1 Corinthians 10:7
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.
Original Language Analysis
εἰδωλολάτραι
idolaters
G1496
εἰδωλολάτραι
idolaters
Strong's:
G1496
Word #:
2 of 17
an image- (servant or) worshipper (literally or figuratively)
γίνεσθε
be ye
G1096
γίνεσθε
be ye
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
3 of 17
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
αὐτῶν
of them
G846
αὐτῶν
of them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 17
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὥς
as
G5613
ὥς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
7 of 17
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
γέγραπται
it is written
G1125
γέγραπται
it is written
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
8 of 17
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
Ἐκάθισεν
sat down
G2523
Ἐκάθισεν
sat down
Strong's:
G2523
Word #:
9 of 17
to seat down, i.e., set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαὸς
The people
G2992
λαὸς
The people
Strong's:
G2992
Word #:
11 of 17
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
1 Corinthians 6:9Know 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 mankind,1 Corinthians 10:14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.Deuteronomy 9:12And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.1 Corinthians 5:11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.1 John 5:21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.Exodus 32:19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.Exodus 32:4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.Exodus 32:17And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
Historical Context
The golden calf episode occurred while Moses received the Law on Sinai. Aaron fashioned the calf, and the people declared, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt" (Exodus 32:4). The combination of false worship and immoral revelry brought severe judgment. Paul draws the parallel to Corinthian temple meals where religious, social, and immoral elements mingled. Greco-Roman banquets often included sexual promiscuity.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern "temple meals" might you justify as harmless social participation while actually compromising spiritual integrity?
- How can you discern when cultural engagement crosses the line into spiritual unfaithfulness?
- In what ways do entertainment and pleasure-seeking compete with wholehearted worship in your life?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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—Paul cites Exodus 32:6, the golden calf incident, Israel's paradigmatic idolatry. The quotation emphasizes the festive, celebratory nature of their sin: sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. The verb paizein (παίζειν, "to play") implies revelry, sexual immorality, and religious dancing before the calf.
This directly addresses Corinthian participation in idol-temple banquets (8:10). They argued such meals were mere social occasions with no spiritual significance. Paul counters: Israel also treated worship as a social event, combining religious ritual with eating, drinking, and entertainment. God called it idolatry and killed 3,000 people (Exodus 32:28). Eating at an idol's table, even if you "don't believe" in the idol, participates in demonic worship (v. 20-21).
The warning neither be ye idolaters uses present imperative—stop being/don't become idolaters. Some Corinthians were already crossing this line. Paul's urgency shows that intellectual sophistication ("we know an idol is nothing," 8:4) doesn't protect against spiritual compromise when actions contradict profession.