2 Corinthians 11 33

2 Corinthians 11:33 kjv

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

2 Corinthians 11:33 nkjv

but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

2 Corinthians 11:33 niv

But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

2 Corinthians 11:33 esv

but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

2 Corinthians 11:33 nlt

I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

2 Corinthians 11 verses

2 Corinthians 11 33 Meaning

This verse recounts the apostle Paul's ignoble yet miraculous escape from Damascus, where he was lowered through a window in a basket from the city wall to evade capture by the ethnarch of King Aretas. It serves as a prime example within Paul's list of sufferings (2 Cor 11:23-33) that ironically validate his apostolic authority, contrasting with the boasts of the false apostles in their apparent strength and success. Far from a heroic deed, Paul presents this as a profound act of humility and weakness, where divine protection was made manifest in human helplessness.

2 Corinthians 11 33 Context

2 Corinthians 11:33 stands as the concluding detail in Paul's extraordinary and reluctantly offered "boast" (2 Cor 11:21-33), which ironically centers on his weaknesses, sufferings, and humiliations for Christ's sake. He has been forced into this defense of his apostleship due to the infiltration of "false apostles" and "super-apostles" in Corinth, who boasted of their own impressive rhetoric, wisdom, and apparent power, likely despising Paul's perceived physical weakness and unpolished speech (2 Cor 10:10).

In this chapter, Paul challenges their self-exaltation by demonstrating true apostolic authority through sacrificial service and suffering, mirroring Christ's humility. He enumerates an extensive list of hardships: imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, dangers from various sources, toil, hunger, and nakedness (2 Cor 11:23-28). The escape from Damascus, rather than being a glorious achievement, is deliberately presented as an undignified act of being lowered like freight, an emblem of utter dependence and vulnerability. This low point further amplifies Paul's central message in 2 Corinthians that God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10), starkly contrasting with the false apostles' self-assured boasting and highlighting Paul's authentic identification with the crucified Christ. Historically, this event likely occurred early in Paul's ministry (around AD 37-39), following his conversion, as recorded in Acts 9:23-25. Damascus was under the authority of King Aretas IV of Nabataea at that time, and the "ethnarch" was a regional governor reporting to the king.

2 Corinthians 11 33 Word analysis

• But (Greek: Δὲ, De): A conjunction introducing a contrast or a transition. Here, it subtly introduces the specific detail of his escape, underscoring it as another point of humiliation in his "boasting in weakness." It could also be read as "And," continuing the narrative, but in the context of Paul's ironic boast, "But" fits well to highlight the nature of this escape.
• through a window (Greek: διὰ θυρίδος, dia thyrídos):
  • through (Greek: διὰ, dia): Denotes the means or pathway.
  • window (Greek: θυρίς, thyrís): Refers to a small aperture, often in a house that might be built into a city wall. This implies a non-standard, concealed, and undignified exit, not through a gate. It reinforces the desperate and covert nature of the escape.
• in a basket (Greek: ἐν σαργάνῃ, en sargánē):
  • in (Greek: ἐν, en): Preposition indicating location or means.
  • basket (Greek: σαργάνῃ, sargánē): This specific Greek word denotes a large, plaited, or braided wicker basket, typically used for carrying goods like dung, fodder, or large provisions. In Acts 9:25, a different but similarly large type of basket called spyris (σπυρίδι) is used. Both terms emphasize that Paul was not lowered like a person of importance, but like cargo or refuse, signifying profound humility and an undignified mode of transport.
• I was let down (Greek: ἐχαλάσθην, echaláasthēn): This verb is in the passive voice, indicating that Paul was the object of the action; others lowered him. This highlights his helplessness and dependence on his disciples, stripping him of any active, heroic role in his own escape. He did not 'masterfully descend'; he 'was passively lowered.'
• by the wall (Greek: διὰ τοῦ τείχους, dia tou teíkhous):
  • by/along (Greek: διὰ, dia): Indicates passage along or through.
  • the wall (Greek: τοῦ τείχους, tou teíkhous): The fortified city wall of Damascus, typically tall and imposing. The implication is that he was lowered down the exterior of a formidable defensive structure, a perilous act requiring great risk and precise coordination from his helpers.
• and escaped (Greek: καὶ ἐξέφυγον, kai exéphygon):
  • and (Greek: καὶ, kai): Connects the actions.
  • escaped (Greek: ἐξέφυγον, exéphygon): To flee out of, escape from. This term conveys successful evasion from a dangerous situation.
• his hands (Greek: τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, tas kheîras autoû):
  • his hands (Greek: τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, tas kheîras autoû): "Hands" is a common biblical idiom representing power, authority, or grasp. In this context, "his" refers to the ethnarch (governor) of King Aretas, who had orders to arrest Paul (2 Cor 11:32). Escaping "his hands" means escaping his authoritative control and capture.

2 Corinthians 11 33 Bonus section

This incident of Paul’s escape provides one of the few definite historical synchronisms (King Aretas IV of Nabataea) that helps scholars anchor Paul’s chronology, placing his visit to Damascus and subsequent escape shortly after his conversion, likely between AD 37-39. This timing is crucial for understanding the early years of Paul’s apostolic ministry and the sequence of events described in Acts and his letters. The account serves as a sharp counter-narrative to popular hero mythologies of the ancient world, which often focused on triumphant victories and valor. Paul intentionally subverts such narratives, presenting himself as a "weak" vessel through whom God accomplishes mighty deeds. This aligns with a foundational biblical theme where God frequently uses the humble, the weak, and the unlikely (e.g., Moses, Gideon, David) to confound the strong and wise, showcasing His transcendent power.

2 Corinthians 11 33 Commentary

2 Corinthians 11:33 serves as a poignant climax to Paul’s reluctantly given “boast” in weakness. It is not an heroic tale of a mighty apostle outwitting his foes, but a stark admission of a perilous and utterly undignified escape, entirely dependent on others. Paul deliberately includes this seemingly humiliating detail to illustrate his genuine apostolic calling, which is validated not by earthly prowess or eloquent speech (qualities the false apostles paraded), but by suffering, vulnerability, and dependence on God. His rescue, though ignominious by worldly standards, powerfully testifies to divine providence, safeguarding him to continue his mission. This escape aligns with his theology that God’s strength is perfectly revealed in human weakness, underscoring that his ministry’s efficacy came from Christ, not himself.