Chapter
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Verse

1 Corinthians 10:5

ESV Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
NIV Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
NASB Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were spread out in the wilderness.
CSB Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness.
NLT Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
KJV But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
NKJV But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

What does 1 Corinthians 10:5 mean?

In the previous verses, Paul has made a connection between the Israelites in the wilderness and the Christians in Corinth. He has described the experiences of Israelites being led and protected by the Lord, baptized into Moses, and being fed with spiritual food and drink from Christ.

Now Paul shows that none of this was enough to earn God's favor for them during their time on earth. Paul writes that God was not pleased with most of them. Nearly all of them were "overthrown" or died in the wilderness as a result of God's discipline (Numbers 14:29). Even Moses was disqualified from entering the promised land because of his disobedience (Numbers 20:12). That punishment doesn't imply—or symbolize—a lack of salvation. It does, however, indicate that believers are not immune from consequence when we sin in this life.

No wonder Paul expressed concern about being disqualified in the previous chapter (1 Corinthians 9:27). The following verses will show that Paul wants the Corinthians to see themselves as vulnerable to God's discipline, as well.
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