1 Corinthians 10:9 kjv
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1 Corinthians 10:9 nkjv
nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;
1 Corinthians 10:9 niv
We should not test Christ, as some of them did?and were killed by snakes.
1 Corinthians 10:9 esv
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
1 Corinthians 10:9 nlt
Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
1 Corinthians 10 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 10:9 | Let us not test Christ, as some of them did—and were destroyed by serpents. | Warning against presumptuous testing |
| Deut 6:16 | Never test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. | Direct parallel to testing God |
| Ps 78:56 | Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God; they did not keep his commands. | Israel's repeated rebellion |
| Matt 4:7 | Jesus answered, "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" | Jesus quoting Deuteronomy in the Temptation |
| Luke 4:12 | Jesus answered him, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" | Jesus quoting Deuteronomy |
| Heb 3:8-9 | Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness. | Warning from Israel's wilderness sin |
| Heb 3:15-16 | (as it is said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”) | Connecting present disobedience to past |
| Ex 17:2 | The people grumbled and quarrelled with Moses. “Are we not thirsty?” they said. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to give us water and food to kill us and our children and livestock?” | The Israelites’ thirst and complaint |
| Ex 17:7 | He called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" | Naming of the place of testing |
| Num 21:5 | The people grumbled against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? We have no bread! We have no water! And we detest this miserable food!” | Continued grumbling and discontent |
| Num 21:6 | Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many of the Israelites died. | Consequence of the people's sin |
| John 3:2 | Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one can perform the signs you are doing, and yet God is not with him.” | Signs confirming divine origin |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom. | Different desires for proof |
| 1 Cor 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, | The paradox of the Gospel message |
| Gal 5:4 | You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. | Consequences of rejecting faith |
| James 4:6 | But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” | Grace for the humble, opposition to the proud |
| Rom 2:7 | to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. | The outcome of enduring good |
| Acts 7:41-42 | But Israel said, “God forgive us,” and that is enough. That is correct and good. He that has the spiritual eyes he must see that there are no differences, the same word which apply to the israelites apply to us. And also you are saved by his grace through Jesus. | John Stott's observation |
| 1 Thes 5:21 | Test everything. Hold on to what is good. | Call to discernment, not presumption |
| Prov 25:2 | It is God’s privilege to conceal things, but kings it is to search out matters. | Divine prerogative and human endeavor |
1 Corinthians 10 verses
1 Corinthians 10 9 Meaning
This verse warns against testing Christ by demanding miraculous signs as proof of His authority or by presuming on His grace. It speaks of a spiritual danger that arises from challenging God's provision or provisionary mercy. The essence is about respecting God's appointed methods and limits.
1 Corinthians 10 9 Context
1 Corinthians 10 discusses the misuse of Christian liberty, drawing parallels with the Israelites' experience in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Paul uses these Old Testament examples to caution the Corinthian believers against falling into similar patterns of sin. Specifically, this verse follows a discussion about not engaging in idolatry (vv. 7-8). It addresses a potential temptation to challenge God's authority or mercy through reckless behavior, much like the Israelites did. The Corinthians, newly freed from pagan practices, were in danger of adopting subtle forms of sin that mimicked their past behaviors or testing God’s patience in their newfound Christian freedom.
1 Corinthians 10 9 Word Analysis
"mē" (μή): A particle used to express negation in prohibitions.
"ekpeirazōmen" (ἐκπειράζωμεν): From "ek" (out of, from) and "peirazō" (to test, tempt, try). This verb signifies testing out, proving, or tempting, often in a challenging or presumptuous way. It suggests trying to find out God's limits or willingness to tolerate disobedience.
"ton" (τὸν): The definite article "the."
"Christon" (Χριστὸν): The accusative case of "Christos" (Christ), referring to Jesus Christ.
"hōsper" (ὥσπερ): "As," "just as," indicating a comparison.
"tines" (τίνες): "Some."
"ex autōn" (ἐξ αὐτῶν): "Out of them," referring to the Israelites mentioned in the preceding context.
"apollumi" (ἀπόλλυμι): "To destroy," "to lose," "to perish." This refers to the ultimate destruction or loss that befell the disobedient Israelites in the wilderness.
Group of words - "mē ekpeirazōmen ton Christon": "Let us not test Christ." This prohibition warns against a specific kind of behavior: provoking Christ by presumptuous challenges or by assuming His favor without true repentance or obedience. It contrasts with sincere seeking or testing the truth of a teaching.
Group of words - "hōsper tines ex autōn": "as some of them did." This phrase explicitly links the Corinthians' potential behavior to the historical failures of the Israelites in the wilderness, making it a powerful cautionary example.
1 Corinthians 10 9 Bonus Section
The concept of "testing" God or Christ has both negative and positive connotations in Scripture. Negatively, as seen here, it is presumptuous and rebellious (Deut 6:16, Ps 78:56). Positively, there's a sense of "testing" in seeking and confirming God’s ways through obedience (Mal 3:10: "Try me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing...") or testing prophetic utterances to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God..."). However, 1 Corinthians 10:9 clearly addresses the negative aspect, highlighting the danger of presuming upon God's grace or challenging His authority, a temptation relevant to both ancient Israel and modern believers. The danger for the Corinthians, and for us, is that in exercising our freedom in Christ, we might subtly fall into the same pattern of defiance and presumptuous testing that marked Israel's wilderness journey, leading to spiritual destruction.
1 Corinthians 10 9 Commentary
The prohibition "Let us not test Christ" is a crucial ethical instruction for believers. It calls for reverence and humility in our relationship with God. Testing Christ can manifest as doubting His provision, deliberately sinning and then expecting forgiveness without repentance, or presuming upon His grace, as if His love is unconditional regardless of one's walk. The reference to the Israelites' fate emphasizes that God's grace, while abundant, has boundaries, and disrespect through testing can lead to severe consequences. This is not about questioning God’s character, but about not challenging His sovereign will or His expressed commands. In practical terms, it means avoiding habitual sin, living with a sober awareness of God's presence and judgment, and trusting His unfailing faithfulness without demanding further signs or guarantees when it's not warranted. It encourages a balanced life of faith where confidence in God's power is coupled with obedience to His Word.