1 Corinthians 6:10
What does 1 Corinthians 6:10 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 6:10 means
Paul adds more examples: thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s kingdom. The list reaches into heart motives, habits, speech, and economic exploitation. It confronts both ‘respectable’ and scandalous sins. The message is consistent: a life characterized by these patterns stands outside God’s reign. Paul is not denying forgiveness for the repentant; he is exposing the self-deception of those who persist in such ways while claiming Christian status. The kingdom belongs to those whom God has remade, whose conduct increasingly reflects their new identity rather than their old slavery to sin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Or is a thief, or the worse for drink, or makes use of strong language, or takes by force what is not his, will have any part in the kingdom of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, the reign of God shall inherit.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor abusive persons, nor [the] rapacious, shall inherit [the] kingdom ofGod.
Context
Completing the vice list begun in verse 9, this verse keeps the warning balanced across many areas of life. The stage is now set for verse 11’s gospel turn: “such were some of you.” That pivot from exclusion to inclusion by grace provides both hope and the moral basis for Paul’s calls to holiness in the rest of the chapter, especially regarding sexual immorality and the proper use of Christian freedom.
v.9Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
v.10This passage
v.11And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery; yea, they have vexed the poor and needy, and have oppressed the sojourner wrongfully.
- Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.
- Galatians 5:21
envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Psalms 50:17
Seeing that thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee?
- 1 Peter 4:15
For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters:
- Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
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