1 Corinthians 8:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Not everyone holds this knowledge securely; some, still accustomed to idols, eat such food as though it were truly an offering, and their weak conscience is defiled.
What Does 1 Corinthians 8:7 Mean?
Paul now turns from doctrine to people. Although the truth about idols is clear, not every believer has fully internalized it. Some, newly turned from a lifetime of pagan worship, still feel the pull of the old associations and eat the meat as if it were a real sacrifice.
For such a person the act wounds the conscience, because they act against their own sense of right. Paul honors this inner moral witness rather than dismissing it. A truth not yet settled in the heart can leave a believer vulnerable, and the stronger believer must reckon with that reality. Knowledge that ignores a brother's tender conscience is no friend to love.
1 Corinthians 8:7 in the Original Language
suneidesis (συνείδησις), 'conscience' -- the inner moral awareness that judges one's own conduct.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 8:7
What does 1 Corinthians 8:7 mean?
Not everyone holds this knowledge securely; some, still accustomed to idols, eat such food as though it were truly an offering, and their weak conscience is defiled.