2 Corinthians 12:7 “or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from…”

2 Corinthians 12:7

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

World English Bible

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

American Standard Version

And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

Geneva Bible 1599

And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.

Darby Translation

And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.

Young's Literal Translation

and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

Bible in Basic English

And because the revelations were so very great, in order that I might not be overmuch lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, one sent from Satan to give me pain.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“lest”

Daniel 5:20 1 Timothy 3:6 Deuteronomy 8:14 2 Chronicles 26:16 2 Chronicles 32:31 2 Corinthians 10:5

Daniel 5:20 · BSB

But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.

1 Timothy 3:6 · BSB

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

Deuteronomy 8:14 · BSB

then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

2 Chronicles 26:16 · BSB

But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 32:31 · BSB

And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

2 Corinthians 10:5 · BSB

We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

“a thorn”

Judges 2:3 Genesis 32:31 Galatians 4:13 Genesis 32:25 Ezekiel 28:24

Judges 2:3 · BSB

So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

Genesis 32:31 · BSB

The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Galatians 4:13 · BSB

You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

Genesis 32:25 · BSB

When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.

Ezekiel 28:24 · BSB

For the people of Israel will no longer face a pricking brier or a painful thorn from all around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.’

“the messenger”

1 Corinthians 5:5 Job 2:7 Luke 13:16

1 Corinthians 5:5 · BSB

hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.

Job 2:7 · BSB

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Luke 13:16 · BSB

Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”

“to buffet”

1 Corinthians 4:11 Matthew 26:67

1 Corinthians 4:11 · BSB

To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

Matthew 26:67 · BSB

Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him

Also

Numbers 33:55

Numbers 33:55 · BSB

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

Read 2 Corinthians 12