1 Corinthians 1:19

1 Corinthians 1:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
• New International Version (NIV)For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
• New King James Version (NKJV)For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

Context of 1 Corinthians 1:19

17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:19 word by word

γέγραπται γάρ· ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν, καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν ἀθετήσω.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• I will destroyἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
• the wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• of the wiseσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• will bring to nothingἀθετέωatheteō · to rejectG114
• the understandingσύνεσιςsunesis · understandingG4907
• of the prudentσυνετόςsunetos · intelligentG4908

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 1:19

• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
• Job 5:12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
• Isaiah 19:3and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers;
• Isaiah 29:14therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden."
• Jeremiah 8:9The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19For it is written - The place referred to is Isaiah 29:14. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise - , Of wise men - of the philosophers who in their investigations seek nothing less than God, and whose highest discoveries amount to nothing in comparison of the grand truths relative to God, the invisible world, and the true end of man, which the Gospel has brought to light. Let me add, that the very discoveries which are really useful have been made by men…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19For it is written - This passage is quoted from Isaiah 29:14. The Hebrew of the passage, as rendered in the English version is, “the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” The version of the Septuagint is, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the prudent I will hide” ́ krupsōcorresponding substantially with the quotation by Paul. The sense in the Hebrew is not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19This quote from Isaiah 29:14 shows how God views human wisdom.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. I will destroy--slightly altered from the Septuagint, Is 29:14. The Hebrew is, "The wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Paul by inspiration gives the sense of the Spirit, by making God the cause of their wisdom perishing, &c., "I will destroy," &c. understanding of the prudent--literally, "of the understanding ones."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 1:19

• Boasting
• Philosophy
• Quotations and Allusions
• Reasoning
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Confirm
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Cross
• Disputer
• Foolishness
• Household
• Join
• Preach
• Revelation of Christ
• Wisdom

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• 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