The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:30 Explained

1 Corinthians 11:30

KJV: For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

YLT: Because of this, among you many are weak and sickly, and sleep do many;

Darby: On this account many among you are weak and infirm, and a good many are fallen asleep.

ASV: For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  this  cause  many  [are] weak  and  sickly  among  you,  and  many  sleep. 

What does 1 Corinthians 11:30 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In Corinth, God was judging with sickness and death. The reasons were the unjudged sin of selfish living ( 1 Corinthians 11:21) and thoughtless participation in the communion service.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 11:23-34 - Observing The Lord's Supper
There was much disorder in the Corinthian church, because the love-feast, which preceded the Holy Supper, was the scene of riot and conviviality, of ostentation and jealousy. In the love-feast of the early Church each brought his own supply of food, which was put into a common stock and shared by all alike; but at Corinth each family or group retained their own provisions, and a great distinction was thus made between rich and poor. This caused much heart-burning and was unworthy of Christians.
Note that the Apostle received the words of institution by direct revelation. The Lord's Supper is intended not only to commemorate the supreme act of Calvary, but to enable us spiritually to incorporate into ourselves the very life and death of Jesus, so that we may truly be crucified with Him and nevertheless live. "That I may know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings." We are liable to condemnation if we do not recognize the Body of Christ-that is, the Church-the unity of which is disturbed and obscured when there is dissension. If we judge ourselves, we escape the judgment and chastisement of the Almighty. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 11

1  He reproves them, because in holy assemblies,
4  their men prayed with their heads covered,
6  and women with their heads uncovered;
17  and because generally their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse;
21  as, namely, in profaning with their own feast the Lord's supper
25  Lastly, he calls them to the first institution thereof

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 11:30

And not a few sleep [και κοιμωνται ικανοι]
Sufficient number (ικανοι — hikanoi) are already asleep in death because of their desecration of the Lord‘s table. Paul evidently had knowledge of specific instances. A few would be too many. [source]
Weak and sickly []
Physical visitations on account of profanation of the Lord's table. [source]
Many sleep [κοιμῶνται ἱκανοί]
The word for many means, primarily, adequate, sufficient. See on Romans 15:23. Rev., not a few hardly expresses the ominous shading of the word: quite enough have died. Sleep. Better, are sleeping. Here simply as a synonym for are dead, without the peculiar restful sense which christian sentiment so commonly conveys into it. See on Acts 7:60; see on 2 Peter 3:4. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:30

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Them which are asleep [τῶν κοιμωμένων]
Or, who are sleeping. See on Acts 7:60; see on 2 Peter 3:4, and comp. 1 Corinthians 7:39; 1 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Corinthians 15:6, 1 Corinthians 15:18, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:51; John 11:11, etc. The dead members of the Thessalonian church. [source]
James 5:15 Shall save [σωσει]
Future active of σωζω — sōzō to make well. As in Matthew 9:21.; Mark 6:56. No reference here to salvation of the soul. The medicine does not heal the sick, but it helps nature (God) do it. The doctor cooperates with God in nature.The sick (τον καμνοντα — ton kamnonta). Present active articular participle of καμνω — kamnō old verb, to grow weary (Hebrews 12:3), to be sick (here), only N.T. examples.The Lord shall raise him up Future active of εγειρω — egeirō Precious promise, but not for a professional “faith-healer” who scoffs at medicine and makes merchandise out of prayer.And if he have committed sins (καν αμαρτιας ηι πεποιηκως — kan hamartias ēi pepoiēkōs). Periphrastic perfect active subjunctive (unusual idiom) with και εαν — kai ean (crasis καν — kan) in condition of third class. Supposing that he has committed sins as many sick people have (Mark 2:5.; John 5:14; John 9:2.; 1 Corinthians 11:30).It shall be forgiven him Future passive of απιημι — aphiēmi (impersonal passive as in Matthew 7:2, Matthew 7:7; Romans 10:10). Not in any magical way, not because his sickness has been healed, not without change of heart and turning to God through Christ. Much is assumed here that is not expressed. [source]
James 5:15 The Lord shall raise him up [εγερει αυτον ο κυριος]
Future active of εγειρω — egeirō Precious promise, but not for a professional “faith-healer” who scoffs at medicine and makes merchandise out of prayer.And if he have committed sins (καν αμαρτιας ηι πεποιηκως — kan hamartias ēi pepoiēkōs). Periphrastic perfect active subjunctive (unusual idiom) with και εαν — kai ean (crasis καν — kan) in condition of third class. Supposing that he has committed sins as many sick people have (Mark 2:5.; John 5:14; John 9:2.; 1 Corinthians 11:30).It shall be forgiven him Future passive of απιημι — aphiēmi (impersonal passive as in Matthew 7:2, Matthew 7:7; Romans 10:10). Not in any magical way, not because his sickness has been healed, not without change of heart and turning to God through Christ. Much is assumed here that is not expressed. [source]
James 5:15 And if he have committed sins [καν αμαρτιας ηι πεποιηκως]
Periphrastic perfect active subjunctive (unusual idiom) with και εαν — kai ean (crasis καν — kan) in condition of third class. Supposing that he has committed sins as many sick people have (Mark 2:5.; John 5:14; John 9:2.; 1 Corinthians 11:30). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 11:30 mean?

Because of this among you many [are] weak and sick are fallen asleep many
διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν πολλοὶ ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ἄρρωστοι κοιμῶνται ἱκανοί

διὰ  Because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
πολλοὶ  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ἀσθενεῖς  [are]  weak 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀσθενής  
Sense: weak, infirm, feeble.
ἄρρωστοι  sick 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρρωστέω 
Sense: without strength, weak, sick.
κοιμῶνται  are  fallen  asleep 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κοιμάω  
Sense: to cause to sleep, put to sleep.
ἱκανοί  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἱκανός  
Sense: sufficient.