God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 12:4
4was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can’t be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.
2 Corinthians 12:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
- New International Version (NIV)was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
- New King James Version (NKJV)how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:4
2I know a follower of Christ who was snatched away to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows. 3I know that this person was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can’t be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows. 5I’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses. 6If I ever wanted to brag, I wouldn’t be a fool. Instead, I would be telling the truth. But I’m going to spare you so that no one may think more of me than what he sees or hears about me,
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:4 word by word
ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματα ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- How thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he was caught upἁρπάζωharpazō · to seizeG726
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- paradiseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- paradiseπαράδεισοςparadeisos · paradiseG3857
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- unspeakableἄρρητοςarrhētos · inexpressibleG731
- wordsῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- it isἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
- notοὐou · noG3756
- for a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- to utterλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:4
- Ezekiel 31:9I was the one who made it beautiful with its many branches. This tree was the envy of all the trees in Eden, in God’s garden.
- Luke 23:43Jesus said to him, “I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Revelation 2:7“Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Caught up into paradise - The Jewish writers have no less than four paradises, as they have seven heavens; but it is needless to wade through their fables. On the word paradise see the note on Genesis 2:8. The Mohammedans call it jennet alferdoos, the garden of paradise, and say that God created it out of light, and that it is the habitation of the prophets and wise men. Among Christian writers it generally means the place of the blessed, or the state of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Into paradise - The word “paradise” ( ́ paradeisos) occurs but three times in the New Testament; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7. It occurs often in the Septuagint, as the translation of the word garden; Genesis 2:8-10, Genesis 2:15-16; Genesis 3:1-3, Genesis 3:8, Genesis 3:16, Genesis 3:23-24; Genesis 13:10; Numbers 24:6; Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8-9; Joel 2:3. And also Isaiah 1:30; Jeremiah 29:5; and of the word פּרדס…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Paul was unsure if he was in a trance or truly taken to heaven. And I know this man … was caught up to Paradise: Literally But I know such a man, that he was caught up; see study note on 12:2.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. unspeakable--not in themselves, otherwise Paul could not have heard them; but as the explanation states, "which it is not lawful ... to utter" [Alford]. They were designed for Paul's own consolation, and not for communication to others. Some heavenly words are communicable (Ex 34:6; Is 6:3). These were not so. Paul had not the power adequately to utter; nor if he had, would he have been permitted; nor would earthly men comprehend them (Joh 3:12; 1Co…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12
- 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
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