1 Corinthians 11:33 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Corinthians 11:33 kjv
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
1 Corinthians 11:33 nkjv
Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
1 Corinthians 11:33 niv
So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.
1 Corinthians 11:33 esv
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another ?
1 Corinthians 11:33 nlt
So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other.
1 Corinthians 11 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 11:17 | But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. | Context of improper gathering |
| 1 Cor 11:21 | For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk. | Describes the problem this verse addresses |
| 1 Cor 10:16-17 | The cup of blessing...the bread that we break...we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. | Lord's Supper signifies unity and one body |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Early church communal practice and unity |
| Acts 2:46 | And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, | Early church fellowship and sharing |
| Rom 12:5 | so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. | Christian unity in diversity |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Command to show mutual love and respect |
| Rom 12:13 | Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. | Hospitality and care for fellow believers |
| Rom 12:16 | Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. | Humility and associating with all |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Equality in Christ, transcending social barriers |
| Eph 4:2-3 | with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Patience and unity in the Spirit |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | Humility and consideration for others |
| Col 3:12-13 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. | Call for patience and bearing with one another |
| Heb 13:2 | Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. | Emphasis on hospitality |
| Jas 2:1-4 | My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. | Condemnation of favoritism/partiality |
| 1 Pet 4:8-9 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. | Earnest love and hospitality |
| Jn 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Command to love one another |
| 1 Cor 12:12-27 | For just as the body is one and has many members...you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. | Analogy of the body emphasizes mutual care |
| Mt 23:11 | The greatest among you shall be your servant. | Call to humble service and not superiority |
| Prov 22:2 | The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all. | God's impartial creation |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Mutual support and love |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 33 meaning
Paul concludes his instructions regarding the proper conduct at the Lord's Supper, commanding the believers in Corinth to practice mutual consideration and patience. When they gather to share a communal meal that precedes the sacred ordinance, they must await each other's arrival. This ensures that no one eats alone, is left out, or goes hungry while others are indulging, thus fostering unity, equality, and love among all members of Christ's body, irrespective of social standing.
1 Corinthians 11 33 Context
This verse concludes a lengthy section in 1 Corinthians 11 (starting from verse 17) where Paul addresses severe abuses of the Lord's Supper in the Corinthian church. The specific issue was social stratification: wealthier members, able to arrive early from leisure or less demanding work, would eat their own food in abundance, even becoming drunk, while poorer members, delayed by labor, would arrive later only to find little or nothing left and still be hungry (1 Cor 11:21). This disregard for one another completely corrupted the spirit of the communal meal and the sacred meaning of the Lord's Supper, which symbolizes Christ's unified body. Paul has just reminded them of the institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus (1 Cor 11:23-26) and warned against partaking "unworthily" (1 Cor 11:27-32), connecting unworthy participation directly to their divisions and selfish conduct. Therefore, 1 Corinthians 11:33 is a direct, practical command to rectify these abuses by embodying love, unity, and genuine Christian fellowship through waiting for everyone.
1 Corinthians 11 33 Word analysis
- So then (ὥστε, hōste): A particle indicating a logical conclusion or result. Paul is summarizing and providing a practical application for all his preceding warnings and instructions concerning the Lord's Supper. It functions as a direct command stemming from the previous discussion on unity and the grave dangers of disrespecting the Lord's body.
- my brothers (ἀδελφοί μου, adelphoi mou): A common, affectionate, and inclusive address Paul uses to refer to fellow believers, emphasizing their spiritual family bond and shared identity in Christ. It underscores the call for unity and mutual responsibility, reminding them they are one family, not strangers or social classes.
- when you come together (ἐρχόμενοι εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν, erchomenoi eis to phagein): The participle "erchomenoi" (coming) denotes an ongoing action or the condition for the following command. The phrase "eis to phagein" (to eat) clarifies the purpose. It refers to their communal assembly, specifically for the meal that was eaten alongside or preceding the Lord's Supper itself, not merely any casual gathering. This assembly was intended to express koinonia (fellowship).
- to eat (εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν, eis to phagein): Directly indicates the purpose of their gathering. In context, this refers to the congregational meal, the "love feast" (agape feast) which, at Corinth, seems to have been combined with or immediately preceded the celebration of the Lord's Supper. It highlights that the problem arose during this communal sharing of food.
- wait for (ἐκδέχεσθε, ekdechesthe): This verb is a present imperative, denoting an active, continuous command. It means "to receive from, await, expect, look for." In this context, it specifically means to delay, be patient, and actively expect others' arrival before commencing the meal. It implies an act of humility, consideration, and shared participation rather than selfish indulgence. It goes beyond mere passive waiting; it suggests an active reception of fellow believers.
- one another (ἀλλήλους, allēlous): A reciprocal pronoun, signifying mutual interaction. The waiting is not just for some others, but for each member of the body. It powerfully reinforces the theme of communal responsibility, equality, and the eradication of social barriers within the church's gatherings.
- when you come together to eat: This phrase collectively points to the assembly for a communal meal. This was not a private function but a church gathering. The eating itself was part of their spiritual practice, intended to strengthen fellowship, not highlight divisions. The verb 'come together' emphasizes the act of assembly for a shared purpose.
- wait for one another: This phrase forms the core of Paul's practical instruction. It is an imperative, directly addressing the Corinthians' divisive behavior. It signifies respect, patience, unity, and a commitment to ensuring all members participate equally, demonstrating the self-sacrificial love that mirrors Christ's example. It directly counters the selfish "going ahead" mentioned in verse 21.
1 Corinthians 11 33 Bonus section
The injunction to "wait for one another" reflects a foundational principle of the Christian church: that in Christ, traditional societal distinctions of wealth, status, and power are rendered irrelevant (Gal 3:28). The communal meal, which served as a preamble to the Lord's Supper, was intended to be a practical demonstration of this spiritual equality and mutual love. The failure to wait not only disrupted fellowship but distorted the very meaning of the Eucharist, which points to the single body of Christ and His self-sacrificial love for all. Furthermore, Paul's command challenged the prevailing banqueting customs of the ancient world where guests were seated and served according to social rank, often resulting in superior fare for the elites. Paul's instruction explicitly dismantled such class-based dining practices within the Christian assembly, asserting a counter-cultural ethos where humility and self-denial for the sake of others took precedence over personal preference or status.
1 Corinthians 11 33 Commentary
Paul's command in 1 Corinthians 11:33 is a straightforward and vital practical application of Christian love and unity within the worshipping community. He directly addresses the scandal of social divisions at the very table of the Lord. The core issue was not simply bad manners, but a profound theological failure to recognize the shared dignity and equal standing of all believers in Christ, a reality dramatically symbolized by the Lord's Supper. By commanding them to "wait for one another," Paul insisted on patient, inclusive fellowship that defied prevailing Greco-Roman social hierarchies, where patronage and class distinctions were normative. This waiting was to be an active expression of humble consideration and mutual respect, ensuring no one was excluded or shamed. It was about seeing each "brother" and "sister" not through the lens of social status but as a beloved member of Christ's unified body, all equally welcomed and nourished at the Lord's table. To neglect this was to dishonor Christ's body and partake in a manner unworthy of its profound spiritual significance.