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 King James Version (NKJV)Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Context of 1 Corinthians 10:18

16The cup of blessing that we bless—isn’t it a sharing of Messiah’s blood? The bread which we break—isn’t it a sharing of Messiah’s body? 17Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body—for we all partake of the one bread. Consider physical Israel. Those who eat the sacrifices—aren’t they partners in the altar? 19What am I saying then—that an idol sacrifice is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, I’m saying that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God, and I don’t want you to become partners 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 forefather according to the flesh, has found?
• Romans 9:3For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood,
• 2 Corinthians 11:18Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
• Galatians 6:16Now as many as live by this rule—shalom and mercy on them and on the Israel of God.
• Ephesians 2:11Therefore, keep in mind that once you—Gentiles in the flesh—were called “uncircumcision” by those called “circumcision” (which is performed on flesh by hand).
• Philippians 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship by the Ruach Elohim and glory in Messiah Yeshua and have not depended on the flesh—
• 1 Corinthians 9:13Don’t you know that those who perform the holy services eat from the Temple, and those who wait on the altar receive a share at the altar?
• Leviticus 3:3He is to bring from the sacrifice of fellowship offerings an offering made by fire to Adonai, the fat that covers the innards, all the fat that is on the entrails,
• Leviticus 7:11“Now this is the Torah of the sacrifice of fellowship offerings which may be offered to Adonai.
• 1 Samuel 2:13Now this was the custom of the kohanim with the people: whenever any man offered a sacrifice, the kohen’s servant would come along, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
• 1 Samuel 9:12They answered them and said, “He is there, ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come today to the town because people have a sacrifice at the high place today.

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

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