1 Corinthians 1:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Where{G4226} is the wise?{G4680} where{G4226} is the scribe?{G1122} where{G4226} is the disputer{G4804} of this{G5127} world?{G165} hath not{G3780} God{G2316} made foolish{G3471} the wisdom{G4678} of the{G5127} world?{G2889}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Where{G4226} is the wise{G4680}? where{G4226} is the scribe{G1122}? where{G4226} is the disputer{G4804} of this{G5127} world{G165}? hath{G3471} not{G3780} God{G2316} made foolish{G3471}{(G5656)} the wisdom{G4678} of this{G5127} world{G2889}?

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    Where is the wyse? Where is the scrybe? Where is the searcher of this worlde?

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Where are the wyse? Where are ye scrybes? where are ye disputers of this worlde?

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this worlde? hath not God made the wisedome of this worlde foolishnesse?

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Where is the wise? where is ye scribe? where is the disputer of this worlde? Hath not God made the wisedome of this worlde foolyshenesse?

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    where `is' the wise? where the scribe? where a disputer of this age? did not God make foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Where is the wise? where is he who has knowledge of the law? where is the man of this world who has a love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • World English Bible (2000)

    Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

Referenced Verses

  • Rom 1:22 : 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
  • Job 12:17 : 17 "He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges."
  • Isa 33:18 : 18 Your heart will ponder the terror: 'Where is the scribe? Where is the one who weighed the tribute? Where is the one who counted the towers?'
  • Isa 44:25 : 25 I frustrate the signs of false prophets and make fools of diviners; I turn wise men backward and make their knowledge foolish.
  • Isa 53:1 : 1 Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
  • 1 Cor 1:19 : 19 For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent I will frustrate.'
  • 1 Cor 2:6 : 6 Now, we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are passing away.
  • 1 Cor 3:19 : 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'
  • Job 12:20 : 20 He silences the speech of the trustworthy and takes away the discernment of the elders.
  • Job 12:24 : 24 He removes the understanding of the leaders of the earth's people and makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
  • 2 Sam 15:31 : 31 Then someone told David, 'Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' So David prayed, 'O LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.'
  • 2 Sam 16:23 : 23 Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone inquiring of God. Such was all of Ahithophel’s advice to both David and Absalom.
  • 2 Sam 17:14 : 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 'The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.' For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring disaster upon Absalom.
  • 2 Sam 17:23 : 23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, set out for his house in his hometown, set his house in order, and then hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father's tomb.
  • Isa 19:11-12 : 11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; Pharaoh's wisest counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, 'I am a descendant of the wise, a son of ancient kings'? 12 Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and make known what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 88%

    17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

    18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    19 For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent I will frustrate.'

  • 86%

    18 Let no one deceive themselves. If anyone among you thinks they are wise in this age, let them become foolish so that they may become wise.

    19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'

    20 And again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'

  • 86%

    21 For since in God’s wisdom the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

    22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

    23 But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles,

    24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

    25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

    26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

    27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

    28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

  • Rom 1:20-22
    3 verses
    78%

    20 For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

    21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

    22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

  • 1 Cor 2:5-8
    4 verses
    77%

    5 So that your faith would not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.

    6 Now, we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are passing away.

    7 Instead, we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom that God predestined before the ages for our glory.

    8 This wisdom none of the rulers of this age understood, for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

  • 20 But where does wisdom come from, and where is the place of understanding?

  • 9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

  • 12 But where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?

  • 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored!

  • 16 Why should a fool pay for wisdom when he has no intention of understanding it?

  • 14 But the natural person does not accept the things of God's Spirit, because they are foolishness to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

  • 24 Wisdom is before the face of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

  • 3 How have you advised without wisdom and provided abundant insight?

  • 22 How long, simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

  • 8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

  • 8 Understand this, you brutish people! Fools, when will you understand?

  • 1 For the director, according to Mahalath. A contemplative psalm of David.

  • 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the streets; in the public squares, she raises her voice.

  • 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand their path, but the folly of fools is deceit.

  • 1 To the director. Of David. The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt and commit abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.

  • 16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!

  • 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but it becomes known even among fools.

  • 22 For my people are foolish; they do not know me. They are senseless children and have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they do not know how to do good.

  • 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy for a discerning person.

  • 19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.

  • 3 A man’s foolishness twists his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • 34 Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?

  • 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

  • 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

  • 25 I turned my mind to understand, to investigate, and to search out wisdom and the meaning of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.

  • 3 Even while walking along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how foolish he is.

  • 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in revealing his own thoughts.

  • 16 I repeat, let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me as you would a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

  • 16 So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.