1 Corinthians 10:1

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian believers as "brothers" to correct their spiritual complacency by referencing the Exodus generation. He speaks at a moment of pastoral instruction, using the Israelites' journey to frame a warning for his contemporary audience.

The words — The Greek verb ἀγνοεῖν (agnoein) literally means "to be ignorant" or "to be unaware," which Paul negates with οὐ (ou) to command active knowledge. He follows this with ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi), "brothers," to ground the warning in covenantal accountability rather than abstract theology.

The thread — The text directly recalls the Red Sea crossing described in Exodus 14:29, Nehemiah 9:11, and Psalm 78:13, where God divides the waters and the people pass through on dry ground. Paul uses this shared historical account to establish a pattern of divine deliverance preceding human testing.

Why it lands — The passage states that the Israelites were under the cloud and passed through the sea, then infers that these visible privileges did not prevent their subsequent failures. It requires readers to recognize that participation in sacred events demands ongoing obedience rather than resting on past experience.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

Cross-references

Exodus 14:29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.
Nehemiah 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.
Psalms 78:13 He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.
Psalms 105:39 He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night.
Psalms 106:7 Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp Your wonders or remember Your abundant kindness; but they rebelled by the sea, there at the Red Sea.
Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.
Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,
Psalms 77:16 The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.
Psalms 78:53 He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.
1 Corinthians 14:38 But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.