2 Cor. 12:7 in context
The whole interlinear chapter
2 Cor. 12:6      2 Cor. 12:8

Second letter to the Corinthians 12:7

So that I will not become conceited after these great revelations [which Paul has just described, see verses 1–6], I have been given a thorn (a sharp stake) in my flesh (my body), a messenger (angel) from Satan who will strike me (with his fist), so that I will not become conceited.
[The expression "a thorn in my flesh" does not literally refer to a thorn that hurt Paul and hindered him on his journey. It is a picture of something that was irritating and troublesome to Paul, like a thorn from a plant. The text also contains other images that make it clear that the text must be interpreted; a thorn cannot strike with a fist. There has been speculation about everything from blindness to some hidden sin. A common assumption is that it was a physical illness, but based on Paul's life's work, one may wonder if a physically weak person could have made all these journeys.
The expression "thorn" is used several times in the Old Testament. There it always refers to people who troubled and tormented the Israelites, see Num 33:55; Josh 23:13; Judg 2:3. The previous chapter deals with Paul's suffering, and if you look closely, this suffering is caused by people. When Paul asks God in verses 8–10 to remove this "weakness," the same word is used that described the persecution in 2 Cor. 11:30. The expression "a messenger of Satan" is also explained in the previous chapter. The false apostles and dishonest workers are likened to disguised messengers from Satan, see 2 Cor. 11:13–14. In Gal. 4:13–14, where Paul came to the Gal. in "physical weakness," he describes how they received him as "a messenger of God." This may refer to the events in Galatia described in Acts 14:19–21. In Lystra, Paul was stoned by Jews who had followed him. When he went to Derbe the next day, the people received him despite his bruised face and body. Paul's thorn in the flesh could therefore be one or more people who followed in his footsteps and created distrust of him wherever he preached the gospel. Throughout the Acts of the Apostles, we see this pattern of Paul being persecuted by evil people. When Paul asked God to take this "weakness" away from him, the answer was that God's grace and power are sufficient. Paul himself had been a persecutor of Christians. God does not seem to remove persecution, but he gives strength to believers in the midst of suffering! No one can say with certainty what Paul's thorn in the flesh was. This allows believers of all times and cultures to read their own afflictions and troubles into the text and thus believe that God's power can be perfected precisely in their weakness.]
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The greek text BETA

Nestle-Aland (NA)

καὶ   τῇ   ὑπερβολῇ   τῶν   ἀποκαλύψεων.¶   Διὸ   ἵνα   μὴ   ὑπεραίρωμαι,   ἐδόθη   μοι   σκόλοψ   τῇ   σαρκί,   ἄγγελος   σατανᾶ   ἵνα   με   κολαφίζῃ   ἵνα   μὴ   ὑπεραίρωμαι.  

Textus Receptus (TR)

καὶ   τῇ   ὑπερβολῇ   τῶν   ἀποκαλύψεων.¶   Διὸ   ἵνα   μὴ   ὑπεραίρωμαι,   ἐδόθη   μοι   σκόλοψ   τῇ   σαρκί,   ἄγγελος   σατανᾶ   ἵνα   με   κολαφίζῃ   ἵνα   μὴ   ὑπεραίρωμαι.  

Manuscript comments

TR has 21 Words, NA has 22 (+1).


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Interlinear — table

Below is an interlinear version in table form that follows the word order of the original text. Clicking on the Strongs number will show the words in their basic form (note that sometimes the grammar causes not only the endings to change, but also the initial letters of the word).


Strongs nr Greek English Grammar Code
G2532
 καὶ (kai)
 and
Conj. Conjunktion
 CONJ
G3588
 τῇ (te)
 the
Definite article Definite article
dative sing. ♀ dative singular feminine
T-DSF
G5236
 ὑπερβολῇ (yperbole)
 by surpassingness
Noun Noun
dative sing. ♀ dative singular feminine
N-DSF
G3588
 τῶν (ton)
 of the
Definite article Definite article
gen. pl. ♀ genitive plural feminine
T-GPF
G0602
 ἀποκαλύψεων.¶ (apokalypseon.)
 revelations.
Noun Noun
gen. pl. ♀ genitive plural feminine
N-GPF
G1352
 Διὸ (Dio)
 Therefore
Conj. Conjunktion
 CONJ
G2443
 ἵνα (ina)
 that
Conj. Conjunktion
 CONJ
G3361
 μὴ (me)
 not
Particle Particle
Nominative Nominative
 PRT-N
G5229
 ὑπεραίρωμαι, (yperairomai,)
 I may become conceited,
VERB Verb
pres. pass. subj. present passive subjunctive
sing. first person singular
V-PPS-1S
G1325
 ἐδόθη (edothe)
 was given
VERB Verb
aorist pass. ind. aorist passive indicative
sing. third person singular
V-API-3S
G1473
 μοι (moi)
 to me
Personal Pron. Personal Pronoun
dative sing. first person dative singular
P-1DS
G4647
 σκόλοψ (skolops)
 a thorn
Noun Noun
nom. sing. ♂ Nominative singular masculine
N-NSM
G3588
 τῇ (te)
Definite article Definite article
dative sing. ♀ dative singular feminine
T-DSF
G4561
 σαρκί, (sarki,)
 in [my] flesh,
Noun Noun
dative sing. ♀ dative singular feminine
N-DSF
G0032
 ἄγγελος (ngelos)
 a messenger
Noun Noun
nom. sing. ♂ Nominative singular masculine
N-NSM
G4567
 σατανᾶ (satana)
 of Satan,
Noun Noun
gen. sing. ♂ genitive singular masculine
Title (title)
 N-GSM-T
G2443
 ἵνα (ina)
 that
Conj. Conjunktion
 CONJ
G1473
 με (me)
 me
Personal Pron. Personal Pronoun
acc. sing. first person accusative singular
P-1AS
G2852
 κολαφίζῃ (kolaphize)
 he may buffet,
VERB Verb
pres. active subj. present active subjunctive
sing. third person singular
V-PAS-3S
G2443
 ἵνα (ina)
 so that
Conj. Conjunktion
 CONJ
G3361
 μὴ (me)
 not
Particle Particle
Nominative Nominative
 PRT-N
G5229
 ὑπεραίρωμαι. (yperairomai.)
 I may become conceited.
VERB Verb
pres. pass. subj. present passive subjunctive
sing. first person singular
V-PPS-1S

The color of the words tell you how rare the word is, the more red, the fewer uses.

Colorscale:  
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