Berean Bible

Back to Reader

1 Corinthians

Note Journal Prayer

15

:

6

“

Thereafter He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the greater part of whom remain until now, although some have fallen asleep.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Thereafter Then, thereafter, afterwards. Adv H1899 ἔπειτα epeita
He appeared To see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, beware. V-AIP-3S H3708    
to more than (a) adv: on the top, above, (b) prep: on the top of, above, over, on, above, more than, superior to. Adv H1883 ἐπάνω epanō
five hundred Five hundred. Adj-DMP H4001 πεντακοσίοις pentakosiois
Analysis:

Five: Incompletion or lacking

For a person to understand the meaning of the number “five”, one must first realize that the meaning of the number ten is completion or wholeness. Since five is half of ten, the idea is that the number five represents incompletion or that which is lacking. A Scripture that expresses this idea is found in the book of John. At a place called Beit Chesed (Bethesda), there was a pool whose waters healed the sick. The reader is told that around the pool there were five porches. It is stated that on these five porches laid individuals who were not whole. Some were paralyzed and the rest of them had a variety of health problems. It is not a chance happening that these people who were lacking their health were on five porches. Another well-known passage that contains the number five is found in I Samuel 17. In the account of David and Goliath, David picks up five stones (see I Samuel 17:40). Why is the reader told the specific number and not simply that David had gathered a few stones? The answer is to assist the reader in understanding that the stone, which David hurled at Goliath, was not the source of victory. Rather, this was only the means that God used to accomplish His victory. In other words, the stone and even David, who hurled this stone at Goliath, were insufficient to bring about this victory.

One of the first places where the idea of "lacking" or "incompleteness" is seen regarding the number five is in the book of Genesis. In chapter 18, two angels are sent to Sodom to destroy the city. God tells Abraham that if 50 righteous people are found in the city, then the city will be free of this punishment (We will learn that the number 50 is related to freedom when this number is studied). This is revealed to Abraham and he responds saying, perhaps the city will lack 50 righteous people by five. It is significant that Abraham uses the number five when referring to the city lacking enough righteous people. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
brothers A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. N-DMP H80 ἀδελφοῖς adelphois
at once, Once, once for all; at once. Adv H2178 ἐφάπαξ ephapax
whom Who, which, what, that. RelPro-GMP H3739 ὧν ōn
remain To remain, abide, stay, wait; to wait for, await. V-PIA-3P H3306 μένουσιν menousin
until (a) conj: until, (b) prep: as far as, up to, as much as, until. Prep H2193 ἕως eōs
now, Now, just now, at this moment. Adv H737 ἄρτι arti
some Any one, someone, a certain one or thing. IPro-NMP H5100 τινὲς tines
have fallen asleep. To fall asleep, to be asleep, sometimes of the sleep of death. V-AIP-3P H2837 ἐκοιμήθησαν ekoimēthēsan

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
Berean Bible Thereafter He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the greater part of whom remain until now, although some have fallen asleep.
King James Bible Thereafter He appeared to more than After that, he was seen of above five hundred brothers brethren at once, once; of whom the greater part of whom remain until now, although unto this present, but some have are fallen asleep.
Hebrew Greek English Thereafter After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers brethren at once, the greater part one time, most of whom remain until now, although but some have fallen asleep.asleep;
New American Standard Bible 1995 Thereafter After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers brethren at once, the greater part one time, most of whom remain until now, although but some have fallen asleep.asleep;