1 Corinthians 2:8

Amplified Bible

None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
None of the rulers of this world understood this wisdom. If they had understood it, they would not have killed our great and glorious Lord on a cross.

Revised Standard Version
None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which wysdome none of ye rulars of the worlde knewe. For had they knowe it they wolde not have crucified the Lorde of glory.

Hebrew Names Version
which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.

International Standard Version
None of the rulers of this world understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.Matthew 11:25; Luke 23:34; John 7:48; 16:3; Acts 3:17; 13:27; 2 Corinthians 3:14;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

New Century Version
None of the rulers of this world understood it. If they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Update Bible Version
which none of the rulers of this age has known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:

Webster's Bible Translation
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

English Standard Version
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

World English Bible
which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Which none of the rulers of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Weymouth's New Testament
a wisdom which not one of the leaders of the present age possesses, for if they had possessed it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
which noon of the princes of this world knew; for if thei hadden knowe, thei schulden neuere haue crucified the Lord of glorie.

English Revised Version
which none of the rulers of this world knoweth: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:

Berean Standard Bible
None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Contemporary English Version
The rulers of this world didn't know anything about this wisdom. If they had known about it, they would not have nailed the glorious Lord to a cross.

American Standard Version
which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:

Bible in Basic English
Of which not one of the rulers of this world had knowledge: for if they had, they would not have put the Lord of glory on the cross:

Complete Jewish Bible
Not one of this world's leaders has understood it; because if they had, they would not have executed the Lord from whom this glory flows.

Darby Translation
which none of the princes of this age knew, (for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;)

Etheridge Translation
which not one of the authorities of this world hath known; for if they had known it, the Lord of glory they would not have crucified.

Murdock Translation
which no one of the potentates of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

King James Version (1611)
Which none of the princes of this world knewe: for had they knowen it, they would not haue crucified the Lord of glory.

New Living Translation
But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.

New Life Bible
None of the world leaders understood this wisdom. If they had, they would not have put Christ up on a cross to die. He is the Lord of shining-greatness.

New Revised Standard
None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Which none of the princes of this world hath knowen: for had they knowen it, they would not haue crucified the Lord of glory.

George Lamsa Translation
Which none of the rulers of the world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which, none of the rulers of this age had come to know, for, had they known, not, in that case, the Lord of the glory, would they have crucified!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Which none of the princes of this world knew. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which none of ye princes of this world knewe: For had they knowen it, they woulde not haue crucified the Lorde of glorie.

Good News Translation
None of the rulers of this world knew this wisdom. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Christian Standard Bible®
None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

King James Version
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Lexham English Bible
which none of the rulers of this age knew. For if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Literal Translation
which none of the rulers of this age has known. For if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

Young's Literal Translation
which no one of the rulers of this age did know, for if they had known, the Lord of the glory they would not have crucified;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which none of ye rulers of this worlde knewe. For yf they had knowne it, they had not crucified the LORDE of glorye,

Mace New Testament (1729)
which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

New English Translation
None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

New King James Version
which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But the folks who run this world had no idea. If they'd even suspected, they would have never crucified Jesus and unleashed God's power on the world.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

Legacy Standard Bible
which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Contextual Overview

⁶Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away; ⁷but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. ⁸None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;⁹but just as it is written [in Scripture], "THINGS WHICH THE EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND THE EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed]." ¹⁰For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding]. ¹¹For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man's spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. ¹³We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit]. ¹⁴But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]. ¹⁵But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer's spiritual nature].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

none: 1 Corinthians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, Matthew 11:25, John 7:48

for: Luke 23:34, John 3:19-21, John 8:19, John 9:39-41, John 12:40-43, John 15:22-25, John 16:3, Acts 3:17, Acts 13:27, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 1 Timothy 1:13

the Lord: Psalms 24:7-10, Acts 3:16, Acts 3:17, Acts 7:2, James 2:1

Reciprocal: Job 32:9 - Great John 1:10 - knew John 4:1 - the Lord John 15:21 - because John 16:14 - for Ephesians 1:17 - the Father

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there.

Genesis 2:9
And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.

Genesis 3:24
So God drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He [permanently] stationed the cherubim and the sword with the flashing blade which turned round and round [in every direction] to protect and guard the way (entrance, access) to the tree of life.

Genesis 4:16
So Cain went away from the [manifested] presence of the LORD, and lived in the land of Nod [wandering in exile], east of Eden.

Genesis 13:10
So Lot looked and saw that the valley of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; [it was all] like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar [at the south end of the Dead Sea].

2 Kings 19:12
'Did the gods of the nations whom my forefathers destroyed rescue them—Gozan and Haran [of Mesopotamia] and Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?

Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will comfort Zion [in her captivity]; He will comfort all her ruins. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and the voice of a melody.

Ezekiel 27:23
"Haran and Canneh and Eden [in Mesopotamia], the merchants of Sheba [on the Euphrates], Asshur and Chilmad traded with you.

Ezekiel 28:13
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and your sockets, Was in you. They were prepared On the day that you were created.

Ezekiel 31:16
"I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth beneath [at Assyria's downfall].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which none of the princes of this world knew,.... Meaning not the devils, as some have thought, who had they known what God designed to do by the death of Christ, would never have been concerned in bringing it about; nor so much the political governors of the Roman empire, particularly in Judea, as Herod and Pontius Pilate, who also were entirely ignorant of it; but rather the ecclesiastical rulers of the Jewish church state, called עולם הזה, "this world", in distinction from עולם הבא, "the world to come", or times of the Messiah; see Hebrews 2:5 such as the priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, the Rabbins and learned doctors. These knew nothing of the wisdom of the Gospel, or the wise counsels of God concerning salvation by Christ; they knew not the Messiah when he came, nor the prophecies concerning him; the Jews and their rulers did what they did through ignorance, and fulfilled those things they knew nothing of; see Acts 3:17.

for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. They would have received him, believed in him, and not put him to death: a very great character is here given of Christ, "the Lord of glory", or the glorious Jehovah; reference seems to be had to Psalms 24:7 where he is called, "the King of glory", and is an argument of his true and proper deity: he is so called because possessed of all glorious perfections, and is the brightness of his Father's glory; the same honour and glory are due to him as to the Father; and the same ascriptions of glory are made to him by angels and men. This is an instance of what the ancients call a communication of idioms or properties, whereby that which belongs to one nature in Christ, is predicated of his person, as denominated from the other: thus here the crucifixion of him, which properly belongs to his human nature, and that to his body only, is spoken of his person, and that as denominated from his divine nature, "the Lord of glory"; and he being so, this rendered his crucifixion, sufferings, and death, in human nature, efficacious to answer all the purposes for which they were endured.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which none of the princes - None of those rulers who were engaged in the crucifixion of the Messiah, referring both to the Jewish rulers, and the Roman governor.

Knew - They did not perceive or appreciate the excellency of his character, the wisdom of his plan, the glory of his scheme of salvation. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In Acts 3:17, Peter says that it was through ignorance that the Jews had put him to death; see the note on this place.

For had they known it - Had they fully understood his character, and seen the wisdom of his plan, and his work, they would not have put him to death; see the note on Acts 3:17. Had they seen the hidden wisdom in that plan - had they understood the glory of his real character, the truth respecting his incarnation, and the fact that he was the long expected Messiah of their nation, they would not have put him to death. It is incredible that they would have crucified their Messiah, knowing and believing him to be such. They might have known it but they were unwilling to examine the evidence. They expected a different Messiah, and were unwilling to admit the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. For This ignorance, however, there was no excuse. If they did not have a full knowledge, it was their own fault. Jesus had performed miracles which were a complete attestation to his divine mission John 5:36; John 10:25; but they closed their eyes on those works, and were unwilling to be convinced - God always gives to people sufficient demonstration of the truth, but they close their eyes, and are unwilling to believe. This is the sole reason why they are not converted to God and saved.

They would not have crucified - It is perfectly manifest that the Jews would not have crucified their own Messiah, “knowing him to be such.” He was the hope and expectation of their nation. All their desires were centered in him. And to him they looked for deliverance from all their foes.

The Lord of glory - This expression is a Hebraism, and means “the glorious Lord;” or the “Messiah.” Expressions like this, where a noun performs the office of an adjective, are common in the Hebrew language - Grotius supposes that the expression is taken from that of “the King of glory,” in Psalms 24:7-9 -

Lift up your heads, O ye gates,

Be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors,

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

Jehovah, strong and mighty.

Jehovah, mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

Lift them up, ye everlasting doors;

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

Jehovah of hosts, he is the King of glory.

God is called “the God of glory” in Acts 7:2 - The fact that this appellation is given to Yahweh in the Old Testament, and to the Lord Jesus in the verse before us, is one of those incidental circumstances which show how the Lord Jesus was estimated by the apostles and how familiarly they applied to him names and titles which belong only to God. The foundation of this appellation is laid in his exalted perfections; and in the honor and majesty which he had with the Father before the world was; John 17:1-5.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 2:8. Which none of the princes of this world knew — Here it is evident that this world refers to the Jewish state, and to the degree of knowledge in that state: and the rulers, the priests, rabbins, c., who were principally concerned in the crucifixion of our Lord.

The Lord of glory. — Or the glorious Lord, infinitely transcending all the rulers of the universe whose is eternal glory; who gave that glorious Gospel in which his followers may glory, as it affords them such cause of triumph as the heathens had not, who gloried in their philosophers. Here is a teacher who is come from God; who has taught the most glorious truths which it is possible for the soul of man to conceive; and has promised to lead all the followers of his crucified Master to that state of glory which is ineffable and eternal.