1 Corinthians 3:20 kjv
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1 Corinthians 3:20 nkjv
and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
1 Corinthians 3:20 niv
and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."
1 Corinthians 3:20 esv
and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
1 Corinthians 3:20 nlt
And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise;
he knows they are worthless."
1 Corinthians 3 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 1:20 | For where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | God's foolishness is wiser than men |
| Job 5:13 | He catches the wise in their own craftiness. | Divine judgment on human wisdom |
| Job 12:12 | Is it not wisdom that is found among the aged, and understanding in the length of days? | Traditional wisdom |
| Job 12:17-20 | He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. He loosens the bonds of kings and binds their loins with a girdle. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He deprives the eloquent of speech and takes away the understanding of the elders. | God's power over human authority |
| Job 38:2 | “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? | Questioning human understanding |
| Psalm 94:11 | The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. | Futility of human thoughts |
| Prov 3:5-7 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. | Importance of God's wisdom |
| Prov 14:16 | The wise fears and turns from evil, but the fool is drawn to it confidently. | Distinction between godly and worldly wisdom |
| Prov 25:2 | It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. | God's hidden wisdom |
| Prov 26:12 | Consider a reply given before he has finished speaking; even a wise man, that would be folly. | Folly of premature speech |
| Eccl 1:14 | I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. | Vanity of worldly pursuits |
| Eccl 2:11 | Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. | Vanity of worldly achievements |
| Eccl 7:19 | Wisdom gives more strength to a wise man than ten rulers who are in the city. | Value of true wisdom |
| Eccl 8:17 | Then I saw that even though a man works tirelessly at everything done under the sun, yet he cannot discover its meaning. Even if the wisest man claims to know, he cannot really comprehend it. | Limits of human comprehension |
| Jer 8:9 | The wise shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken. Lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them? | Rejection of God's word leads to shame |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” | Boasting in God, not human attributes |
| Isa 29:14 | Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder. And the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden. | Prophecy echoed in Isaiah |
| Matt 11:25 | At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” | Revelation to the humble |
| Luke 10:21 | In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to them.” | Similar to Matthew 11:25 |
| Rom 1:20-22 | For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. | The futility of ungodly wisdom |
| Rom 3:27 | Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what principle? By the principle of works? No, by the principle of faith. | Exclusion of boasting |
| 1 Cor 1:18-19 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will make void.” | Cross as folly vs. power, quoting Isaiah |
| 1 Cor 2:6 | Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, though not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. | True wisdom vs. worldly wisdom |
| Eph 5:15 | Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, | Walking wisely |
1 Corinthians 3 verses
1 Corinthians 3 20 Meaning
The wisdom of the wise will perish, and the understanding of the understanding will be hidden. This verse declares the ultimate futility and transience of human wisdom and intellect when measured against divine reality. It emphasizes that intellectual prowess, clever reasoning, and worldly knowledge are ultimately powerless and will be rendered useless in the face of God's judgment and purposes. True wisdom and understanding originate from and are preserved by God.
1 Corinthians 3 20 Context
This verse is part of a larger argument in 1 Corinthians chapter 3 addressing divisions within the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were boasting about their association with different spiritual leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas), demonstrating a worldly, factious spirit. Paul rebukes them for this immaturity, reminding them that these leaders are merely servants of God, through whom the Corinthians believed. He contrasts the wisdom of God, revealed through the crucified Christ, with the wisdom of the world. This wisdom of the world, which often relies on human intellect and eloquence, is ultimately powerless and will be judged and set aside by God. The chapter emphasizes that God's foundation, Jesus Christ, is supreme, and those who build upon it will be judged by fire, revealing the quality of their work. Verse 20 serves as a potent summary of why worldly wisdom, on which their divisions were built, is ultimately futile and condemned.
1 Corinthians 3 20 Word analysis
- kata (κατα): Preposition indicating "down," "against," or "according to." Here it suggests that God overturns or brings down worldly wisdom.
- sophōn (σοφῶν): Genitive plural of sophos, meaning "wise." Refers to those who possess worldly wisdom, intellectuals, philosophers, and learned people of the era.
- ptherē (φθερεῖ): Future indicative active of phtheirō, meaning "to destroy," "to corrupt," "to perish," or "to ruin." It signifies the ultimate demolition and disappearance of this wisdom.
- suneesē (συνέσεως): Genitive singular of sunesis, meaning "understanding," "discernment," or "intelligence." This refers to the ability to comprehend and make sound judgments.
- apotheosetai (ἀποθέσεται): Future indicative middle of apotheō, meaning "to put away," "to remove," "to hide," or "to disregard." It indicates that this understanding will be hidden away or rendered ineffectual.
Word Group Analysis:
- "kata sophōn”: This phrase sets up the target of God’s action – the wise. It's a direct challenge to intellectual pride.
- “ptherē to pneuma”: The destruction is linked to their "spirit" or mind, implying the collapse of their intellectual frameworks and reasoning.
- “suneesē tōn suneōsōn”: This parallels the first phrase, reiterating that not just intellectual knowledge but also the ability to apply it (discernment) will fail.
- “apotheosetai”: The action taken against understanding is removal or hiding, suggesting it will become irrelevant and concealed by God's superior knowledge.
1 Corinthians 3 20 Bonus Section
The sentiment of this verse is powerfully echoed in Isaiah 29:14, which Paul directly quotes earlier in the chapter (1 Cor 1:19-20) and which serves as the foundation for his argument. The reference to God "destroying" (which in the Septuagint is phtheirō, the same verb used here) the wisdom of the wise shows that Paul is rooting his theological argument in the Old Testament prophetic tradition. This demonstrates continuity between God's dealings with Israel and his new work in the church. Furthermore, Jesus' own words in Matthew 11:25 and Luke 10:21, where He thanks the Father for hiding divine truths from the wise and revealing them to "infants," underscore this same theme: God's ways are contrary to the proud, self-sufficient wisdom of the world, favoring instead the humble receptivity of believers. The passage highlights the principle that true spiritual insight is a gift from God, not an achievement of human intellect.
1 Corinthians 3 20 Commentary
This verse delivers a strong condemnation of human wisdom. It asserts that the cleverness, philosophies, and intellectual arguments that humanity prides itself on are ultimately temporary and worthless in God's economy. The wisdom that governs the present age, which often elevates human reason above divine revelation, will inevitably be shown to be foolish. God actively undermines and conceals the discernment of those who rely solely on their own intellect, especially when that intellect is used to justify sin or to reject God's truth. The ultimate futility of such wisdom highlights the need for reliance on the wisdom that comes from God, which is revealed in Christ and the Gospel. This is the only wisdom that endures.
- Practical Implication: Do not boast in your academic achievements or clever arguments. Seek wisdom from God’s Word.
- Application Example: When faced with complex ethical dilemmas, do not rely solely on worldly logic but prayerfully seek God’s guidance through Scripture and the Holy Spirit.