Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:8KJV
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1 Corinthians 10:8 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 10:8 mean?

1 Corinthians 10:8 warns believers not to engage in sexual immorality, using the example of some Israelites who did so and suffered a deadly consequence—twenty-three thousand dying in a single day. Paul is reminding the Corinthian church of a past event to caution them against repeating the same mistake.

Paul is writing to Christians in Corinth, a city known for its moral challenges, urging them to learn from the failures of the Israelites during their wilderness journey. He refers to a specific incident from Israel’s history (Numbers 25), emphasizing that disobedience, especially sexual sin, had severe consequences for God’s people in the past and should be avoided by believers now.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 10:8

  • "fornication" (πορνεύω, porneuō): This Greek word refers broadly to sexual immorality, not just one specific act. Paul uses it to highlight a pattern of behavior that was a real temptation in Corinth’s culture.
  • "fell" (ἔπεσον, epeson): The Greek word here means to fall, often used for dying or perishing. Paul uses it to stress the seriousness of the outcome—these were not minor consequences but a mass death as judgment.

Why 1 Corinthians 10:8 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Paul is not just giving abstract advice; he grounds his warning in a real historical event with dire results, making his caution more urgent and concrete.
  • By connecting the Corinthians’ situation to the Israelites’ story, Paul shows that God’s standards and the dangers of disobedience remain consistent across generations.
  • The verse helps readers see that spiritual privilege (like Israel’s) does not guarantee immunity from consequences if God’s commands are ignored.

Where else these words appear

“fornication” Greek G4203 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
  • Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
  • Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

“twenty” Greek G1501 · used in 11 verses

  • Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
  • Acts 27:28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
  • Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

“thousand” Greek G5505 · used in 13 verses

  • Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
  • Revelation 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
  • Revelation 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

“Neither” Greek G3366 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  • Luke 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.