1 Corinthians 12:2
New International Version
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

New Living Translation
You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.

English Standard Version
You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.

Berean Standard Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

Berean Literal Bible
You know that when you were pagans, to mute idols you were led, as being carried away.

King James Bible
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

New King James Version
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

New American Standard Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

NASB 1995
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

NASB 1977
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led.

Legacy Standard Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you were being led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

Amplified Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you were led off after speechless idols; however you were led off [whether by impulse or habit].

Christian Standard Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak.

American Standard Version
Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
That you were pagans and you were being led without discrimination to those idols which have no voice.

Contemporary English Version
I want you to remember that before you became followers of the Lord, you were led in all the wrong ways by idols that cannot even talk.

Douay-Rheims Bible
You know that when you were heathens, you went to dumb idols, according as you were led.

English Revised Version
Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You know that when you were unbelievers, every time you were led to worship false gods you were worshiping gods who couldn't even speak.

Good News Translation
You know that while you were still heathen, you were led astray in many ways to the worship of lifeless idols.

International Standard Version
You know that when you were unbelievers, you were enticed and led astray to worship idols that couldn't even speak.

Literal Standard Version
you have known that you were nations, being carried away as you were led to the mute idols;

Majority Standard Bible
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

New American Bible
You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols.

NET Bible
You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led.

New Revised Standard Version
You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.

New Heart English Bible
You know that when you were unbelievers, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

Webster's Bible Translation
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Weymouth New Testament
You know that when you were heathens you went astray after dumb idols, wherever you happened to be led.

World English Bible
You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

Young's Literal Translation
ye have known that ye were nations, unto the dumb idols -- as ye were led -- being carried away;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Spiritual Gifts
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.…

Cross References
Psalm 115:5
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

Isaiah 46:7
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

Jeremiah 10:5
Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good."

Habakkuk 2:18
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it--or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 2:11
Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)--

1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God


Treasury of Scripture

You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led.

that.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 4:8
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

Ephesians 2:11,12
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; …

dumb.

Psalm 115:5,7
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: …

Psalm 135:16
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

Habakkuk 2:18,19
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? …

even.

Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

1 Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

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1 Corinthians 12
1. Spiritual gifts,
4. are diverse,
7. yet to profit all.
8. And to that end are diversely bestowed;
12. as the members of a natural body tend all to the mutual decency,
22. service,
26. and helpfulness of the same body;
27. so we should do for one another, to make up the body of Christ.














(2) Ye know that ye were Gentiles.--Better (according to the weight of MSS. evidence), Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were, &c. In this and the following verse the Apostle reminds his readers that so far from regarding the marvellous manifestations of the Spirit, such as speaking with tongues and prophesying, as the most wonderful miracles, the greatest miracle of all was their conversion. That blind followers of dumb idols should be transformed into intelligent believers in the living Word was the most striking work of the Spirit. They were now no longer led hither and thither by diverse teachings and diverse gods; they had an unchanging principle of life, and an unerring guide of conduct. The contrast of the present state of Christians with their former state as heathens is a topic of frequent occurrence in St. Paul's writings (Romans 11:30; Colossians 1:21; Colossians 3:7, &c.).

Verse 2. - That ye were Gentiles. The undoubted reading is, that when ye were Gentiles. The sentence is then in form an anacoluthon; in other words, it is not grammatically finished. The ancients were much less particular about these small matters of precision and symmetry than the moderns; and writers who are deeply moved by their subject, and hurried along by the strength of their feelings, often fall into these unfinished constructions (see Romans 2:17-21; Romans 15:25-27; Galatians 2:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, etc., in the Greek). Dumb idols. This characteristic of idols (Habakkuk 2:18; Psalm 115:5; Psalm 135:16) is fixed upon to show that their "oracles" were mere falsity and pretence. We find an illustration of the epithet in the statue of Isis at Pompeii, where the ruined temple shows the secret stair by which the priest mounted to the back of the statue; and the head of the statue (preserved in the Museo Borbonico) shows the tube which went from the back of the head to the parted lips. Through this tube the priest concealed behind the statue spoke the answers of Isis. Even as ye were led; rather, howsoever ye might be led, as in the Revised Version. The Greek phrase shows that, under the oracular guidance of dumb idols, the Gentiles had been, as it were, drifted hither and thither "as the winds listed."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
You know
Οἴδατε (Oidate)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

when
ὅτε (hote)
Adverb
Strong's 3753: When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.

you were
ἦτε (ēte)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

pagans,
ἔθνη (ethnē)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

you were influenced
ἤγεσθε (ēgesthe)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 71: A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.

[and] led astray
ἀπαγόμενοι (apagomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 520: To lead, carry, take away; met: To be led astray, seduced. From apo and ago; to take off.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

mute
ἄφωνα (aphōna)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 880: Soundless, voiceless, speechless, dumb. Figuratively, unmeaning.

idols.
εἴδωλα (eidōla)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1497: An idol, false god. From eidos; an image; by implication, a heathen god, or the worship of such.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were heathen (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
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