1 Corinthians 2:11
What does 1 Corinthians 2:11 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 2:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 2:11 means
Paul uses a simple analogy: only a person’s own spirit truly knows their inner thoughts. In the same way, only the Spirit of God comprehends God’s inner counsel. This underscores the uniqueness of the Spirit’s knowledge and, therefore, of His revelation. Human teachers, traditions, and rulers cannot penetrate God’s mind apart from the Spirit’s work. The point is not to deny that humans can know God truly, but to insist that such knowledge must come from God’s initiative. If the Spirit alone knows God perfectly, then any genuine understanding of God’s wisdom must be Spirit-given, not the product of unaided human inquiry.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For who has knowledge of the things of a man but the spirit of the man which is in him? in the same way, no one has knowledge of the things of God but the Spirit of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for who of men hath known the things of the man, except the spirit of the man that <FI>is<Fi> in him? so also the things of God no one hath known, except the Spirit of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of God, no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For who of men hath known the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? thus also the things ofGod knows no one except the Spirit ofGod.
Context
Having said the Spirit reveals God’s deep things (v.10), Paul explains why: only the Spirit knows God as God knows Himself (v.11). This paves the way for the encouraging claim in verse 12—that believers have received this very Spirit. Then verse 13 will show that the apostles communicate these truths in Spirit-taught words. The logical progression tightens: from the Spirit’s competence to His indwelling gift, to Spirit-formed communication of divine wisdom.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10
But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
- Proverbs 20:5
Counsel in the heart of man islikedeep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
- Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
- Proverbs 14:10
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
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