2 Corinthians 11:21
New International Version
To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.

New Living Translation
I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.

English Standard Version
To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.

Berean Standard Bible
To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

Berean Literal Bible
I speak as to dishonor, as that we have been weak! But in whatever anyone might dare--I speak in foolishness--I also am daring.

King James Bible
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

New King James Version
To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

New American Standard Bible
To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I am speaking in foolishness—I too am bold.

NASB 1995
To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold— I speak in foolishness— I am just as bold myself.

NASB 1977
To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am just as bold myself.

Legacy Standard Bible
To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is daring—I speak in foolishness—I am just as daring myself.

Amplified Bible
To my shame, I must say, we have been too weak [in comparison to those pseudo-apostles who take advantage of you]. But in whatever anyone else dares to boast—I am speaking foolishly—I also dare to boast.

Christian Standard Bible
I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that! But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I say this to our shame: We have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:

American Standard Version
I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I speak as one in dishonor, as if we are poor through stupidity. I say that in all things that a man presumes, I also presume.

Contemporary English Version
I am ashamed to say we are too weak to behave in such a way. If they can brag, so can I, but it is a foolish thing to do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I speak according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part. Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly), I dare also.

English Revised Version
I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'm ashamed to admit it, but Timothy and I don't have the strength to do those things to you. Whatever other people dare to brag about, I, like a fool, can also brag about.

Good News Translation
I am ashamed to admit that we were too timid to do those things! But if anyone dares to boast about something--I am talking like a fool--I will be just as daring.

International Standard Version
I am ashamed to admit it, but we have been too weak for that. Whatever anyone else dares to claim—I am talking like a fool—I can claim it, too.

Literal Standard Version
I speak in reference to dishonor, how that we were weak, and in whatever anyone is bold—in foolishness I say [it]—I also am bold.

Majority Standard Bible
To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.

New American Bible
To my shame I say that we were too weak! But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare.

NET Bible
(To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.

New Revised Standard Version
To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.

New Heart English Bible
I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

Webster's Bible Translation
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. But in whatever respect any is bold, (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.

Weymouth New Testament
I use the language of self-disparagement, as though I were admitting our own feebleness. Yet for whatever reason any one is 'courageous' --I speak in mere folly--I also am courageous.

World English Bible
To my shame, I speak as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

Young's Literal Translation
in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say it -- I also am bold.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Suffering and Service
20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face. 21To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 6:8
through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;

2 Corinthians 10:2
I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

2 Corinthians 10:10
For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account."

2 Corinthians 11:1
I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.

2 Corinthians 11:17
In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.


Treasury of Scripture

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. However, when ever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

as though.

2 Corinthians 10:1,2,10
Now 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: …

2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

whereinsoever.

2 Corinthians 11:22-27
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I…

Philippians 3:3-6
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh…

I speak.

2 Corinthians 11:17,23
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting…

Jump to Previous
Admit Boast Bold Comparison Courageous Dare Dares Dishonour Feeble Feebleness Folly Fool Foolish Foolishly Foolishness Forward Howbeit However Mere Ourselves Puts Reason Reproach Respect Shaming Speak Speaking Talking Use Way Weak Whatever Wherein
Jump to Next
Admit Boast Bold Comparison Courageous Dare Dares Dishonour Feeble Feebleness Folly Fool Foolish Foolishly Foolishness Forward Howbeit However Mere Ourselves Puts Reason Reproach Respect Shaming Speak Speaking Talking Use Way Weak Whatever Wherein
2 Corinthians 11
1. Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, he enters into a forced commendation of himself,
5. of his equality with the chief apostles,
7. of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them;
13. showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative;
23. and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior.














(21) I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak.--Better, I speak it as a matter of reproach to myself, as though we were weak. The irony becomes more intense than ever. He has named these acts of outrage, he says, as though by way of self-disparagement. "We" (the pronoun is strongly emphasised) "were too infirm to venture on such things." The taunt flung at his bodily infirmities is still present to his thoughts, and he assumes, in the bitterness of his irony, that it was through them he had been kept from like acts of self-asserting authority. Then he resumes his contrast, still dwelling on the offensive words, "folly" or "insanity," which had been used of him: "Yes, but on every ground of daring--I know you will see my insanity again in this--I have as much right to dare as they."

Verse 21. - I steak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. The sense is uncertain, but if with the Revised Version we render it, "I speak by way of disparagement," the verse may be understood as an ironical admission that, if absence from these violent and self-assertive proceedings be a sign of weakness, he has been weak. He proceeds to correct the ironical admission in the next clause. The meaning can hardly be, "I admit the disgraces I have suffered" (comp. 2 Corinthians 6:8), because he is speaking of the Corinthians, not of himself. I am bold also. If they derive their right to this audacious and overweening line of conduct from any privileges of theirs, there is not one of these privileges which I too may not claim.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
To
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

[my] shame
ἀτιμίαν (atimian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 819: Disgrace, dishonor; a dishonorable use. From atimos; infamy, i.e. comparative indignity, disgrace.

I concede
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

we
ἡμεῖς (hēmeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

were too weak [for that]!
ἠσθενήκαμεν (ēsthenēkamen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 770: To be weak (physically: then morally), To be sick. From asthenes; to be feeble.

Speaking
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

as a fool,
ἀφροσύνῃ (aphrosynē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 877: Want of sense, foolishness, impiety, wickedness. From aphron; senselessness, i.e. egotism; recklessness.

however,
δ’ (d’)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

I can
κἀγώ (kagō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.

[match]
τολμῶ (tolmō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5111: To dare, endure, be bold, have courage, make up the mind. From tolma; to venture; by implication, to be courageous.

what
(hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

anyone else
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

dares [to boast about].
τολμᾷ (tolma)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5111: To dare, endure, be bold, have courage, make up the mind. From tolma; to venture; by implication, to be courageous.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 11:21 I speak by way of disparagement as (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 11:20
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