1 Corinthians 10 · Verse 19

1 Corinthians 10:19

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1 Corinthians 10:19, King James Version

1 Corinthians 10:19 in other translations

BSBAm I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
WEBWhat am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
ASVWhat say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
YLTwhat then do I say? that an idol is anything? or that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything? --
DARBYWhat then do I say? that what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
BBEDo I say, then, that what is offered to images is anything, or that the image is anything?
WebsterWhat then do I say? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

What does 1 Corinthians 10:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:19-20
19-20. What say I then?--The inference might be drawn from the analogies of the Lord's Supper and Jewish sacrifices, that an idol is really what the heathen thought it to be, a god, and that in eating idol-meats they had fellowship with the god. This verse guards against such an inference: "What would I say then? that a thing sacrificed to an idol is any real thing (in the sense that the heathen regard it), or that an idol is any real thing?" (The oldest manuscripts read the words in this order. Supply "Nay") "But [I say] that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils (demons)." Paul here introduces a new fact. It is true that, as I said, an idol has no reality in the sense that the heathen regard it, but it has a reality in another sense; heathendom being under Satan's dominion as "prince of this world," he and his demons are in fact the powers worshipped by the heathen, whether they are or are not conscious of it (De 32:17; Le 17:7; 2Ch 11:15; Psa 106:37; Re 9:20). "Devil" is in the Greek restricted to Satan; "demons" is the term applied to his subordinate evil spirits. Fear, rather than love, is the motive of heathen worship (compare the English word "panic," from Pan, whose human form with horns and cloven hoofs gave rise to the vulgar representations of Satan which prevail now); just as fear is the spirit of Satan and his demons (Jas 2:19).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. What say I then? This is in the present tense: τιουνφημι, what do I say? What is my meaning ? What follows from this? Do I mean to say that an idol is anything; that it has a real existence? Does my reasoning lead to that conclusion--and am I to be understood as affirming that an idol is of itself of any consequence? It must be recollected that the Corinthian Christians are introduced by Paul (1Cor 8:4) as saying that they knew that an idol was nothing in the world. Paul did not directly contradict that; but his reasoning had led him to the necessity of calling the propriety of their attending on the feasts of idols in question; and he introduces the matter now by asking these questions, thus leading the mind to it rather than directly affirming it at once. "Am I in this reasoning to be understood as affirming that an idol is anything, or that the meat there offered differs from other meat? No; you know, says Paul, that this is not my meaning. I admit that an idol in itself is nothing: but I do not admit, therefore, that it is right for you to attend in their temples; for though the idol itself--the block of wood or stone--is nothing, yet the offerings are really made to devils; and I would not have you engage in such a service," 1Cor 10:20,21.

That the idol is any thing? That the block of wood or stone is a real living object of worship, to be dreaded or loved? 1Cor 8:4.

Or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? Or that the meat which is offered differs from that which is not offered; that the mere act of offering it changes its qualities? I do not admit or suppose this.

(c) 1Cor 8:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 What say I then? - A Jewish phrase for, I conclude; and this is his conclusion: that although an idol is nothing, has neither power nor influence, nor are things offered to idols any thing the worse for being thus offered; yet, as the things sacrificed by the Gentiles are sacrificed to demons and not to God, those who partake of them have fellowship with demons: those who profess Christianity cannot have fellowship both with Christ and the devil.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:15-22

Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 10:15-22 →

1 Corinthians 10:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤίTiWhatG5101
οὖνounthenG3767
φημι;phēmido I mean?G5346
ὅτιhotiThatG3754
εἰδωλόθυτόνeidōlothutonan idol-sacrificeG1494
τίtianythingG5100
ἐστινestinisG1510
ἢēorG2228
ὅτιhotithatG3754
εἴδωλόνeidōlonan idolG1497
τίtianythingG5100
ἐστιν;estinis?G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 10:19

  • 1 Corinthians 8:4

    As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

  • Isaiah 41:29

    Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:28

    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

  • Deuteronomy 32:21

    They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:7

    So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:2

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

  • Isaiah 40:17

    All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:11

    I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that the.
1:28; 3:7; 8:4; 13:2; De 32:21; Isa 40:17; 41:29; 2Co 12:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 10:18

    Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:19

    What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:20

    But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Qué pues digo? ¿Que el ídolo es algo? ¿ó que sea algo lo que es sacrificado á los ídolos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que dis-je donc? que ce qui est sacrifié à une idole soit quelque chose? ou qu’une idole soit quelque chose?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was sage ich nun? Daß das einem Götzen Geopferte etwas sei? Oder daß ein Götzenbild etwas sei?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quid ergo? dico quod idolis immolatum sit aliquid? aut quod idolum, sit aliquid?