1 Corinthians 10:22 kjv
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:22 nkjv
Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
1 Corinthians 10:22 niv
Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:22 esv
Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:22 nlt
What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
1 Corinthians 10 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 10:22 | "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?" | Provokes Jealousy/Zeal |
| Exo 20:5 | "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." | God's Jealousy |
| Deut 4:24 | "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." | Consuming Fire Nature |
| Deut 32:21 | "They made me jealous by what is not God and angered me with their worthless idols..." | Provoking God with Idols |
| Psa 78:58 | "They provoked him to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousy with their graven images." | Idols and Jealousy |
| Isa 43:7 | "...whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed; indeed, I have made him.” | God's Creation and Glory |
| Ezek 39:25 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will stir up my jealousy against the nations when they perpetrate their vengeance, and they shall know that I am the LORD; I will execute judgment among them.’" | God's Jealousy Against Nations |
| Rom 11:11 | "So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous." | Gentile Salvation and Israel's Jealousy |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." | Godly Jealousy in Believers |
| Heb 12:29 | "for our God is a consuming fire." | Consuming Fire |
| Rev 2:4 | "But I have this against you, that you left your first love." | Leaving First Love |
| Josh 24:19 | "But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins." | Holiness and Jealousy of God |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters..." | Cannot Serve Two Masters |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | "Therefore, as to the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that 'an idol has no real existence' and that 'there is no God but one.'" | Idolatry's Nothingness |
| 1 Cor 8:7 | "However, not all possess this knowledge. Some, being accustomed to idols until now, eat food as if it was sacrificed to a god; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled." | Weak Conscience |
| 1 Cor 8:9 | "Take care, lest this right of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." | Stumbling Block |
| 1 Cor 10:19 | "What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?" | Meaning of Idol |
| 1 Cor 10:20 | "No, I will say that what they sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. And I do not want you to be partners with demons." | Offering to Demons |
| 1 Cor 10:21 | "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." | Two Tables |
| Deut 6:14 | "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you," | Following Other Gods |
| Josh 23:15-16 | "but just as the Lord your God has given to you all the good promises which he made to you, so the Lord has brought upon you all the evil, until he has wiped you from off this good land..." | God's Promises and Discipline |
1 Corinthians 10 verses
1 Corinthians 10 22 Meaning
This verse strongly admonishes believers against provoking God by coveting or seeking undue privilege in religious matters, specifically in the context of participating in or tolerating idolatry. It asserts that doing so leads to His jealousy and potential wrath, rather than fostering genuine spiritual benefit. The implication is that participation in or tolerance of that which displeits God incurs His displeasure, much like a spouse’s jealousy is provoked by disloyalty.
1 Corinthians 10 22 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, a common practice in the pagan societies of Corinth. The Corinthians, having recently converted from paganism, were struggling with this practice, unsure whether it was permissible for a Christian. Some felt their knowledge freed them to eat this food, arguing that idols were mere creations. Paul clarifies that while idols themselves are nothing, participation in these practices often involved participation in pagan worship and offerings to demons, which is incompatible with true fellowship with Christ. He emphasizes that true communion is with Christ, and one cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the table of demons simultaneously. Verse 22 is a powerful rhetorical question that follows this reasoning, warning against provoking God by such actions.
1 Corinthians 10 22 Word Analysis
"Do" (Gk: me tis) - Particle introducing a question or expression of doubt, conveying a strong warning or challenge.
"we" (Gk: hēmeis) - Refers to the collective body of believers, including both Paul and the Corinthian church, emphasizing shared responsibility and the potential for corporate sin.
"provoke" (Gk: parazēlōmen) - From para (beside) and zēloō (to be zealous, to envy, to provoke to anger). It signifies provoking someone to anger by action or transgression, especially evoking the "jealousy" or "zeal" of God, which is a protective, passionate concern for His own glory and the covenant loyalty of His people.
"the" (Gk: ton) - Definite article.
"Lord" (Gk: Kuriou) - Refers to God, the ultimate authority and object of worship.
"to" (Gk: eis) - Preposition indicating a motion or direction towards something.
"jealousy" (Gk: zēlos) - The state of being zealous, envious, or ardently desirous. In the biblical context concerning God, it’s His holy and righteous anger aroused by any attempt to usurp His unique position or faithfulness to His covenant people.
"Are" (Gk: mēti) - A prohibitive particle combined with an interrogative particle, strongly posing a negative rhetorical question.
"we" (Gk: hēmeis) - Again, referring to believers collectively.
"stronger" (Gk: isxuroi) - Possessing strength, power, or capability. The question implies challenging God's superior might.
"than" (Gk: teros) - Comparative suffix.
"he" (Gk: autou) - Referring back to the Lord, God.
Words group analysis:
- "provoke the Lord to jealousy": This phrase captures the essence of Israel's history, often marked by straying from God's covenant and leading Him to righteous anger. It connects directly to the Shema (Deut 6:5), which emphasizes loving God with all one's being, excluding any rival.
- "Are we stronger than he?": This rhetorical question highlights the utter futility and extreme danger of defying God. It serves as a stark reminder of God's omnipotence and sovereignty, against which no human strength or defiance can prevail.
1 Corinthians 10 22 Bonus Section
The concept of God's jealousy is often misunderstood as akin to human envy, which is selfish and carnal. Biblical jealousy (Hebrew: qanna) is fundamentally about God's fierce, protective love and His righteous demand for exclusive allegiance, mirroring a husband's justifiable jealousy when his covenant wife is unfaithful. This passion ensures the integrity of His covenant relationship with His people and safeguards them from the destructive influences of idolatry. Scholars highlight that Paul uses this powerful, Old Testament concept to shock the Corinthians out of their casual approach to practices linked with pagan temples. The Corinthians' association with idolatry, even if merely eating food, risked syncretism and a dilution of their distinct Christian identity, drawing them away from undivided loyalty to Christ.
1 Corinthians 10 22 Commentary
Paul's question is not one of simple curiosity but a forceful warning grounded in the character of God as revealed in Scripture. God is inherently a "jealous God" (Exo 20:5), meaning He passionately protects His honor and exclusivity, demanding complete devotion from His people. Any attempt to divide one's allegiance, such as participating in activities associated with pagan worship or compromise, is seen as a direct challenge to God's sovereign rights and a betrayal of the covenant relationship He established through Christ. To "provoke Him to jealousy" is to risk incurring His righteous displeasure and judgment, just as surely as a nation or individual who turns from their lawful king or spouse invites disciplinary action. The rhetorical question underscores the absolute power imbalance: humans, utterly dependent on God, cannot possibly "out-strength" Him in defiance. This verse thus serves as a crucial boundary marker, forbidding any level of participation in or tacit approval of idolatry and its attendant practices.