1 Corinthians 10:7

Contextual Overview

⁶ Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. ⁶ Nowe these things are our ensamples, to the intent that we should not lust after euil things as they also lusted. ⁶Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. ⁶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁶ But these things happened [as] types of us, that we should not be lusters after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁶ And these things that happened are examples for us. These examples should stop us from wanting evil things like those people did. ⁶Now these things [the warnings and admonitions] took place as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did. ⁶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁶These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. ⁶ What happened to them is a warning to keep us from wanting to do the same evil things.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

be: 1 Corinthians 14:20-22, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 8:7, Deuteronomy 9:12, Deuteronomy 9:16-21, Psalms 106:19, Psalms 106:20, 1 John 5:21

The people: Exodus 32:6-8, Exodus 32:17, Exodus 32:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - strange Hosea 3:1 - love flagons Amos 2:8 - by 1 Corinthians 10:14 - flee

Cross-References

Genesis 2:11
The name of one is Pishon: the same compasseth the whole land of Hauilah, where is golde.

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which encircles the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first river was Pishon. This river flowed around the entire country of Havilah.

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon, which goes round about all the land of Havilah where there is gold.

Genesis 2:11
The first one is the Pishon River that flows through the land of Havilah,

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon; it winds throughout the land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Genesis 2:11
The name of the one is Pison: that is it which surrounds the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Neither be ye idolaters,.... To which they seemed inclined to be, at least there was great danger that such they would be, by carrying their liberty to such a pitch, as to sit in an idol's temple, and there eat things sacrificed unto them; and which the apostle cautions against, and uses arguments to dissuade them from in the following part of this chapter:

as were some of them, as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play: referring to Exodus 32:6 when the Israelites, whilst Moses was in the mount, made a molten calf, and worshipped it, built an altar before it, and instituted a feast and a play; and which was performed by dancing about the calf, and singing to the honour of it, Exodus 32:18 for their sitting down to eat and drink is not to be understood of an ordinary meal, but of a feast kept in honour of the golden calf, and which they covered by calling it a feast to the Lord; and their playing also was on the same account, in imitation of the Heathens, who made feasts, and appointed plays to the honour of their deities: some indeed interpret t this last action of uncleanness, which they committed after their feast was over, and which also was sometimes done in the Heathen temples, the word being sometimes used in this sense; see

Genesis 39:14 but others understand it of the act of idolatry; so two of the Chaldee paraphrases interpret the words in Exodus u; "they rose up to play", בפולחנא נוכראה, in strange service, i.e. idolatry; and though the apostle does not mention their punishment, yet it was a very great one, three thousand persons fell the sword on that account, Exodus 32:28.

t Vid. Jarchi in Exod. xxxii. 6. u Targum Jon. ben Uzziel & Jerusalem in ib. Vid. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 53. fol. 47. 4. & Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 89. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Neither be ye idolaters - This caution is evidently given in view of the danger to which they would be exposed if they partook of the feasts that were celebrated in honor of idols in their temples. The particular idolatry which is referred to here is, the worship of the golden calf that was made by Aaron Exodus 32:1-5.

As it is written - Exodus 32:6.

The people sat down to eat and to drink - To worship the golden calf. They partook of a feast in honor of that idol. I have already observed that it was common to keep a feast in honor of an idol, and that the food which was eaten on such an occasion was mainly the meat which had been offered in sacrifice to it. This instance was particularly to the apostle’s purpose, as he was cautioning the Corinthians against the danger of participating in the feasts celebrated in the pagan temples.

And rose up to play - (παίζειν paizein). The Hebrew word used in Exodus 32:6 (צחק tsaachaq) means “to laugh, to sport, to jest, to mock, to insult” Genesis 21:9; and then to engage in dances accompanied with music, in honor of an idol. This was often practiced, as the worship of idols was celebrated with songs and dances. This is particularly affirmed of this instance of idol worship Exodus 32:19; and this was common among ancient idolaters; and this mode of worship was even adopted by David before the ark of the Lord; 2Sa 6:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:29. All that the word “to play” here necessarily implies is, that of choral songs and dances, accompanied with revelry in honor of the idol. It was, however, the fact that such worship was usually accompanied with much licentiousness; but that is not necessarily implied in the use of the word. Most of the oriental dances were grossly indecent and licentious, and the word here may be designed to include such indelicacy and licentiousness.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 10:7. Neither be ye idolaters — The apostle considers partaking of the idolatrous feasts as being real acts of idolatry; because those who offered the flesh to their gods considered them as feeding invisibly with them on the flesh thus offered, and that every one that partook of the feast was a real participator with the god to whom the flesh or animal had been offered in sacrifice. See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

Rose up to play. — Exodus 32:6. The Jews generally explain this word as implying idolatrous acts only: I have considered it as implying acts of impurity, with which idolatrous acts were often accompanied. It also means those dances which were practised in honour of their gods. That this is one meaning of the verb παιζειν, Kypke has largely proved. The whole idolatrous process was as follows:

1. The proper victim was prepared and set apart.

2. It was slain, and its blood poured out at the altar of the deity.

3. The flesh was dressed, and the priests and offerers feasted on it, and thus endeavoured to establish a communion between themselves and the object of their worship.

4. After eating, they had idolatrous dances in honour of their god; and,

5. as might be expected, impure mixtures, in consequence of those dances. The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play; and it is in reference to this issue of idolatrous feasts and dancings that the apostle immediately subjoins: Neither let us commit FORNICATION, &c.