1-corinthians 10:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
American Standard Version (ASV)
seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Because we, being a number of persons, are one bread, we are one body: for we all take part in the one bread.
Webster's Revision
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
World English Bible
Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.
English Revised Version (ERV)
seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.
Clarke's 1-corinthians 10:17 Bible Commentary
For we, being many, are one bread - The original would be better translated thus: Because there is one bread, or loaf; we, who are many, are one body. As only one loaf was used at the passover, and those who partook of it were considered to be one religious body; so we who partake of the eucharistical bread and wine, in commemoration of the sacrificial death of Christ, are one spiritual society, because we are all made partakers of that one Christ whose blood was shed for us to make an atonement for our sins; as the blood of the paschal lamb was shed and sprinkled in reference to this of which it was the type.
Barnes's 1-corinthians 10:17 Bible Commentary
For we - We Christians. "Being many." Greek "The many" (οἱ πολλοί hoi polloi). This idea is not, as our translation would seem to indicate, that Christians were numerous, but that "all" (for οἱ πολλοί hoi polloi is here evidently used in the sense of παντες pantes, "all") were united, and constituted one society.
Are one bread - One loaf; one cake. That is, we are united, or are one. There is evident allusion here to the fact that the loaf or cake was composed of many separate grains of wheat, or portions of flour united in one; or, that as one loaf was broken and partaken by all, it was implied that they were all one. We are all one society; united as one, and for the same object. Our partaking of the same bread is an emblem of the fact that we are one. In almost all nations the act of eating together has been regarded as a symbol of unity or friendship.
And one body - One society; united together.
For we are all partakers ... - And we thus show publicly that we are united, and belong to the same great family. The argument is, that if we partake of the feasts in honor of idols with their worshippers, we shall thus show that we are a part of their society.
Wesley's 1-corinthians 10:17 Bible Commentary
10:17 For it is this communion which makes us all one. We being many are yet, as it were, but different parts of one and the same broken bread, which we receive to unite us in one body.