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 anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written, “He catches the clever in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.” 21So let no one boast about 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 intelligent.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:6We do speak wisdom, however, among those who are mature—but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Isaiah 19:11The princes of Zoan are utter fools. Pharaoh’s wisest counselors are stupid. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”?
• Isaiah 29:14Therefore, behold, once more I will do a marvelous work among this people— a marvel and a wonder— so the wisdom of their wise will perish, and the discernment of their discerning will be concealed.”
• Isaiah 44:25causing the omens of boasters to fail, making fools of diviners, turning wise men backward and making their knowledge foolish,
• Romans 1:21for even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. Instead, their thinking became futile, and their senseless hearts were made dark.
• Job 5:13Who catches the clever in their craftiness, and thwarts the plan of the cunning.
• Exodus 1:10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or else they will grow even more numerous, so that if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and then escape from the land.”
• Exodus 18:11Now I know that Adonai is greater than all gods, since they had acted arrogantly against them.”
• 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone told David saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Adonai, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
• 2 Samuel 16:23Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was like inquiring for the word of God—so was all of Ahithophel’s counsel both with David and with Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Adonai had ordained to thwart Ahithophel’s good counsel, so that Adonai might bring evil upon Absalom.
• Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s rage subsided.
• Psalms 7:14He prepares His own deadly weapons. He makes His fiery arrows.
• Psalms 9:15Then I will tell all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, rejoicing in Your salvation.
• Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by 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
• 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