1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 3:18–20

¹⁸Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”^c ²⁰And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^d

Footnotes

c 3:19 Job 5:13|JOB 5:13
d 3:20 Psalm 94:11|PSA 94:11

Read all of 1 Corinthians 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Corinthians 3:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
no one	Μηδεὶς	Mēdeis	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3367 no one, nothing
deceive	ἐξαπατάτω	exapatatō	Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1818 I deceive thoroughly
himself	ἑαυτὸν	heauton	Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G1438 himself, herself, itself
If	εἴ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
any	τις	tis	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5100 any one, some one
of	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
you	ὑμῖν	hymin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
thinks	δοκεῖ	dokei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1380 I think, seem, appear, it seems
he is	εἶναι	einai	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G1510 I am, exist
wise	σοφὸς	sophos	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4680 wise
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
this	τούτῳ	toutō	Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
age	αἰῶνι	aiōni	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G165 an age, a cycle of time
he should become	γενέσθω	genesthō	Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 3rd Person Singular	G1096 I come into being, am born
a fool	μωρὸς	mōros	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3474 stupid, foolish
so that	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
he may become	γένηται	genētai	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular	G1096 I come into being, am born
wise	σοφός	sophos	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4680 wise

1 Corinthians 3:19

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
wisdom	σοφία	sophia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
of this	τούτου	toutou	Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
world	κόσμου	kosmou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2889 the world, universe
is	ἐστιν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
foolishness	μωρία	mōria	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3472 folly, absurdity
in God’s sight	παρὰ	para	Preposition	G3844 from, in the presence of
it is written	γέγραπται	gegraptai	Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G1125 I write
He	Ὁ	Ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
catches	δρασσόμενος	drassomenos	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1405 I take hold of, grasp
the	τοὺς	tous	Article - Accusative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
wise	σοφοὺς	sophous	Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural	G4680 wise
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
their	αὐτῶν	autōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
craftiness	πανουργίᾳ	panourgia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G3834 cunning, craftiness

1 Corinthians 3:20

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
again	πάλιν	palin	Adverb	G3825 again, further, on the other hand
Lord	Κύριος	Kyrios	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
knows	γινώσκει	ginōskei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
the	τοὺς	tous	Article - Accusative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
thoughts	διαλογισμοὺς	dialogismous	Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural	G1261 a calculation, reasoning, thought, plotting
of the	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Masculine Plural	G3588 the
wise	σοφῶν	sophōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G4680 wise
are	εἰσὶν	eisin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G1510 I am, exist
futile	μάταιοι	mataioi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3152 vain, unproductive, godless

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Corinthians 3:18 Proverbs 3:5 · 1 Corinthians 1:18–21 · Isaiah 5:21 · Galatians 6:3 · 1 Corinthians 8:1–2 · Luke 18:17 · James 1:22 · Matthew 18:4 · Mark 10:15 · Proverbs 26:12 · Ephesians 5:6 · Jeremiah 8:8

1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13 · Psalm 141:10 · 1 Corinthians 1:19–20 · Romans 1:21–22 · Isaiah 44:25 · Psalm 9:15–16 · 1 Corinthians 2:6 · Psalm 7:14–15 · Isaiah 29:14–16 · 2 Samuel 16:23 · Isaiah 19:11–14 · Exodus 18:11

1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11 · Colossians 2:8 · Romans 1:21 · Job 11:11–12 · Psalm 2:1

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.