1 Corinthians 10:8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

◄ 1 Corinthians 10:8 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

English Standard Version
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

New American Standard Bible
Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

King James Bible
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.

International Standard Version
Let's stop sinning sexually, as some of them were doing, and on a single day 23,000 fell dead.

American Standard Version
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Darby Bible Translation
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Young's Literal Translation
neither may we commit whoredom, as certain of them did commit whoredom, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand;

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

10:6-14 Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. And it is but just to fear, that such as tempt Christ, will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. Murmuring against God's disposals and commands, greatly provokes him. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. The Christian's security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have the like burdens, and the like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. fornication—literally, Fornication was generally, as in this case (Nu 25:1-18), associated at the idol feasts with spiritual fornication, that is, idolatry. This all applied to the Corinthians (1Co 5:1, 9; 6:9, 15, 18; 1Co 8:10). Balaam tempted Israel to both sins with Midian (Re 2:14). Compare 1Co 8:7, 9, "stumbling-block," "eat … thing offered unto … idol."

three and twenty thousand—in Nu 25:9 "twenty and four thousand." If this were a real discrepancy, it would militate rather against inspiration of the subject matter and thought, than against verbal inspiration. The solution is: Moses in Numbers includes all who died "in the plague"; Paul, all who died "in one day"; one thousand more may have fallen the next day [Kitto, Biblical Cyclopædia]. Or, the real number may have been between twenty-three thousand and twenty-four thousand, say twenty-three thousand five hundred, or twenty-three thousand six hundred; when writing generally where the exact figures were not needed, one writer might quite veraciously give one of the two round numbers near the exact one, and the other writer the other [Bengel]. Whichever be the true way of reconciling the seeming discrepant statements, at least the ways given above prove they are not really irreconcilable.