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 defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21Therefore let no man glory 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

• ·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 will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
• Isaiah 19:11Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
• Isaiah 29:14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
• Isaiah 44:25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
• Romans 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
• Job 5:13He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the perverse is carried headlong.
• Exodus 1:10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
• Exodus 18:11Now I know that Yhwh is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
• 2 Samuel 15:31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Yhwh, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
• 2 Samuel 16:23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:14And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. for Yhwh had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yhwh might bring evil upon Absalom.
• Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
• Psalms 7:14Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
• Psalms 9:15The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
• Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

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