1 Corinthians 10:7 kjv
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1 Corinthians 10:7 nkjv
And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
1 Corinthians 10:7 niv
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry."
1 Corinthians 10:7 esv
Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
1 Corinthians 10:7 nlt
or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry."
1 Corinthians 10 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus 32:4 | He took an image from them and fashioned it with a graving tool... | Connected to idolatry |
| Ex 32:6 | ...and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings there. | Connected to worshiping idols |
| Lev 17:7 | They must no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the satyrs... | Warns against false worship |
| Lev 26:11-12 | I will set my dwelling among you... I will not spurn you. | God's presence is promised to the faithful |
| Deut 6:13 | You shall fear only the Lord your God, and worship him, and swear by his name. | Command to worship only God |
| Deut 32:17 | They sacrificed to demons that were no gods... | Israelites sacrificed to demons |
| Psa 106:37-38 | They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons... | Descends into demon worship |
| Isa 65:11 | But you who forsake the Lord... who set a table for that host... | Rebuke for idolatry |
| Jer 19:4 | ...because they have forsaken me and have estranged this place... | Forsaking God for idolatry |
| 1 Cor 8:1 | Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that all of us possess knowledge. | Introduces the topic of idols |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | Therefore concerning the eating of food that has been sacrificed to idols... | Addresses idol food specifically |
| 1 Cor 8:10 | For if anyone sees you, a man who is an idolater, eating in the house of an idol... | Guidance on eating idol food |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | Do you not know that those who serve in the temple temple the food of the temple... | Supports their right to support gospel workers |
| 1 Cor 10:14-16 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry... The cup of blessing which we bless... | Connects the Lord's Supper to idolatry avoidance |
| 1 Cor 10:21 | You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. | Direct parallel to this verse |
| 1 Cor 10:22 | Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? | Warning against provoking God |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | What agreement has the temple of God with idols? | Elohim and idols incompatibility |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality... | Idolatry listed as a sin |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity... | Sexual immorality is akin to idolatry |
| Rev 2:14 | But I have a few things against you, because you hold there some who hold the teaching of Balaam... | Condemns teaching of Balaam |
| Rev 2:20 | But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess... | Jezebel's corrupting influence |
1 Corinthians 10 verses
1 Corinthians 10 7 Meaning
This verse warns against idolatry, specifically linking it to excesses associated with pagan feasts where immorality and the consumption of food sacrificed to idols were common. It emphasizes that partaking in such practices amounted to fellowship with demons.
1 Corinthians 10 7 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, Paul is addressing issues within the Corinthian church, specifically concerning their participation in pagan social events where food sacrificed to idols was served. He reminds them of the Israelites' experiences in the wilderness, using their history as a cautionary tale against disobedience and idolatry. This verse serves as a direct warning against replicating the immoral and idolatrous practices of their pagan neighbors, linking such actions to fellowship with demons rather than with Christ.
1 Corinthians 10 7 Word Analysis
μὴ (mē): "not" (negative particle). Placed before the verb "ginēsthe" (become) to form a prohibition.
γίνεσθε (ginesthe): "become" or "be" (second person plural present passive imperative of ginomai). This is a strong command, a present imperative urging a continuous state of not becoming.
εἰδωλόλατραι (eidōlolatrai): "idolaters" (noun, nominative plural). Derived from "eidōlon" (image, idol) and "latreia" (worship, service). Directly refers to those who worship idols.
γίνεσθε (ginesthe): Repeated for emphasis, "do not become yourselves idolaters."
Words Group Analysis
- μὴ γίνεσθε εἰδωλόλατραι (mē ginesthe eidōlolatrai): "Do not become idolaters." This is a direct imperative. It's not just about an isolated act, but about developing a disposition and practice of idolatry. It warns against a passive becoming, emphasizing an active decision against such behavior.
- Connects with later phrase: The "not become idolaters" connects directly to the prohibition of drinking from the "cup of demons" and sharing at the "table of demons" in verse 21. The actions described are seen as the tangible outworking of an idolatrous heart and practice.
1 Corinthians 10 7 Bonus Section
The reference to "idolaters" points to a broader ethical and spiritual problem. Idolatry in the ancient world was not merely bowing to statues; it often involved participating in cultic meals that included sexual immorality and practices associated with pagan fertility cults. Paul's prohibition extends beyond the physical act of eating; it encompasses endorsing or participating in the spiritual system behind the act. The emphasis on "becoming" suggests a danger of gradual compromise, where one might start by participating out of ignorance or social pressure, but this participation solidifies into a habitual state of idolatry. This verse is foundational in understanding the church's call to cultural engagement without syncretism.
1 Corinthians 10 7 Commentary
Paul forcefully prohibits the Corinthians from becoming idolaters. He connects participation in pagan feasts, especially those involving food offered to idols and the associated moral permissiveness, directly to idolatry. The core issue is the spiritual allegiance; by partaking in these ceremonies, they were essentially communing with the demonic forces that pagans worshipped. This practice was a clear contradiction of their new identity in Christ and their participation in the Lord's Supper. It was a call to a complete separation from the world's idolatrous systems and a unified commitment to Christ.