1 Corinthians 9:24
New International Version
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

New Living Translation
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

English Standard Version
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Berean Standard Bible
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

Berean Literal Bible
Do you not know that those running in a race course, indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run thus, that you might obtain it.

King James Bible
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

New King James Version
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

New American Standard Bible
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

NASB 1995
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

NASB 1977
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Amplified Bible
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

American Standard Version
Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Do you not know that those who run in the stadium all run, but there is one who takes the victory? Run in this way so that you may obtain.

Contemporary English Version
You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize ? So run that you may obtain.

English Revised Version
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run, that ye may attain.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win.

Good News Translation
Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize.

International Standard Version
You know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize, don't you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious.

Literal Standard Version
have you not known that those running in a race—all indeed run, but one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain;

Majority Standard Bible
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

New American Bible
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.

NET Bible
Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.

New Revised Standard Version
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.

New Heart English Bible
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

Webster's Bible Translation
Know ye not, that they who run in a race, all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Weymouth New Testament
Do you not know that in the foot-race the runners all run, but that only one gets the prize? You must run like him, in order to win with certainty.

World English Bible
Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.

Young's Literal Translation
have ye not known that those running in a race -- all indeed run, but one doth receive the prize? so run ye, that ye may obtain;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Run Your Race to Win
23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.…

Cross References
Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

1 Corinthians 9:13
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

1 Corinthians 9:23
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.

Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:18
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.


Treasury of Scripture

Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.

they.

Hosea 12:10
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

run in.

Psalm 19:5
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Jeremiah 12:5
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

so run.

1 Corinthians 9:26
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

Galatians 2:2
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Galatians 5:7
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Jump to Previous
Attain Certainty Compete Competition Fixed Gets Indeed Minds Obtain Order Prize Race Receive Receives Receiveth Reward Run Runners Running Way Win
Jump to Next
Attain Certainty Compete Competition Fixed Gets Indeed Minds Obtain Order Prize Race Receive Receives Receiveth Reward Run Runners Running Way Win
1 Corinthians 9
1. He shows his liberty;
7. and that the minister ought to receive a living by the Gospel;
15. yet that himself has of his own accord abstained,
18. to be neither chargeable unto them,
22. nor offensive unto any, in matters indifferent.
24. Our life is like unto a race.














(24) Know ye not . . .--The illustration which follows refers to these Isthmian games (so called from their taking place in the isthmus where Corinth stood) with which his readers would be familiar. These, like the other games of Greece--the Olympian, Pythian, and Nemean--included every form of athletic exercise, and stood on an entirely different footing from anything of the kind in modern times. For the Greek, these contests were great national and religious festivals. None but freemen could enter the lists, and they only after they had satisfied the appointed officers that they had for ten months undergone the necessary preliminary training. For thirty days previous to the contest the candidates had to attend the exercises at the gymnasium, and only after the fulfilment of these conditions were they allowed, when the time arrived, to contend in the sight of assembled Greece. Proclamation was made of the name and country of each competitor by a herald. The victor was crowned with a garland of pine leaves or ivy. The family of the conqueror was honoured by his victory, and when he returned to his native town he would enter it through a breach in the walls, the object of this being to symbolise that for a town which was honoured with such a citizen no walls of defence were needful (Plutarch). Pindar, or some other great poet, would immortalise the victorious hero's name in his verse, and in all future festivals the foremost seats would be occupied by the heroes of former contests.

So run--i.e., run in the way referred to, so that you may gain a prize.

Verses 24-27. - Exhortation to earnestness as a corollary from the principles here stated. Verse 24. - Know ye not that they which run in a race run all? They as Corinthians would well know the full bearing of every illustration derived from the triennial Isthmian games, which were the chief glory of their city, and which at this period had even thrown the Olympic games into the shade. The words "in a race," are rather, in the stadium. The traces of the great Corinthian stadium, where the games were held and the races run, are still visible on the isthmus. This metaphor of "the race," which has pervaded the common language of Christianity, is also found in Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7. The prize. The bracium was the wreath given to the victor by the judges. The Christian prize is that of "the high calling of God in Jesus Christ," towards which St. Paul himself was pressing forward.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Do you not know
οἴδατε (oidate)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

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

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

a race
σταδίῳ (stadiō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4712: Or masculine stadios from the base of histemi; a stade or certain measure of distance; by implication, a stadium or race-course.

all
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

runners
τρέχοντες (trechontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5143: Apparently a primary verb; which uses dremo drem'-o as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily.

run,
τρέχουσιν (trechousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5143: Apparently a primary verb; which uses dremo drem'-o as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

only one
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

receives
λαμβάνει (lambanei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prize?
βραβεῖον (brabeion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1017: A prize. From brabeus; an award, i.e. a prize in the public games.

Run
τρέχετε (trechete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5143: Apparently a primary verb; which uses dremo drem'-o as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily.

in such a way
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

as to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

take [the prize].
καταλάβητε (katalabēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2638: From kata and lambano; to take eagerly, i.e. Seize, possess, etc.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 9:24 Don't you know that those who run (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 9:23
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