2 Corinthians 11:3

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 was in the transgression.
• Rev 12:9 : 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
• Gal 1:6 : 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel,
• Col 2:4 : 4 And this I say, lest anyone should beguile you with enticing words.
• Col 2:8 : 8 Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the basic principles of the world, and not after Christ.
• John 8:44 : 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
• Gen 3:4 : 4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die:
• Gen 3:13 : 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
• Gal 3:1 : 1 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been clearly set forth, crucified among you?
• 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
• Heb 13:9 : 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
• 2 Pet 2:1-9 : 1 But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their pernicious ways; by whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And through covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; their judgment is long overdue, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 And did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 And delivered righteous Lot, who was distressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked: 8 For that righteous man, dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. 9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment; 10 And especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed, and not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a slanderous accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their own deceptions while they banquet with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children.
• 2 Pet 3:3 : 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
• 2 Pet 3:17 : 17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
• 1 John 2:18 : 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
• 1 John 4:1 : 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• Jude 1:4 : 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lewdness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Gal 2:4 : 4 And that because of false brethren stealthily brought in, who came in secretly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
• Rev 20:2 : 2 And 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 beguile you of your reward in a false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up 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 by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
• 2 Thess 2:3-9 : 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come unless there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what restrains him, that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity already works: only he who now restrains will do so, until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
• 1 Tim 1:3 : 3 As I urged you to remain in Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that you might instruct some that they teach no other doctrine,
• 1 Tim 4:1-4 : 1 Now the Spirit speaks clearly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving;
• 2 Tim 3:1-9 : 1 Know this also, that in the last days perilous times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, 4 Traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power. From such turn away. 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and lead captive gullible women loaded with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disqualified concerning the faith. 9 But they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifested to all, as theirs also was.
• 2 Tim 3:13 : 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• 2 Tim 4:3-4 : 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.
• Titus 1:10 : 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
• 2 Cor 2:17 : 17 For we are not like many who corrupt the word of God; but as of sincerity, as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
• 2 Cor 4:2 : 2 But have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
• 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder; for Satan himself transforms into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
• 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, lest, when I come, I shall not find you as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you wish not; lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults; 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn for many who have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
• Gal 4:11 : 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
• Eph 4:14 : 14 That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive;
• Eph 6:24 : 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
• Phil 3:18-19 : 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is their stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things.
• Ps 119:53 : 53 Horror has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
• Matt 24:24 : 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
• Acts 20:30-31 : 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
• Rom 12:8 : 8 Or he who exhorts, on exhortation: he who gives, let him do it with simplicity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
• Rom 16:18-19 : 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites; and by smooth talk and flattering words deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19 For your obedience is known to all, and I am glad on your behalf. But I would have you wise in what is good, and innocent concerning evil.