1 Corinthians 2 · Verse 8

1 Corinthians 2:8

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:8, King James Version

1 Corinthians 2:8 in other translations

BSBNone of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
WEBwhich none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.
ASVwhich none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
YLTwhich no one of the rulers of this age did know, for if they had known, the Lord of the glory they would not have crucified;
DARBYwhich none of the princes of this age knew, (for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;)
BBEOf which not one of the rulers of this world had knowledge: for if they had, they would not have put the Lord of glory on the cross:
WebsterWhich none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

What does 1 Corinthians 2:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. Which--wisdom. The strongest proof of the natural man's destitution of heavenly wisdom. crucified ... Lord of glory--implying the inseparable connection of Christ's humanity and His divinity. The Lord of glory (which He had in His own right before the world was, Joh 17:4, 24) was crucified.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. Which none of the princes. None of those rulers who were engaged in the crucifixion of the Messiah--referring both to the Jewish rulers and the Roman governor.

Knew. They did not perceive or appreciate the excellency of his character, the wisdom of his plan, the glory of his scheme of salvation. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In Acts 3:17, Peter says that it was through ignorance that the Jews had put him to death. Acts 3:17.

For had they known it. Had they fully understood his character, and seen the wisdom of his plan and his work, they would not have put him to death. Acts 3:17. Had they seen the hidden wisdom in that plan--had they understood the glory of his real character, the truth respecting his incarnation, and the fact that he was the long-expected: Messiah of their nation, they would not have put him to death. It is incredible that they would have crucified their Messiah, knowing him to be such. They might have known it, but they were unwilling to examine the evidence. They expected a different Messiah, and were unwilling to admit the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. For this ignorance, however, there was no excuse. If they had not a full knowledge, it was their own fault. Jesus had performed miracles which were a complete attestation to his Divine mission, Jn 5:36 Jn 10:25; but they closed their eyes on those works, and were unwilling to be convinced. God always gives to men sufficient demonstration of the truth, but they close their eyes, and are unwilling to believe. This is the sole reason why they are not converted to God, and saved.

They would not have crucified. It is perfectly manifest that the Jews would not have crucified their own Messiah, knowing him to be such. He was the hope and expectation of their nation. All their desires were centered in him. And to him they looked for deliverance from all their foes.

The Lord of glory. This expression is a Hebraism, and means "the glorious Lord;" or the "Messiah." Expressions like this, where a noun performs the office of an adjective, are common in the Hebrew language. Grotius supposes that the expression is taken from that of "the King of glory," in Ps 24:7-9:
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
Be ye Lift up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
JEHOVAH, strong and mighty;
JEHOVAH, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
Lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
JEHOVAH of hosts, he is the King of glory."

God is called "the God of glory" in Acts 7:2. The fact that this appellation is given to JEHOVAH in the Old Testament, and to the Lord Jesus in the verse before us, is one of those incidental circumstances which show how the Lord Jesus was estimated by the apostles; and how familiarly they applied to him names and titles which belong only to God. The foundation of this appellation is laid in his exalted perfections; and in the honour and majesty which he had with the Father before the world was, Jn 17:1-5.

(++) "princes" "rulers" (c) "for had they known it" Lk 23:34

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew - Here it is evident that this world refers to the Jewish state, and to the degree of knowledge in that state: and the rulers, the priests, rabbins, etc., who were principally concerned in the crucifixion of our Lord. The Lord of glory - Or the glorious Lord, infinitely transcending all the rulers of the universe; whose is eternal glory; who gave that glorious Gospel in which his followers may glory, as it affords them such cause of triumph as the heathens had not, who gloried in their philosophers. Here is a teacher who is come from God; who has taught the most glorious truths which it is possible for the soul of man to conceive; and has promised to lead all the followers of his crucified Master to that state of glory which is ineffable and eternal.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:6-9

Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and, having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom therein. It is the mystery made manifest to the saints, Col 1:26, though formerly hid from the heathen world; it was only shown in dark types and distant prophecies, but now is…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 →

1 Corinthians 2:8 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.

ἣνhēnwhichG3739
οὐδεὶςoudeisnoneG3762
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἀρχόντωνarchontōnrulersG758
τοῦtou<the>G3588
αἰῶνοςaiōnosageG165
τούτουtoutouof thisG3778
ἔγνωκεν·egnōkenhas understood;G1097
εἰeiifG1487
γὰρgarforG1063
ἔγνωσαν,egnōsanthey had understood [it],G1097
οὐκouknotG3756
ἂνanthen wouldG302
τὸνtontheG3588
κύριονkurionLordG2962
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
δόξηςdoxēsof gloryG1391
ἐσταύρωσαν,estaurōsanthey crucified,G4717

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 2:8

  • Acts 13:27

    For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

  • James 2:1

    My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

  • Acts 7:2

    And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

  • 1 Corinthians 2:6

    Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

  • Psalms 24:7-10

    Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:26-28

    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 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:

  • Acts 3:16-17

    And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:14

    But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

  • John 8:19

    Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

  • John 16:3

    And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

  • John 15:22-25

    If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
none.
6; 1:26-28; Mt 11:25; Joh 7:48
for.
Lu 23:34; Joh 3:19-21; 8:19; 9:39-41; 12:40-43; 15:22-25; 16:3
Ac 3:17; 13:27; 2Co 3:14; 1Ti 1:13
the Lord.
Ps 24:7-10; Ac 3:16,17; 7:2; Jas 2:1

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 2:7

    But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

  • 1 Corinthians 2:8

    Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:9

    But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La que ninguno de los príncipes de este siglo conoció; porque si la hubieran conocido, nunca hubieran crucificado al Señor de gloria:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qu’aucun des chefs de ce siècle n’a connue, (car s’ils l’avaient connue, ils n’auraient pas crucifié le Seigneur de gloire,)
German
Elberfelder 1871		welche keiner von den Fürsten dieses Zeitlaufs erkannt hat,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quam nemo principum hujus sæculi cognovit: si enim cognovissent, numquam Dominum gloriæ crucifixissent.