11 translations · Greek

1 Corinthians 2:14

Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

World English Bible

1 Corinthians 2:14 in 11 translations

WEB World English Bible
Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
KJV King James Version
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
ASV American Standard Version
Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
LSV Literal Standard Version
and the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know [them], because they are discerned spiritually;
FBV Free Bible Version
Of course people who are not spiritual don't accept what comes from God's Spirit. It's just foolish nonsense to them, and they can't understand it, because what is spiritual has to be properly examined.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
and the natural man doth not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for to him they are foolishness, and he is not able to know [them], because spiritually they are discerned;
DBY Darby Translation
But [the] natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him; and he cannot know [them] because they are spiritually discerned;
WBT Webster’s Bible
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned.
WEBC World English Bible (Catholic)
Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
DRA Douay-Rheims 1899
But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God; for it is foolishness to him, and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.

The Greek words

Each word of the Greek text in order, with its transliteration, the Berean Standard Bible’s English for it, and its Strong’s number and short definition.

Word Transliteration English (BSB) Strong’s
Ψυχικὸς Psychikos [The] natural G5591 ψυχικός natural
δὲ de — G1161 δέ then
ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos man G444 ἄνθρωπος a human
οὐ ou {does} not G3756 οὐ no
δέχεται dechetai accept G1209 δέχομαι to receive
τὰ ta the things that G3588 ὁ the/this/who
τοῦ tou come from the G3588 ὁ the/this/who
Πνεύματος Pneumatos Spirit G4151 πνεῦμα spirit/breath: spirit
τοῦ tou — G3588 ὁ the/this/who
Θεοῦ Theou of God G2316 θεός God
μωρία mōria foolishness G3472 μωρία foolishness
γὰρ gar For G1063 γάρ for
αὐτῷ autō to him G846 αὐτός it/s/he
ἐστίν estin they are G1510 εἰμί to be
καὶ kai and G2532 καί and
οὐ ou — G3756 οὐ no
δύναται dynatai he cannot G1410 δύναμαι be able
γνῶναι gnōnai understand [them] G1097 γινώσκω to know
ὅτι hoti because G3754 ὅτι that/since: that
πνευματικῶς pneumatikōs {they are} spiritually G4153 πνευματικῶς spiritually
ἀνακρίνεται anakrinetai discerned G350 ἀνακρίνω to investigate
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18

    For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.

  • Romans 8:5–8

    For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. …

  • Matthew 13:11–17

    He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. …

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4–6

    in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake; seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • 1 John 2:27

    As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:46

    However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.

  • Jude 1:19

    These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

  • James 3:15

    This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

  • John 6:44–45

    No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me.

  • John 10:26–27

    But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Cross references from OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0, most-voted first; text from the World English Bible.

In context

12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.

14 Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.

16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2 in the World English Bible.

Edition and source notes

Each translation is shown as its source prints it, in its own verse numbering; where an edition numbers this verse differently, its own reference is given. The World English Bible, King James Version and Berean Standard Bible link to their chapter pages. Edition notes.

Literal Standard Version (2020) © Covenant Press and the Covenant Christian Coalition, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Imported from the checksum-pinned eBible.org USFX source; the extracted verse text is an adaptation shared under the same license. Free Bible Version (2018) © Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Imported from the checksum-pinned eBible.org USFX source; the extracted verse text is an adaptation shared under the same license.

The original words and their English come from the Berean Standard Bible translation tables (public domain); lemmas and short definitions from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0), with Greek definitions based on Abbott-Smith.

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