1 Corinthians 11 24

1 Corinthians 11:24 kjv

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24 nkjv

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1 Corinthians 11:24 niv

and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

1 Corinthians 11:24 esv

and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

1 Corinthians 11:24 nlt

and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

1 Corinthians 11 verses

1 Corinthians 11 24 Meaning

This verse describes Jesus's action during the Last Supper. He took bread, gave thanks (or blessed it), broke it, and offered it, stating it was His body given for the Corinthians. This act established the practice of communion or the Lord's Supper as a memorial.

1 Corinthians 11 24 Context

This passage is part of Paul's discourse on the proper conduct during the Lord's Supper in Corinth. The Corinthian church was experiencing divisions and disorder during their gatherings, which included the observance of communion. Paul addresses these issues, correcting their understanding and practice. This verse specifically recounts the institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus Himself, providing the foundational authority for its observance. The broader context of chapter 11 deals with issues like women's head coverings, hair length, and behavior in worship, all aiming for order and respect within the gathered body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11 24 Word Analysis

• "And" (Kai - και): A conjunction connecting this action to the preceding instruction or setting the scene for the Lord's Supper institution.
• "when" (hote - ὅτε): Temporal conjunction, indicating the time when Jesus took the bread.
• "he" (autos - αὐτός): Refers back to Jesus Christ.
• "had given thanks" (eucharistesas - εὐχαριστήσας): The perfect participle of eucharisteō (εὐχαριστέω), meaning to give grace, to be thankful, or to bless. This word is the root of "Eucharist," signifying an act of thanksgiving to God. It implies expressing gratitude to God the Father for the gift of Himself in the bread.
• "broke" (klasen - ἔκλασεν): The aorist indicative of klazō (κλάζω), meaning to break, shatter, or divide. This action anticipates the breaking of His body on the cross. It also signifies making the bread distributable for all.
• "and" (kai - καὶ): Another conjunction linking the breaking to the offering.
• "said" (eipen - εἶπεν): The aorist indicative of legō (λέγω), meaning to speak or say. A direct quotation from Jesus.
• "This" (Touto - Τοῦτο): A demonstrative pronoun pointing to the bread Jesus was holding.
• "is" (esti - ἐστιν): The present indicative of eimi (εἰμί), meaning "to be." A statement of identity.
• "my" (mou - μου): Possessive pronoun indicating the bread represents Jesus's body.
• "body" (sōma - σῶμα): The noun sōma (σῶμα) means body, and here refers to Christ's physical body that would be broken on the cross.
• "which" (to - τὸ): Relative pronoun introducing the purpose clause.
• "is given" (didomenon - διδόμενον): The present passive participle of didōmi (δίδωμι), meaning to give. It indicates continuous or ongoing giving, or the intended purpose of His body. It signifies His body being presented or sacrificed for them.
• "for" (hyper - ὑπὲρ): A preposition that can mean "for the sake of," "on behalf of," or "in exchange for." Here it emphasizes substitutionary giving.
• "you" (hymōn - ὑμῶν): Plural pronoun, referring to the disciples present and by extension, to all believers.

Words Group Analysis

• "gave thanks... broke" (eucharistesas... klasen - εὐχαριστήσας... ἔκλασεν): This pair of actions highlights Jesus’s intentionality. Giving thanks before breaking emphasizes His acceptance of God’s will and the sacrificial nature of the bread. Breaking signifies the distribution of His body to nourish and save humanity.
• "This is my body which is given for you" (Touto esti sōma mou to didomenon hyper hymōn - Τοῦτο ἐστιν σῶμα μου τὸ διδόμενον ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν): This is the core declaration, establishing a profound symbolic or actual connection between the bread and Jesus’s sacrificial body. The present participle didomenon implies an ongoing efficacy or the ultimate purpose of His impending sacrifice being represented.

1 Corinthians 11 24 Bonus Section

The phrase "gave thanks" (eucharistesas) is pivotal, linking the Lord's Supper directly to the concept of eucharistia (thanksgiving). It teaches that communion is fundamentally an act of gratitude for God's redemptive work in Christ. Scholars debate the precise nature of the bread's representation – whether it is symbolic, represents a spiritual presence, or is the literal body through transubstantiation (a later theological development not explicitly present in this verse's wording). However, all views acknowledge a profound connection established by Christ. The "breaking" of the bread, absent in Jewish Passover tradition, is seen as a direct foreshadowing of Christ's death. The preposition "for" (hyper) is significant, implying that Jesus’s body was given in the place of, or on behalf of, His people. This underscores the substitutionary aspect of His atonement.

1 Corinthians 11 24 Commentary

Jesus’s action in taking the bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and identifying it with His body is the central element of the Lord's Supper's institution. The phrase "gave thanks" (eucharistesas) underscores that this is not a magic ritual but a sacred act rooted in gratitude to God the Father for the gift of His Son. The breaking of the bread directly anticipates the physical suffering and death of Christ – His body being broken on the cross for the sins of humanity. This bread, thus broken, becomes a tangible representation and reminder of His complete sacrifice. Jesus’s words, "This is my body... given for you," reveal that the purpose of His offering is substitutionary atonement; His life poured out so that believers might have life. The act is done "for you," emphasizing its personal and salvific benefit to each believer. This institution sets a precedent for the church to remember Christ's sacrifice and participate in the benefits of His atoning work through this sacred meal.