profoundly used by God to bring about spiritual revival and challenge the assumptions of a highly educated, self-sufficient community.