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1 Corinthians 10:18

Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Beholde Israhell which walketh carnally. Are not they which eate of the sacrifyse partetakers of the aultre?

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Beholde Israel, which is after the flesh: are not they which eate of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

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Cross-references (15)

Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 10:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Leviticus 3:11 The priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.
  • Leviticus 7:6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.
  • Galatians 6:16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
  • Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands), that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
  • Philippians 3:3-5 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh; though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
  • Leviticus 3:3-5 He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away. Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
  • Romans 1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,
  • Romans 4:1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
  • Romans 4:12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:13 Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
  • 2 Corinthians 11:18-22 Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast. For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise. For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes you on the face. I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I.
  • 1 Samuel 9:12-13 They answered them, and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place. As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
  • Romans 9:3-8 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel. Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs.
  • Leviticus 7:11-17 “ ‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one shall offer to Yahweh: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil. He shall offer his offering with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving with cakes of leavened bread. Of it he shall offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. “ ‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice. On the next day what remains of it shall be eaten, but what remains of the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.
  • 1 Samuel 2:13-16 The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand; and he stabbed it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. The priest took all that the fork brought up for himself. They did this to all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. Yes, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, “Give meat to roast for the priest; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw.” If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as your soul desires;” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (20 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 18. Behold Israel after the flesh He establishes it…

18. Behold Israel after the flesh He establishes it by another example, that such is the nature of all sacred observances, that they bind us in a kind of fellowship with God. For the law of Moses admits no one to a feast upon a sacrifice, but the man who has duly prepared himself. I speak not of priests merely, but of those among the common people who eat of the remains of the sacrifice. Hence it follows, that all who eat of the flesh of the sacrificed victim, are partakers with the altar, that is, of the sanctification, with which God has set apart his Temple, and the sacred rites that are performed in it.

This expression after the flesh, may seem to be added in order that the Corinthians, on comparing the two, might set a higher value on the efficacy of our Supper. “If there was so much virtue in the ancient figures and in those rudiments of youthful education, how much more must we reckon that there is in our mysteries, in which God shines forth much more fully upon us!” At the same time, it is more simple, in my opinion, to say that Paul intended merely by this mark to distinguish the Jews that were still under the law from those that had been converted to Christ. Now there was a contrast that remained to be made — that if the sacred rites appointed by God sanctify those who observe them, pollution, on the other hand, is contracted from the sacred rites rendered to idols. For it is God alone that sanctifies, and hence all strange gods pollute. Again, if mysteries unite and connect believers with God, it follows, that the wicked are in like manner introduced by their superstitious rites into fellowship with idols. But the Apostle, before proceeding to this, answers by an anthypophora (anticipation) a question that might be proposed by way of objection.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Are consenting and guilty, both of that worship and…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Israel after the flesh was the whole seed of…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Here another argument against eating things offered to idols…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Behold Israel after the flesh,.... So the apostle calls…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Consider Israel after the flesh - Christians are the…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 18. Behold Israel after the flesh] The Jews…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Co 10:18. Behold — Consider, by way of illustration;…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Behold Israel - Look at the Jews. The design…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Behold Israel, according to the flesh. That is, the…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Israel after the flesh--the literal, as distinguished from the…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 18. This unity and communion Paul now illustrates from…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 18. Behold Israel after the flesh] Second reason (see…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (18) Behold Israel after the flesh—i.e., Israel in its…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Partakers of the altar. It is better to render…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 18. Behold Israel after the flesh. The natural Israel,…
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain The application of these truths to idolatrous practices:
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in…

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