1 Corinthians 10:18

1 Corinthians 10:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
• New International Version (NIV)Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

Context of 1 Corinthians 10:18

16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.

1 Corinthians 10:18 word by word

βλέπετε τὸν Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ σάρκα· οὐχ οἱ ἐσθίοντες τὰς θυσίας κοινωνοὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου εἰσίν;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Beholdβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• which eatἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
• of the sacrificesθυσίαthusia · sacrificeG2378
• partakersκοινωνόςkoinōnos · participantG2844
• of the altarθυσιαστήριονthusiastērion · altarG2379

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 10:18

• Romans 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?
• Romans 9:3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,
• 2 Corinthians 11:18Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
• Galatians 6:16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
• Ephesians 2:11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
• Philippians 3:3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
• 1 Corinthians 9:13Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
• Leviticus 3:3Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
• Leviticus 7:11‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord:
• 1 Samuel 2:13And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling.
• 1 Samuel 9:12And they answered them and said, “Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 10:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Behold Israel after the flesh - The Jews not yet converted to Christianity: the latter being Israel after the Spirit. As the design of the apostle was to withdraw his converts at Corinth from all temptations to idolatry, he produces two examples to show the propriety of his endeavors. All who join together in celebrating the Lord's Supper, and are partakers of that one bread, give proof by this that they are Christians, and have fellowship with Christ. 2…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Behold Israel - Look at the Jews. The design here is to illustrate the sentiment which he was establishing, by a reference to the fact that among the Jews those who partook of the same sacrifices were regarded as being one people, and as worshipping one God. So, if they partook of the sacrifices offered to idols, they would be regarded also as being fellow-worshippers of idols with them. After the flesh - See Romans 4:1. The phrase “after the flesh” is…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18Paul explains the spiritual meaning of sacred meals. In the Lord’s Supper, believers share in the blood and body of Christ (see also 11:17–34; Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20). Sharing one loaf unites believers as one body in Christ, similar to how pagans’ religious meals connect them with the gods they worship (see 1 Corinthians 10:19–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Israel after the flesh--the literal, as distinguished from the spiritual, Israel (Ro 2:29; 4:1; 9:3; Ga 4:29). partakers of the altar--and so of God, whose is the altar; they have fellowship in God and His worship, of which the altar is the symbol.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Admonition
• Lust
• Meekness
• Christ, Offices of
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Jude, the Epistle of
• Paul, the Apostle
• Table

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 10

• 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