And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
And {G2532} I knew {G1492} such {G5108} a man {G444},(whether {G1535} in {G1722} the body {G4983}, or {G1535} out {G1622} of the body {G4983}, I cannot {G3756} tell {G1492}: God {G2316} knoweth {G1492};)
And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don’t know, God knows —
And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
No cross-references found for this verse.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:3
This verse is part of a deeply personal and somewhat reluctant defense by the Apostle Paul concerning his apostolic authority and spiritual experiences. In 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Paul shifts from boasting about his sufferings and weaknesses (as he did in 2 Corinthians 11) to recounting extraordinary spiritual revelations. He speaks of a man (widely understood to be himself, using the third person to emphasize humility and the divine origin of the experience) who was "caught up to the third heaven" and heard inexpressible words. Verse 3 specifically reiterates Paul's uncertainty regarding his physical state during this profound encounter, emphasizing that only God truly knows the details of such a mystical experience.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;" directly translates the Greek: "εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος, οὐκ οἶδα· ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν." The repetition of "οἶδα" (oida), meaning "I know," contrasted with "οὐκ οἶδα" (ouk oida), "I do not know," powerfully emphasizes Paul's human limitation in grasping the full nature of the spiritual transport, immediately followed by the definitive "ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν" (ho Theos oiden), "God knows." This linguistic structure highlights the contrast between human uncertainty and divine certainty, reinforcing God's supreme knowledge over all creation and experience.
Practical Application and Reflection
For believers today, 2 Corinthians 12:3 offers several insights: