2 Corinthians 11:3

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But I am afraid that, just as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your minds may be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Φοβοῦμαι δὲ, μή πως, ὡς ὁ ὄφις Εὕαν ἐξηπάτησεν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ, οὕτως φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν.

Transliteration

I phoboumai but, lest somehow, as the ophis Heuan exēpatēsen in the panourgia of him, thus might be phtharē the noēmata of you from the haplotētos that is toward the Christon.

Grammar Details

• *phoboumai*: present middle/passive indicative, 1st singular - fear/am afraid
• *ophis*: nominative, masculine, singular - serpent/snake
• *Heuan*: accusative, feminine, singular - Eve
• *exēpatēsen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - deceived/beguiled completely
• *panourgia*: dative, feminine, singular - craftiness/cunning
• *phtharē*: aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd singular - might be corrupted/ruined
• *noēmata*: nominative/accusative, neuter, plural - minds/thoughts
• *haplotētos*: genitive, feminine, singular - simplicity/sincerity
• *Christon*: accusative, masculine, singular - Christ

Word Meanings

• *phoboumai*: fear/am afraid/am concerned
• *ophis*: serpent/snake
• *exēpatēsen*: deceived completely/beguiled/seduced
• *panourgia*: craftiness/cunning/trickery
• *phtharē*: might be corrupted/ruined/led astray
• *noēmata*: minds/thoughts/mental perceptions
• *haplotētos*: simplicity/sincerity/singleness/purity

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve through his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, {G3779} your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But I feare lest as the serpent begyled Eve thorow his sutteltie even so youre wittes shuld be corrupte from the singlenes that is in Christ.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But I feare, lest as ye serpet begyled Eue wt his sutteltie, eue so yor wyttes shulde be corrupte from the synglenesse that is in Christ.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But I feare least as the serpent beguiled Eue through his subtiltie, so your mindes shoulde be corrupt fro the simplicitie that is in Christ.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But I feare lest by any meanes, that as the serpent begyled Eue through his subtiltie, euen so your myndes shoulde be corrupted fro the singlenesse that is towarde Christe.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that `is' in the Christ;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Tim 2:14 : 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, fell into transgression.
• Rev 12:9 : 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
• Gal 1:6 : 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from the One who called you by the grace of Christ to a different gospel—
• Col 2:4 : 4 I say this so that no one may deceive you with persuasive arguments.
• Col 2:8 : 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, based on human tradition and the elemental principles of the world rather than on Christ.
• John 8:44 : 44 You are from your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
• Gen 3:4 : 4 But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will surely not die.'
• Gen 3:13 : 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'
• Gal 3:1 : 1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
• 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 For this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity, not relying on worldly wisdom but on God's grace.
• Heb 13:9 : 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by God’s grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which have not benefited those who have followed them.
• 2 Pet 2:1-9 : 1 But just as there were false prophets among the people, there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their destructive ways, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 In their greed, they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment, 5 and if He did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others when He brought the flood on the ungodly world, 6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, 7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless, 8 (For that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.) 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 especially those who follow the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. They are bold and arrogant, and they are unafraid to slander celestial beings. 11 Yet even angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous judgment against such beings before the Lord. 12 These people, however, are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They speak abusively about things they do not understand, and in their destruction, they too will be destroyed. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. They consider it a pleasure to indulge in carousing during the day. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, never ceasing from sin. They entice unstable souls and have hearts trained in greed. They are accursed children.
• 2 Pet 3:3 : 3 First of all, you should understand that in the last days, mockers will come, following their own evil desires,
• 2 Pet 3:17 : 17 Therefore, beloved, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness.
• 1 John 2:18 : 18 Dear children, it is the last hour. Just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
• 1 John 4:1 : 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• Jude 1:4 : 4 For certain people have secretly slipped in among you—those who were written about long ago as being destined for this condemnation. They are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into a license for immorality and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Gal 2:4 : 4 This arose because of false brothers who were secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so they might bring us into bondage.
• Rev 20:2 : 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
• Col 2:18 : 18 Let no one disqualify you by delighting in false humility and the worship of angels, dwelling on things he has not seen, being puffed up without reason by his fleshly mind.
• 1 Thess 3:5 : 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor might have been in vain.
• 2 Thess 2:3-9 : 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. That day will not come unless the rebellion takes place first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what restrains him, so that he will be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one now restraining it will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His mouth and abolish by the splendor of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the workings of Satan, with all kinds of power, false signs, and wonders, 10 and with every kind of deceit targeting those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion, so that they will believe the lie,
• 1 Tim 1:3 : 3 Just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus when I went to Macedonia, so that you might command certain people not to teach false doctrines,
• 1 Tim 4:1-4 : 1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons. 2 They will speak lies with hypocrisy, and their consciences will be seared as with a hot iron. 3 They will forbid marriage and require abstinence from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
• 2 Tim 3:1-9 : 1 But know this: In the last days, difficult times will come. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and unholy. 3 They will be unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, and hostile to what is good. 4 They will be traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 5 They will have a form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people. 6 They are the kind who creep into homes and capture weak-willed women who are burdened with sins and led astray by various desires. 7 Always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth. They are corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far because their folly will be clear to everyone, just as the folly of Jannes and Jambres became evident.
• 2 Tim 3:13 : 13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• 2 Tim 4:3-4 : 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they will gather teachers for themselves to satisfy their itching ears. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
• Titus 1:10 : 10 For there are many who are rebellious, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
• 2 Cor 2:17 : 17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God for profit. Instead, with sincerity, as sent from God and in His presence, we speak in Christ.
• 2 Cor 4:2 : 2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not act deceitfully or distort the word of God, but by revealing the truth, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
• 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.
• 2 Cor 11:29 : 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
• 2 Cor 12:20-21 : 20 For I fear that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be strife, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will grieve over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they have practiced.
• Gal 4:11 : 11 I fear for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been in vain.
• Eph 4:14 : 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
• Eph 6:24 : 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Amen.
• Phil 3:18-19 : 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ, as I have often told you, and now I tell you again with tears. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
• Ps 119:53 : 53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked who have abandoned Your law.
• Matt 24:24 : 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
• Acts 20:30-31 : 30 Even from among your own group, men will rise up, speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore, be watchful, remembering that for three years I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears, night and day.
• Rom 12:8 : 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then do so generously; if it is leading, do it diligently; if it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.
• Rom 16:18-19 : 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 Your obedience has been reported to all. Therefore, I rejoice about you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.