1 Corinthians 2 9

1 Corinthians 2:9 kjv

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 nkjv

But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

1 Corinthians 2:9 niv

However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"? the things God has prepared for those who love him?

1 Corinthians 2:9 esv

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" ?

1 Corinthians 2:9 nlt

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him."

1 Corinthians 2 verses

1 Corinthians 2 9 Meaning

1 Corinthians 2:9 reveals that God has prepared profound spiritual realities and wisdom for those who love Him, which transcend the grasp of natural human senses and intellect. These truths were previously hidden from human discovery and comprehension but are now divinely revealed through the Holy Spirit to believers. It highlights the inadequacy of worldly wisdom and human perception to discern the deep things of God, asserting that true understanding comes from divine revelation, not human effort.

1 Corinthians 2 9 Context

This verse is part of Paul's broader argument in 1 Corinthians, specifically chapter 2, where he directly confronts the Corinthian church's overemphasis on human wisdom, rhetoric, and philosophical prowess. The culture of Corinth highly valued eloquent speech and sophisticated reasoning (sophistry), leading some within the church to elevate human intellect above the simple message of the cross and the humble proclamation of the gospel.

In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul explicitly states that he came not with "eloquent wisdom or lofty speech" (v. 1), but preached Christ crucified. He contrasts human wisdom, which is perishable and unable to grasp divine truth (v. 6), with "God's hidden wisdom" (v. 7). Verse 9 serves as a powerful declaration asserting that the profound spiritual truths God has ordained for believers transcend anything that human sensory perception or mental capacity can discover. It directly prepares for verse 10, where Paul clarifies how these things are known: "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit." The immediate literary context thus emphasizes that true wisdom is divinely given, not humanly acquired, positioning the Holy Spirit as the essential agent of revelation and understanding, counteracting any polemic reliance on human intellect prevalent in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 2 9 Word analysis

• However, as it is written: Καθὼς γέγραπται (kathōs gegraptai). This phrase signifies an authoritative appeal to Scripture, functioning as a "formula of citation." While the exact wording differs slightly, Paul draws heavily from Isaiah 64:4 (and potentially 65:17 and 52:10). It signals that the profound truth to follow is not a novel thought but deeply rooted in divine revelation, affirming its scriptural authority.
• What no eye has seen: ὃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν (ho ophthalmos ouk eiden). "Eye" (ὀφθαλμός) refers to human sight and observation. The negation ("no") emphasizes that these truths are not discoverable through empirical observation or direct sensory experience. They are not part of the visible, material world in a way that allows natural perception.
• nor ear heard: οὐδὲ οὖς ἤκουσεν (oude ous ēkousen). "Ear" (οὖς) refers to human hearing. The negation implies these truths cannot be gained through oral transmission, human instruction, or by simply listening to earthly teaching. They are not secrets that one stumbles upon or hears rumored.
• nor mind conceived: οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη (oude epi kardian anthrōpou anebē). This translates literally to "nor entered into the heart of man." The Greek word καρδία (kardia) encompasses more than just the seat of emotions; in biblical thought, it is the center of the person, including intellect, will, reason, and understanding. Thus, it means these truths have not arisen within human thought processes, reasoning, or imagination. They are beyond the scope of human cognitive capacity to conjure or imagine.
• these things God has prepared: ἃ ἡτοίμασεν ὁ Θεὸς (ha hētoimasen ho Theos). The term "prepared" (ἡτοίμασεν, from hetoimazō) indicates a deliberate, intentional, and pre-ordained divine act. It points to God's sovereign initiative in setting forth His plan and spiritual blessings. This is not something humans attain through effort but what God has proactively set aside.
• for those who love Him: τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν (tois agapōsin auton). This identifies the specific recipients. "Love" (ἀγαπάω) here is not mere sentiment but an active, committed, and obedient devotion to God. It highlights that the prerequisite for receiving this divine revelation is not intellectual prowess, social status, or ethical merit (apart from faith), but a loving heart that seeks and follows God.

Words-group analysis:

• "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived": This powerful triadic negation emphatically dismisses all natural human avenues of perception, discovery, and cognition as insufficient for discerning divine truths. It highlights the utterly transcendent and supranatural nature of God's wisdom and plan, positioning it far beyond the limits of human sensory and intellectual capacity.
• "these things God has prepared for those who love Him": This clause clarifies the source and the recipients of this otherwise inaccessible wisdom. The initiative is solely God's, a deliberate act of grace and pre-ordination. The beneficiaries are not the naturally wise or eloquent, but those characterized by a deep, affectionate, and active love for God, signifying that spiritual truth is tied to a spiritual disposition.

1 Corinthians 2 9 Bonus section

This verse is often popularly misinterpreted to refer exclusively or primarily to the wonders of heaven in the afterlife. While it certainly encompasses the glorious future that awaits believers, within the immediate and broader context of 1 Corinthians 2, its primary focus is the present revelation of God's wisdom concerning the gospel and the spiritual truths of Christ through the Holy Spirit to believers in this age. The mystery of God's redemptive plan, previously hidden or obscure, is now being unveiled by the Spirit. Therefore, it applies significantly to the profound understanding of God's nature, His purposes in Christ, the Cross, and the indwelling of the Spirit that spiritual persons experience now, a depth of understanding unavailable to the natural mind. This emphasizes the vital role of the Holy Spirit as the illuminator of divine truth.

1 Corinthians 2 9 Commentary

1 Corinthians 2:9 is a pivotal declaration asserting the absolute transcendence and supernatural origin of divine truth. Paul uses an Old Testament allusion, primarily from Isaiah 64:4, to emphasize that the spiritual realities and wisdom of God's plan – specifically concerning the gospel message and Christ's glory – are fundamentally inaccessible through any natural human faculty: not through empirical observation (eye), not through mere hearing or instruction from others (ear), and crucially, not through the highest reaches of human intellect or imagination (mind/heart). This powerfully underscores the inadequacy of worldly wisdom and the philosophical pride prevalent in Corinth.

Instead, these profound truths are specifically "prepared" by God, indicating His eternal, intentional, and sovereign purpose. They are exclusively for "those who love Him," meaning those who, by faith, enter into a relationship of devoted affection and obedience with God. This divine wisdom, while hidden from the "wise of this age" (v. 6), is now graciously revealed, not by human effort or speculation, but through the active agency of the Holy Spirit (as clarified in the very next verse, 1 Cor 2:10). The verse is a powerful call to humility and a surrender of self-sufficiency, redirecting believers to rely solely on God's revelation mediated by His Spirit for genuine spiritual understanding.