The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:34 Explained

1 Corinthians 11:34

KJV: And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

YLT: and if any one is hungry, at home let him eat, that to judgment ye may not come together; and the rest, whenever I may come, I shall arrange.

Darby: If any one be hungry, let him eat at home, that ye may not come together for judgment. But the other things, whenever I come, I will set in order.

ASV: If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  if any man  hunger,  let him eat  at  home;  that  ye come  not  together  unto  condemnation.  And  the rest  will I set in order  when  I come. 

What does 1 Corinthians 11:34 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If some of the Corinthian Christians were too hungry to wait to eat, they should eat something before they came to the service. Otherwise their unloving selfishness might result in the Lord"s judgment. It is very important to the Lord that we put the needs of others before our own needs (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:22; 1 Corinthians 10:33; Mark 10:45; Romans 15:2; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 2:3; et al.).
Evidently there were other details of how the Corinthians were behaving when they congregated that Paul did not want to comment on in this letter. Perhaps they were of local importance only. He planned to address these issues when he visited Corinth again (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:18-21; 1 Corinthians 16:2-3; 1 Corinthians 16:5-7).
The selfish attitude that marked the Corinthian church comes through strongly in this section of the epistle. It manifested itself in a particularly ugly display at the Lord"s Table. Paul dealt with it severely for the sake of the reputation of the Savior and for the welfare of the saints.

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 11:34

At home [εν οικωι]
If so hungry as all that (1 Corinthians 11:22). [source]
The rest [τα λοιπα]
He has found much fault with this church, but he has not told all. I will set in order (διαταχομαι — diataxomai). Not even Timothy and Titus can do it all. Whensoever I come Common idiom for temporal clause of future time (conjunction like ως — hōs with αν — an and aorist subjunctive ελτω — elthō). [source]
I will set in order [διαταχομαι]
Not even Timothy and Titus can do it all. [source]
Whensoever I come [ως αν ελτω]
Common idiom for temporal clause of future time (conjunction like ως — hōs with αν — an and aorist subjunctive ελτω — elthō). [source]
Will I set in order [διατάξομαι]
Referring to outward, practical arrangements. See on Matthew 11:1, and compare 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 3:19. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:34

Acts 7:53 By the disposition of angels [εἰς διαταγὰς ἀγγέλων]
Lit., unto ordinances of angels. Εἰς means with reference to. Disposition ( διαταγή ) is used by A. V. in the sense of arrangement, as we say a general disposed his trooPsalms The word occurs only here and Romans 13:2, where it is rendered ordinance. The kindred verb διατάσσω occurs often, and mostly in the sense of command or appoint. See Matthew 11:1; Luke 3:13. In 1 Corinthians 11:34, it is translated set in order. The reference is most probably to the Jewish tradition that the law was given through the agency of angels. See Deuteronomy 33:2. Compare Psalm 68:17. Paul expressly says that the law was administered by the medium of angels (Galatians 3:19). Compare the word spoken by angels (Hebrews 2:2). Render, therefore, as Rev., as it was ordained by angels. [source]
Romans 15:24 Whensoever I go [ως αν πορευωμαι]
Indefinite temporal clause with ως αν — hōs an and the present middle subjunctive (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:34; Philemon 2:23 with aorist subjunctive). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 11:34 mean?

If anyone is hungry at home let him eat so that not for judgment you might come together - And the other things as soon as - I might come I will set in order
εἴ τις πεινᾷ ἐν οἴκῳ ἐσθιέτω ἵνα μὴ εἰς κρίμα συνέρχησθε Τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ ὡς ἂν ἔλθω διατάξομαι

τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
πεινᾷ  is  hungry 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πεινάω  
Sense: to hunger, be hungry.
ἐν  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
οἴκῳ  home 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
ἐσθιέτω  let  him  eat 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐσθίω 
Sense: to eat.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
κρίμα  judgment 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: κρίμα  
Sense: a decree, judgments.
συνέρχησθε  you  might  come  together 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: συνέρχομαι  
Sense: to come together.
Τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λοιπὰ  the  other  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: λοιπός  
Sense: remaining, the rest.
ὡς  as  soon  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
ἔλθω  I  might  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
διατάξομαι  I  will  set  in  order 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: διατάσσω  
Sense: to arrange, appoint, ordain, prescribe, give order.