1 Corinthians 12:2

1 Corinthians 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
• New International Version (NIV)You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:2

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed by idols that cannot speak, and you got led astray. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Ruach Elohim says, “Yeshua be cursed,” and no one can say, “Yeshua is Lord,” except by the Ruach ha-Kodesh. 4Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Ruach.

1 Corinthians 12:2 word by word

οἴδατε ὅτι ὅτε ἔθνη ἦτε πρὸς τὰ εἴδωλα τὰ ἄφωνα ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε ἀπαγόμενοι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ye knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ye wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• carried awayἄγωagō · to bringG71
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• theseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• dumbἄφωνοςaphōnos · muteG880
• idolsεἴδωλονeidōlon · idolG1497
• even asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• ye were ledἀπάγωapagō · to lead awayG520

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:2

• 1 Corinthians 6:11That is what some of you were—but you were washed, you were made holy, you were set right in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and by the Ruach of our God.
• Galatians 4:8But at that time, when you did not know God, you served those who by nature are not gods at all.
• 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).
• Ephesians 4:17So I tell you this, indeed I insist on it in the Lord—walk no longer as the pagans do, stumbling around in the futility of their thinking.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9For they themselves bring news about what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God,
• 1 Peter 4:3For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to carry out the desire of the pagans—living in indecency, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, wild parties, and lawless idolatries.
• Psalms 115:5They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see.
• Psalms 135:16They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see;
• Habakkuk 2:18What use is an idol when its craftsman has carved it? Or a metal image—a teacher of lies? For a craftsman has trusted in the image that he created, to make dumb idols.
• Matthew 15:14Leave them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
• 1 Peter 1:18You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Ye were Gentiles - Previously to your conversion to the Christian faith; ye were heathens, carried away, not guided by reason or truth, but hurried by your passions into a senseless worship, the chief part of which was calculated only to excite and gratify animal propensities. Dumb idols - Though often supplicated, could never return an answer; so that not only the image could not speak, but the god or demon pretended to be represented by it could not…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Ye know … - This verse is regarded by many as a parenthesis. But it is not necessary to suppose that it is so, or that it does not cohere with that which follows. The design seems to be to remind them of their former miserable condition as idolaters, in order to make them more sensible of their advantages as Christians, and that they might be led more highly to appreciate their present condition. Paul often refers Christians to their former condition, to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2pagans: Non-Jewish people who do not follow a major religion.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Ep 2:11). that ye were--The best manuscripts read, "That WHEN ye were"; thus "ye were" must be supplied before "carried away"--Ye were blindly transported hither and thither at the will of your false guides. these dumb idols--Greek, "the idols which are dumb"; contrasted with the living God who "speaks" in the believer by His Spirit (1Co 12:3, &c.). This gives the reason why the Corinthians needed instruction as to spiritual gifts, namely, their past…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:2

• Gentiles
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Bond
• Covet
• Temper
• Apollos
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Corinth
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Dumb

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12

• 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