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 Living Translation (NLT)For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:19

17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• foolishnessμωρίαmōria · foolishnessG3472
• withπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• He takethδράσσομαιdrassomai · to catchG1405
• the wiseσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• their ownαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• 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 bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Isaiah 19:11Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings?”
• Isaiah 29:14Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
• Isaiah 44:25Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness;
• Romans 1:21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
• Job 5:13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.
• Exodus 1:10come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”
• Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”
• 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
• 2 Samuel 16:23Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:14So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.
• Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.
• Psalms 7:14Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
• Psalms 9:15The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
• Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape 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
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Job, Book of
• Plant
• Craft; Craftiness; Crafty
• Inspiration
• Paul, the Apostle
• Wisdom

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