1 Corinthians 3:19

1 Corinthians 3:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
• New International Version (NIV)For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:19

17If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. 18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,

1 Corinthians 3:19 word by word

ἡ γὰρ σοφία τοῦ κόσμου τούτου μωρία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ἐστιν. γέγραπται γάρ· ὁ δρασσόμενος τοὺς σοφοὺς ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτῶν·Read the interlinear

• the wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• is foolishnessμωρίαmōria · foolishnessG3472
• beforeπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• For it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• the one who catchesδράσσομαιdrassomai · to catchG1405
• the wiseσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• in their craftinessπανουργίαpanourgia · craftinessG3834

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:19

• 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
• Isaiah 19:11The princes of Zoan are mere fools; The advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisers has become stupid. How can you men say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”?
• Isaiah 29:14Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
• Isaiah 44:25Causing the omens of boasters to fail, Making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to draw back And turning their knowledge into foolishness,
• Romans 1:21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
• Job 5:13He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
• Exodus 1:10Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.”
• Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.”
• 2 Samuel 15:31Now someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”
• 2 Samuel 16:23The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.
• Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.
• Psalms 7:14Behold, he travails with wickedness, And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.
• Psalms 9:15The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
• Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by safely.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The wisdom of this world - Whether it be the pretended deep and occult wisdom of the rabbins, or the wire-drawn speculations of the Grecian philosophers, is foolishness with God; for as folly consists in spending time, strength, and pains to no purpose, so these may be fitly termed fools who acquire no saving knowledge by their speculations. And is not this the case with the major part of all that is called philosophy, even in the present day? Has one…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19For the wisdom of this world - That which is esteemed to be wisdom by the people of this world on the subject of religion. It does not mean that true wisdom is foolishness with him. It does not mean that science, and prudence, and law - that the knowledge of his works - that astronomy, and medicine, and chemistry, are regarded by him as folly, and as unworthy the attention of people. God is the friend of truth on all subjects; and he requires us to become…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. 1919. with God--in the judgment of God. it is written--in Job 5:13. The formula of quoting Scripture used here, establishes the canonicity of Job. He taketh ... wise in ... own craftiness--proving the "foolishness" of the world's wisdom, since it is made by God the very snare to catch those who think themselves so wise. Literally, "He who taketh ... the whole of the sentence not being quoted, but only the part which suited Paul's purpose.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:19

• Ignorance
• Quotations and Allusions
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Job, Book of
• Plant
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Craft; Craftiness; Crafty
• Inspiration
• Paul, the Apostle

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