1 Corinthians 2:8

1 Corinthians 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• New International Version (NIV)None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• English Standard Version (ESV)None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• New King James Version (NKJV)which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Context of 1 Corinthians 2:8

6Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

1 Corinthians 2:8 word by word

ἣν οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἔγνωκεν· εἰ γὰρ ἔγνωσαν, οὐκ ἂν τὸν κύριον τῆς δόξης ἐσταύρωσαν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• noneοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• of the princesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the princesἄρχωνarchōn · rulerG758
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• hadεἰei · ifG1487
• they wouldσταυρόωstauroō · to crucifyG4717
• notοὐou · noG3756
• notἄνan · ifG302
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• of gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:8

• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.
• 1 Corinthians 1:26Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
• John 7:48“Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?
• Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
• John 3:19And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
• John 8:19“Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”
• John 9:39Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
• John 12:40“The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.”
• John 15:22They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
• John 16:3This is because they have never known the Father or me.
• Acts 3:17“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.
• Acts 13:27The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath.
• 2 Corinthians 3:14But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
• Psalms 24:7Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Which none of the princes of this world knew - Here it is evident that this world refers to the Jewish state, and to the degree of knowledge in that state: and the rulers, the priests, rabbins, etc., who were principally concerned in the crucifixion of our Lord. The Lord of glory - Or the glorious Lord, infinitely transcending all the rulers of the universe; whose is eternal glory; who gave that glorious Gospel in which his followers may glory, as it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Which none of the princes - None of those rulers who were engaged in the crucifixion of the Messiah, referring both to the Jewish rulers, and the Roman governor. Knew - They did not perceive or appreciate the excellency of his character, the wisdom of his plan, the glory of his scheme of salvation. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and, having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom therein. It is the mystery made manifest to the saints, Col 1:26, though formerly hid from the heathen world; it was only shown in dark types and distant prophecies, but now is revealed and made known by the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The leaders of this world are likely political leaders, not spiritual ones (see also 1 Corinthians 15:24; compare Acts 3:14–15; 4:10; 5:29–32).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Which--wisdom. The strongest proof of the natural man's destitution of heavenly wisdom. crucified ... Lord of glory--implying the inseparable connection of Christ's humanity and His divinity. The Lord of glory (which He had in His own right before the world was, Joh 17:4, 24) was crucified.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:8

• Blindness
• Cross
• Ignorance
• Jesus, the Christ
• Mysteries
• Philosophy
• Preaching
• Reasoning
• Salvation
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Incarnation
• Judge
• Lord
• Magistrate
• Mystery
• Spiritually
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Wise, wisdom

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2

• 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