1 Corinthians 9:10 Meaning and Explanation
“Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul explains that the command about the ox was written ultimately for our sakes, teaching that the one who plows and threshes labors in hope of sharing in the harvest.
What Does 1 Corinthians 9:10 Mean?
Continuing from the previous verse, Paul presses the deeper meaning of the law about the ox. It was written, he says, for our sakes, to teach a truth about human labor. The plowman and the thresher both work in hope, expecting to partake of what they help produce.
Hope is the keyword here, repeated for emphasis. Honest labor looks forward with confidence to a just reward, and God has built that expectation into His word. For those who sow the gospel, the principle promises a share in the spiritual and material fruit of their work. More broadly, it assures every faithful worker that toil offered in hope is seen and honored by the Lord, who does not let labor go unrewarded.
1 Corinthians 9:10 in the Original Language
elpis (ἐλπίς), 'hope' -- confident expectation of good that is yet to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 9:10
What does 1 Corinthians 9:10 mean?
Paul explains that the command about the ox was written ultimately for our sakes, teaching that the one who plows and threshes labors in hope of sharing in the harvest.