1 Corinthians 10:5

KJV

But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G235} with {G1722} many {G4119} of them {G846} God {G2316} was {G2106} not {G3756} well pleased {G2106}: for {G1063} they were overthrown {G2693} in {G1722} the wilderness {G2048}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert.

Berean Standard Bible

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

American Standard Version

Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Corinthians 10:5 serves as a profound and sobering warning to the Corinthian believers, drawing a direct parallel from the tragic failures of ancient Israel in the wilderness. Despite experiencing extraordinary divine provision and presence—including miraculous sustenance and guidance—the vast majority of that generation incurred God's severe displeasure due to their persistent disobedience, idolatry, and unbelief, resulting in their death before entering the Promised Land. This verse underscores the critical truth that spiritual privilege does not guarantee spiritual salvation or favor without faithful obedience and perseverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal turning point in Paul's argument in [1 Corinthians 10](/1_corinthians/10 "1 Corinthians 10 - Warnings from Israel's History"). In the preceding verses ([1 Corinthians 10:1-4](/1_corinthians/10-1-4 "1 Corinthians 10:1-4 - Israel's Spiritual Privileges")), Paul meticulously details the spiritual blessings bestowed upon the Israelites during their Exodus journey: being "under the cloud," passing "through the sea," being "baptized unto Moses," and partaking of "spiritual food" and "spiritual drink" from the "spiritual Rock, which was Christ." These events are presented as types or foreshadowings of Christian sacraments and spiritual experiences (baptism, communion). However, [1 Corinthians 10:5](/1_corinthians/10-5 "1 Corinthians 10:5 - God's Displeasure with Israel") abruptly introduces a stark contrast, shifting from their privileges to their ultimate failure and God's judgment. This sets the stage for Paul's subsequent warnings against specific sins (idolatry, immorality, testing Christ, grumbling) that plagued Israel and were also prevalent in Corinth, emphasizing that the Israelites' fate serves as a cautionary tale for New Testament believers.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for this verse is the forty-year wilderness wandering of the Israelites following their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery, as chronicled in the books of [Exodus](/exodus/1 "Exodus - The Deliverance of Israel") and [Numbers](/numbers/1 "Numbers - Israel's Wilderness Journey"). This period was marked by numerous instances of divine provision (manna, water) and miraculous intervention (the pillar of cloud and fire), yet it was also characterized by Israel's repeated rebellion, murmuring, idolatry (e.g., the golden calf in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf")), and sexual immorality (e.g., with the Moabite women in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - Baal of Peor")). The cultural context for the Corinthian church involved a highly pluralistic and morally lax society, rife with pagan idolatry, temple prostitution, and philosophical debates. Paul's audience would have been familiar with the Old Testament narratives, and he leverages this shared knowledge to provide a compelling, historically grounded warning against similar spiritual pitfalls that threatened their nascent faith and community.

* **Key Themes:** The primary themes interwoven into this verse and the broader chapter include **Divine Displeasure with Sin**, highlighting God's holy character and righteous judgment against disobedience, even among His chosen people. It powerfully conveys the theme of **Warning from History**, asserting that the failures of the Israelites are recorded "for our ensamples" ([1 Corinthians 10:6](/1_corinthians/10-6 "1 Corinthians 10:6 - Israel as an Example")) and "for our admonition" ([1 Corinthians 10:11](/1_corinthians/10-11 "1 Corinthians 10:11 - Written for Our Admonition")), serving as a solemn object lesson for believers across all generations. Furthermore, the verse emphasizes the **Consequences of Disobedience**, specifically that spiritual privilege does not exempt one from God's judgment if faith is not accompanied by faithful obedience. This theme resonates with the narrative in [Numbers 14:29-30](/numbers/14-29-30 "Numbers 14:29-30 - The Consequences of Rebellion"), where God declares that the rebellious generation would die in the wilderness, and is echoed in [Hebrews 3:17-19](/hebrews/3-17-19 "Hebrews 3:17-19 - Unbelief Prevents Entry"), which attributes their failure to enter the rest (Promised Land) to their unbelief.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **But (Greek, _allá'_):** A primary particle indicating a strong contrast or opposition. Here, it marks a sharp transition from the spiritual privileges enjoyed by Israel (vv. 1-4) to God's severe displeasure with them, highlighting the unexpected and tragic outcome despite their initial blessings. It underscores the severity of their failure.
* **well pleased (Greek, _eudokéō'_):** From _eu_ (well) and _dokéō_ (to think, seem), meaning to think well of, approve, or take pleasure in. The negative "not well pleased" (οὐκ εὐδόκησεν) signifies God's profound disapproval, lack of delight, and absence of favor towards the majority of the Israelites. It conveys a deep divine dissatisfaction with their conduct and spiritual state.
* **overthrown (Greek, _katastrṓnnymi'_):** From _katá_ (down) and _strṓnnymi_ (to strew, spread), literally meaning "to strew down," "lay low," or "prostrate." In this context, it implies utter defeat, destruction, or being laid dead upon the ground. It vividly describes the catastrophic outcome for the rebellious generation, who perished in the wilderness due to God's judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But with many of them God was not well pleased:"** This clause serves as a stark counterpoint to the preceding verses, which detailed Israel's spiritual advantages. The phrase "many of them" (πολλοὺς αὐτῶν) indicates that while the entire nation experienced divine provision, the majority (excluding Joshua and Caleb) failed to maintain a pleasing relationship with God. "God was not well pleased" (οὐκ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεός) emphasizes that despite their initial covenant relationship and miraculous experiences, their subsequent actions—marked by unbelief, idolatry, and rebellion—provoked divine displeasure, signifying a withdrawal of favor and approval.
* **"for they were overthrown in the wilderness."** This second clause provides the direct reason and consequence for God's displeasure. The conjunction "for" (γάρ) establishes a causal link. "Overthrown" (κατεστρώθησαν) graphically depicts their demise, referring to the fact that nearly the entire adult generation who departed Egypt perished in the wilderness, their bodies strewn across the desert floor. This outcome was a direct judgment for their persistent disobedience and unbelief, preventing them from entering the Promised Land. The "wilderness" (ἐρήμῳ) serves as both the geographical setting of their journey and the symbolic place of their failure and judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several potent literary devices in this concise verse. The primary device is **Typology**, where the historical events of Israel's wilderness wanderings serve as a type or pattern for the experiences and potential pitfalls of New Testament believers. The Israelites' "overthrow" is a direct foreshadowing of the spiritual dangers facing the Corinthians. There is also a strong element of **Contrast**, as the verse sharply juxtaposes the great spiritual privileges Israel received ([1 Corinthians 10:1-4](/1_corinthians/10-1-4 "1 Corinthians 10:1-4 - Israel's Spiritual Privileges")) with the severe judgment they incurred. This creates a dramatic tension that underscores the gravity of their sin. The verse functions as a direct **Warning**, using the past as an admonition for the present and future. The language itself is **Concise and Impactful**, delivering a powerful message of divine judgment without superfluous words, making the consequence of disobedience unmistakably clear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly impacts our understanding of divine judgment, human responsibility, and the nature of God's covenant relationship. It teaches that spiritual privilege, even miraculous divine intervention, does not automatically guarantee salvation or ongoing divine favor. Rather, it necessitates a faithful and obedient response. God's displeasure is not arbitrary but a righteous response to persistent unbelief and rebellion, demonstrating His unwavering holiness and justice. The fate of the Israelites serves as a timeless reminder that while God is merciful and long-suffering, He will not tolerate unrepentant sin, even among those He has called. This historical account, therefore, functions as a crucial theological anchor, grounding the New Testament call to perseverance and vigilance in the sobering reality of God's past judgments.

* [Numbers 14:29-30](/numbers/14-29-30 "Numbers 14:29-30 - The Consequences of Israel's Rebellion")
* [Hebrews 3:17-19](/hebrews/3-17-19 "Hebrews 3:17-19 - Unbelief Prevents Entry")
* [Jude 1:5](/jude/1-5 "Jude 1:5 - God's Judgment on Unbelievers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
First Corinthians 10:5 is a critical passage for personal reflection, urging believers to move beyond spiritual complacency and to actively pursue a life of vigilant faith and obedience. It challenges the dangerous assumption that past spiritual experiences or privileges—such as baptism, church membership, or even miraculous encounters—are sufficient to secure our standing with God without ongoing faithfulness. The Israelites had seen God's mighty hand, yet their hearts remained rebellious. This should prompt us to examine our own hearts: Are we truly walking in obedience, or are we, like them, prone to grumbling, idolatry (even subtle forms like placing anything before God), or immorality? The wilderness generation's failure reminds us that spiritual journey is not a one-time event but a continuous walk of faith, requiring perseverance, humility, and a constant turning away from sin. Our spiritual inheritance is precious, and this verse serves as a powerful call to guard it with diligence, learning from the past to secure our future in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What spiritual "privileges" or experiences have I received from God, and how might I be tempted to become complacent because of them?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be exhibiting "displeasing" attitudes or behaviors that could lead to spiritual "overthrow" or a loss of divine favor?**
* **How can I actively learn from the historical failures of Israel to cultivate a more vigilant and obedient walk with God today?**

### FAQ

**Why was God "not well pleased" with the Israelites, despite their miraculous deliverance and provision?**

Answer: God was "not well pleased" with the majority of the Israelites primarily due to their persistent unbelief, rebellion, and idolatry, as detailed throughout the books of [Exodus](/exodus/1 "Exodus - The Deliverance of Israel") and [Numbers](/numbers/1 "Numbers - Israel's Wilderness Journey"). Despite witnessing God's power in the Exodus, receiving the Law at Sinai, and being sustained by manna and water in the wilderness, they repeatedly complained, tested God, yearned for the idolatry of Egypt, and refused to trust His promises, particularly concerning entering the Promised Land ([Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea")). Their lack of faith and their rebellious hearts, rather than any lack of divine provision, led to God's displeasure and their subsequent judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
First Corinthians 10:5, while a stark warning from Old Testament history, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a repeated cycle of failure, but in the perfect obedience and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "spiritual Rock" from which Israel drank was, as Paul explicitly states in [1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "The Spiritual Rock Was Christ"), Christ Himself. This means that even in their wilderness journey, the Israelites were encountering and being sustained by a pre-incarnate manifestation of the Messiah. Their failure, therefore, highlights the profound human inability to perfectly obey God's law and maintain a pleasing relationship with Him, even with divine assistance. This underscores the necessity of Christ's perfect life and atoning death. Unlike the rebellious Israelites who were "overthrown in the wilderness," Christ perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Christ's Obedience to Death")). Through His sacrifice, believers are offered a new covenant, not based on their imperfect obedience, but on His perfect righteousness, enabling them to enter the true "rest" that the earthly Promised Land only foreshadowed ([Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9-11 "The Rest of God")). Thus, the warning in [1 Corinthians 10:5](/1_corinthians/10-5 "God's Displeasure with Israel") ultimately drives us to appreciate the grace and power of Christ, who ensures that those who truly trust in Him will not be "overthrown" but will inherit eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God's Love for the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 3:17

But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Jude 1:5

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Numbers 26:64

But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

Numbers 26:65

For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Numbers 14:37

Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

Numbers 14:28

Say unto them, [As truly as] I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

Numbers 14:35

I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.