King James Version

What Does 1 Corinthians 6:5 Mean?

1 Corinthians 6:5 in the King James Version says “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between... — study this verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

1 Corinthians 6:5 · KJV


Context

3

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

5

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6

But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I speak to your shame. Pros entropēn hymin legō (πρὸς ἐντροπὴν ὑμῖν λέγω)—Paul abandons subtlety. Entropē (ἐντροπή, 'shame') signals moral failure, not just error. His rhetorical questions pile up: Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? This devastates a church proud of sophia (σοφία, 'wisdom') (1:17-2:16). Not even one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? (diakrinai ana meson tou adelphou autou, διακρῖναι ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ).

The irony scalds: they claim special gnōsis (knowledge), divide over favorite teachers (1:12, 3:4), boast of spiritual maturity—yet cannot find one wise mediator? Their 'wisdom' is performance without substance. True wisdom would preserve adelphos (ἀδελφός, 'brother') relationships, but they'd rather win lawsuits than maintain family bonds.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Corinth boasted philosophical schools, rhetoric teachers, and intellectual culture. The church absorbed this competitive sophistry—wisdom as social capital, not communal discernment. Paul earlier deconstructed worldly wisdom (1:18-25: the cross as foolishness). Now he shows the practical failure: their vaunted wisdom can't mediate a property dispute. Shame culture pervaded the ancient world—public exposure was devastating.

Reflection Questions

  1. What reputation for wisdom or spirituality do you cultivate while failing at basic Christian practices like reconciliation?
  2. How can churches identify and equip wise mediators to settle disputes before they escalate?
  3. When has pride in your theological knowledge prevented you from pursuing humble peacemaking with a fellow believer?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 20 words
πρὸς1 of 20

shame

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

ἐντροπὴν2 of 20
G1791

confusion

ὑμῖν3 of 20

to your

G5213

to (with or by) you

λέγω4 of 20

I speak

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

οὕτως5 of 20

Is it so

G3779

in this way (referring to what precedes or follows)

οὐκ6 of 20

is not

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἐστὶν7 of 20

that there

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

ἐν8 of 20

among

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ὑμῖν9 of 20

to your

G5213

to (with or by) you

σοφὸς10 of 20

a wise man

G4680

wise (in a most general application)

οὐδὲ11 of 20

no not

G3761

not however, i.e., neither, nor, not even

εἷς,12 of 20

one

G1520

one

ὃς13 of 20

that

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

δυνήσεται14 of 20

shall be able

G1410

to be able or possible

διακρῖναι15 of 20

to judge

G1252

to separate thoroughly, i.e., (literally and reflexively) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figuratively, to discriminate (by implication,

ἀνὰ16 of 20

between

G303

properly, up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.)

μέσον17 of 20
G3319

middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun)

τοῦ18 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀδελφοῦ19 of 20

brethren

G80

a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)

αὐτοῦ;20 of 20
G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Corinthians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Corinthians 6:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Corinthians 6:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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