1 Corinthians 3:20

1 Corinthians 3:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
• New International Version (NIV)and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
• New King James Version (NKJV)and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:20

18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness (absurdity, stupidity) before God; for it is written [in Scripture], “[He is] The one who catches the wise and clever in their craftiness;” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the [humanly] wise, that they are useless.” 21So let no one boast in men [about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader]. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things are yours,

1 Corinthians 3:20 word by word

καὶ πάλιν· κύριος γινώσκει τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς τῶν σοφῶν ὅτι εἰσὶν μάταιοι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• The Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• knowethγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• the thoughtsδιαλογισμόςdialogismos · reasoningG1261
• of the wiseσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• vainμάταιοςmataios · futileG3152

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:20

• Psalms 94:11The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath (vain, empty, futile).
• Job 11:11For He recognizes and knows false and worthless men, And He sees wickedness, will He not consider it?
• Psalms 2:1Why are the nations in an uproar [in turmoil against God], And why do the people devise a vain and hopeless plot?
• Romans 1:21For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened.
• Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise - They are always full of schemes and plans for earthly good; and God knows that all this is vain, empty, and unsatisfactory; and will stand them in no stead when he comes to take away their souls. This is a quotation from Psalm 94:11. What is here said of the vanity of human knowledge is true of every kind of wisdom that leads not immediately to God himself.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20And again, - Psalm 94:11. The Lord knoweth - God searches the heart. The particular thing which it is here said that he knows, is, that the thoughts of man are vain. They have this quality; and this is that which the psalmist here says that God sees. The affirmation is not one respecting the omniscience of God, but with respect to what God sees of the nature of the thoughts of the wise. The thoughts of the wise - Their plans, purposes, designs. That they…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that wordly men esteem, is foolishness with God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God, so as not to be led…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20Paul contrasts human wisdom with divine wisdom again (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–25). He uses Old Testament quotes to encourage the Corinthians. He urges them to be willing to seem foolish to the world so that they can be truly wise in God's eyes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Quotation from Psa 94:11. There it is of men; here it is "of the wise." Paul by inspiration states the class of men whose "thoughts" (or rather, "reasonings," as suits the Greek and the sense of the context) the Spirit designated in the Psalm, "vanity," namely, the "proud" (Psa 94:2) and worldly-wise, whom God in Psa 94:8 calls "fools," though they "boast themselves" of their wisdom in pushing their interests (Psa 94:4).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:20

• God Continued...
• Heart
• Quotations and Allusions
• Vanity
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Plant
• Again
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foreknow; Foreknowledge
• Papyrus
• Paul, the Apostle
• Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament
• Thought

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings