1 Corinthians 10:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul warns against idolatry, citing the golden calf, when Israel feasted and reveled before an idol.
What Does 1 Corinthians 10:7 Mean?
This is the first of four specific warnings drawn from the wilderness. Paul quotes Exodus 32:6, the scene at the golden calf, where the people 'sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.' Their worship of a man-made image dissolved into careless feasting and revelry while Moses was on the mountain with God.
The warning is sharp for a city full of idol temples and their banquets. Idolatry is not only bowing to a statue; it is giving the heart's devotion and the body's pleasures to anything in God's place. Paul calls the church to a worship that engages the whole life. The God who is jealous for our love invites us to feast and rejoice in Him, not to trade His presence for a hollow substitute.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 10:7
What does 1 Corinthians 10:7 mean?
Paul warns against idolatry, citing the golden calf, when Israel feasted and reveled before an idol.