KJV King James Version
For [his] letters, say they, [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
2 Corinthians 10:10
For [his] letters, say they, [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
WEB World English Bible
For, “His letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”
ASV American Standard Version
For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
because the letters indeed—saith one—are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.’
Surrounding context — 2 Corinthians 10
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he [is] Christ’s, even so [are] we Christ’s.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For [his] letters, say they, [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [will we be] also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without [our] measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ὅτιG3754 · hotithat/since: thatαἱG3588 · hothe/this/whoἐπιστολαὶG1992 · epistolēepistleμένG3303 · menon the other handφησινG5346 · phēmito assertβαρεῖαιG926 · barusweightyκαὶG2532 · kaiandἰσχυραί,G2478 · ischurosstrongἡG3588 · hothe/this/whoδὲG1161 · dethenπαρουσίαG3952 · parousiacomingτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoσώματοςG4983 · sōmabodyἀσθενὴςG772 · asthenēsweakκαὶG2532 · kaiandὁG3588 · hothe/this/whoλόγοςG3056 · logoswordἐξουθενημένος.G1848 · exoutheneōto reject
Cross-references
1 Corinthians 1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.Exodus 4:10And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I [am] not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I [am] slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.2 Corinthians 11:6But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.Jeremiah 1:6Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child.2 Corinthians 12:5-9Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.Galatians 4:13-14Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.1 Corinthians 2:1-4And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.1 Corinthians 1:21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.2 Corinthians 10:1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence [am] base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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