TRV
Translation
King James Version
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
Complete Jewish Bible
And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.
Berean Standard Bible
We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
American Standard Version
Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.
World English Bible Messianic
Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Neither let vs tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted him, and were destroyed of serpents.
Young's Literal Translation
neither may we tempt the Christ, as also certain of them did tempt, and by the serpents did perish;
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In the KJVVerse 28,577 of 31,102
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Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10 verses 6–14
6 ¶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
The apostle, having recited their privileges, proceeds here to an account of their faults and punishments, their sins and plagues, which are left upon record for an example to us, a warning against the like sins, if we would escape the like punishments. We must not do as they did, lest we suffer as they suffered.
I. Several of their sins are specified as cautions to us; as, 1. We should shun inordinate desires after carnal objects: Not lust after evil things, as they lusted, Co1 10:6. God fed them with manna, but they must have flesh, Num 11:4. They had food for their supply, but, not content with this, they asked meat for their lusts, Psa 106:14. Carnal desires get head by indulgence, and therefore should be observed and checked in their first rise: if once they prevail, and bear sway in us, we know not whither they will carry us. This caution stands first, because carnal appetites indulged are the root and source of much sin. 2. He warns against idolatry (Co1 10:7): Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. The sin of the golden calf is referred to, Exo 32:6. They first sacrificed to their idol, then feasted on the sacrifices, and then danced before it. Though only eating and drinking are mentioned here, yet the sacrifice is supposed. The apostle is speaking to the case of the Corinthians, who were tempted to feast on the heathen sacrifices, things offered to idols, though they do not seem to have been under any temptation to offer sacrifice themselves. Even eating and drinking of the sacrifices before the idol, and as things sacrificed, was idolatry, which, by the example of the Israelites, they should be warned to avoid. 3. He cautions against fornication, a sin to which the inhabitants of Corinth were in a peculiar manner addicted. They had a temple among them dedicated to Venus (that is, to lust), with above a thousand priestesses belonging to it, all common prostitutes. How needful was a caution against fornication to those who lived in so corrupt a city, and had been used to such dissolute manners, especially when they were under temptations to idolatry too! and spiritual whoredom did in many cases lead to bodily prostitution. Most of the gods whom the heathens served were represented as patterns of lewdness; and much lewdness was committed in the very worship of many of them. Many of the Jewish writers, and many Christians after them, think that such worship was paid to Baal-Peor; and that fornication was committed with the daughters of Moab in the worship of that idol. They were enticed by these women both to spiritual and corporal whoredom; first to feast on the sacrifice, if not to do more beastly acts, in honour of the idol, and then to defile themselves with strange flesh (Num. 25), which brought on a plague, that in one day slew twenty-three thousand, besides those who fell by the hand of public justice. Note, Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, in whatever external relation they may stand to him, and whatever outward privileges he may bestow upon them. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. 4. He warns us against tempting Christ (as some of them tempted, and were destroyed of serpents, Co1 10:9), or provoking him to jealousy, Co1 10:22. He was with the church in the wilderness; he was the angel of the covenant, who went before them. But he was greatly grieved and provoked by them in many ways: They spoke against him and Moses, Wherefore have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for which reason God sent fiery serpents among them (Num 21:5, Num 21:6), by which many of them were stung mortally. And it is but just to fear that such as tempt Christ under the present dispensation will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. 5. He warns against murmuring: Neither murmur you as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer (Co1 10:10), by a destroying angel, an executioner of divine vengeance. They quarrelled with God, and murmured against Moses his minister, when any difficulties pressed them. When they met with discouragements in the way to Canaan, they were very apt to fly in the face of their leaders, were for displacing them, and going back to Egypt under the conduct of others of their own choosing. Something like this seems to have been the case of the Corinthians; they murmured against Paul, and in him against Christ, and seem to have set up other teachers, who would indulge and soothe them in their inclinations, and particularly in a revolt to idolatry. Rather let them feast on idol sacrifices than bear the reproach, or expose themselves to the ill-will, of heathen neighbours. Such conduct was very provoking to God, and was likely to bring upon them swift destruction, as it did on the Israelites, Num 14:37. Note, Murmuring against divine disposals and commands is a sin that greatly provokes, especially when it grows to such a head as to issue in apostasy, and a revolt from him and his good ways.
II. The apostle subjoins to these particular cautions a more general one (Co1 10:11): All these things happened to them for ensamples, and were written for our admonition. Not only the laws and ordinances of the Jews, but the providences of God towards them, were typical. Their sins against God, and backslidings from him, were typical of the infidelity of many under the gospel. God's judgments on them were types of spiritual judgments now. Their exclusion from the earthly Canaan typified the exclusion of many under the gospel out of the heavenly Canaan, for their unbelief. Their history was written, to be a standing monitor to the church, even under the last and most perfect dispensation: To us, on whom the end of the world is come, the concluding period of God's gracious government over men. Note, Nothing in scripture is written in vain. God had wise and gracious purposes towards us in leaving the Jewish history upon record; and it is our wisdom and duty to receive instruction from it. Upon this hint the apostle grounds a caution (Co1 10:12): Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Note, The harms sustained by others should be cautious to us. He that thinks he stands should not be confident and secure, but upon his guard. Others have fallen, and so may we. And then we are most likely to fall when we are most confident of our own strength, and thereupon most apt to be secure, and off our guard. Distrust of himself, putting him at once upon vigilance and dependence on God, is the Christian's best security against all sin. Note, He who thinks he stands is not likely to keep his footing, if he fears no fall, nor guards against it. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves: his protection supposes our own care and caution.
III. But to this word of caution he adds a word of comfort, Co1 10:13. Though it is displeasing to God for us to presume, it is not pleasing to him for us to despair. If the former be a great sin, the latter is far from being innocent. Though we must fear and take heed lest we fall, yet should we not be terrified and amazed; for either our trials will be proportioned to our strength, or strength will be supplied in proportion to our temptations. We live indeed in a tempting world, where we are compassed about with snares. Every place, condition, relation, employment, and enjoyment, abounds with them; yet what comfort may we fetch from such a passage! For, 1. "No temptation," says the apostle, "hath yet taken you, but such as is common to man, what is human; that is, such as you may expect from men of such principles as heathens, and such power; or else such as is common to mankind in the present state; or else such as the spirit and resolution of mere men may bear you through." Note, The trials of common Christians are but common trials: others have the like burdens and the like temptations; what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. 2. God is faithful. Though Satan be a deceiver, God is true. Men may be false, and the world may be false; but God is faithful, and our strength and security are in him. He keepeth his covenant, and will never disappoint the filial hope and trust of his children. 3. He is wise as well as faithful, and will proportion our burden to our strength. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able. He knows what we can bear, and what we can bear up against; and he will, in his wise providence, either proportion our temptations to our strength or make us able to grapple with them. He will take care that we be not overcome, if we rely upon him, and resolve to approve ourselves faithful to him. We need not perplex ourselves with the difficulties in our way when God will take care that they shall not be too great for us to encounter, especially. 4. When he will make them to issue well. He will make a way to escape, either the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. There is no valley so dark but he can find a way through it, no affliction so grievous but he can prevent, or remove, or enable us to support it, and in the end overrule it to our advantage.
IV. And upon this argument he grounds another caution against idolatry: Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Observe, 1. How he addresses them: My dearly beloved. It is out of tender affection to them that he presses this advice upon them. 2. The matter of his advice: "Flee idolatry; shun it, and all approaches towards it." Idolatry is the most heinous injury and affront to the true God; it is transferring his worship and honour to a rival. 3. The ground of this advice: "Seeing you have such encouragement to trust God, and to be faithful, do you approve yourselves men, be not shaken by any discouragements your heathen enemies may lay before you. God will succour and assist, help you in your trials, and help you out of them; and therefore be not guilty of any idolatrous compliances." Note, We have all the encouragement in the world to flee sin and prove faithful to God. We cannot fall by a temptation if we cleave fast to him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 6–14. Public domain.
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AmbrosiasterAD 384
COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES
The Jews were putting Christ to the test, because it was he who spoke to Moses. Paul is warning us here not to do the same as they did.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on 1 Corinthians 23
"Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and perished by serpents."
By this he again hints at another charge which he likewise states at the end, blaming them because they contended about signs. And indeed they were destroyed on account of trials, saying, "when will the good things come? when the rewards?" Wherefore also he adds, on this account correcting and alarming them.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
First Corinthians 10:9 serves as a profound warning to believers, drawing a stark parallel between the ancient Israelites' rebellious testing of God in the wilderness and the potential for similar disobedience among New Covenant believers. Paul cautions against presuming upon divine patience and grace, reminding his readers that Israel's defiant challenging of God's authority and provision led to severe judgment, specifically destruction by venomous serpents, a fate that awaits those who similarly "tempt Christ."
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul employs several potent literary devices in 1 Corinthians 10:9 to convey his warning. The most prominent is Allusion, specifically to the historical account in Numbers 21:4-9. By referencing this well-known Old Testament narrative, Paul leverages shared historical memory to provide a concrete example of the dangers of testing God. This also functions as Typology, where the experiences of Old Testament Israel serve as "types" or patterns that foreshadow or illustrate spiritual realities and warnings for New Testament believers. The Israelites' sin and its consequence are presented as a "type" for the Corinthians to avoid. Furthermore, there is clear Parallelism established between "some of them" (Israel) and "us" (the Corinthians), creating a direct comparison and urging the audience to learn from past mistakes. The phrase "destroyed of serpents" uses vivid Imagery to evoke the severity and painful reality of divine judgment, making the warning more impactful and memorable.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Corinthians 10:9 profoundly underscores the unchanging nature of God's character, revealing Him as both merciful and just. Theologically, Paul's assertion that Israel "tempted Christ" is a powerful statement on the pre-existence and active involvement of the second person of the Trinity in Old Testament history. It highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan, centered on Christ, from creation through the new covenant. This verse also emphasizes the principle that spiritual privileges do not grant immunity from divine judgment if accompanied by rebellion and disobedience. It serves as a stark reminder that presumption upon grace, challenging God's authority, or persistent discontentment can lead to severe consequences, just as it did for Israel in the wilderness.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Corinthians 10:9 calls us to a profound self-examination of our own attitudes towards God's provision and authority. In an age of unprecedented access to spiritual resources and abundant grace, it is easy to become complacent or even presumptuous. This verse reminds us that true faith is characterized by trust and obedience, not by testing God's limits or questioning His goodness when circumstances are difficult. We are warned against the subtle but destructive sin of discontentment, which often manifests as murmuring or complaining, effectively challenging God's wisdom and care. Our spiritual journey is not a license to indulge in sin, but an invitation to walk in humility and gratitude, learning from the costly mistakes of those who came before us. By heeding Paul's solemn admonition, we cultivate a heart that honors Christ, recognizing His sovereignty and trusting in His unfailing faithfulness, even when we do not understand His ways.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to "tempt Christ" in this context?
Answer: To "tempt Christ" here means to put Him to the test in a defiant, presumptuous, or rebellious manner. It's not about humble questioning or seeking understanding, but about challenging His authority, power, or goodness, often out of discontentment or unbelief. The specific Old Testament parallel in Numbers 21 shows Israel grumbling against God's provision and leadership, essentially daring Him to act or questioning His ability to care for them. Paul applies this same rebellious attitude to Christ, indicating that such behavior is an affront to Him.
How was Christ present in the Old Testament for Israel to tempt Him?
Answer: Paul's statement that Israel "tempted Christ" in the wilderness is a significant theological point affirming Christ's pre-existence and active involvement in the Old Testament. Many scholars understand this to mean that the pre-incarnate Christ was the divine figure (often identified as the "Angel of the Lord" or the "Lord") who led Israel, provided for them, and whom they rebelled against. Paul explicitly states in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that the Israelites "drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." This indicates that Christ was the divine presence they encountered and rebelled against.
What is the significance of "serpents" in this verse?
Answer: The "serpents" refer directly to the "fiery serpents" God sent among the Israelites in Numbers 21:6 as a divine judgment for their grumbling and rebellion. These were literal, venomous snakes that inflicted deadly bites. Their inclusion in 1 Corinthians 10:9 serves as a vivid reminder of the severe and tangible consequences of testing God. It underscores that divine judgment for rebellion is real and can be devastating, even physically.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Corinthians 10:9 not only warns against testing Christ but also subtly points to His ultimate redemptive work. While the Israelites faced destruction by serpents for their rebellion, the very account in Numbers 21 reveals God's gracious provision of healing through the bronze serpent lifted on a pole. This Old Testament event is directly interpreted by Jesus Himself in John 3:14-15, where He declares, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Thus, the judgment of the serpents, brought about by Israel's sin of tempting God, foreshadows the greater judgment for sin that Christ bore on the cross. He became sin for us, enduring the curse and the sting of death, so that by looking to Him in faith, we might be healed from the deadly bite of sin and receive eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Christ whom Israel tempted in the wilderness is the same Christ who, in His perfect obedience, fulfilled the requirements of the law and offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, providing salvation for all who believe, thereby overcoming the very destruction that befell the rebellious Israelites (Romans 5:8).