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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:20 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
1Co 3:20	King James	And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Quotation from Psa 94:11. There it is of men; here it is "of the wise." Paul by inspiration states the class of men whose "thoughts" (or rather, "reasonings," as suits the Greek and the sense of the context) the Spirit designated in the Psalm, "vanity," namely, the "proud" (Psa 94:2) and worldly-wise, whom God in Psa 94:8 calls "fools," though they "boast themselves" of their wisdom in pushing their interests (Psa 94:4).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Quotation from Psa 94:11. There it is of men; here it is "of the wise." Paul by inspiration states the class of men whose "thoughts" (or rather, "reasonings," as suits the Greek and the sense of the context) the Spirit designated in the Psalm, "vanity," namely, the "proud" (Psa 94:2) and worldly-wise, whom God in Psa 94:8 calls "fools," though they "boast themselves" of their wisdom in pushing their interests (Psa 94:4).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And again, - Psa 94:11. The Lord knoweth - God searches the heart. The particular thing which it is here said that he knows, is, that the thoughts of man are vain. They have this quality; and this is that which the psalmist here says that God sees. The affirmation is not one respecting the omniscience of God, but with respect to what God sees of the nature of the thoughts of the wise. The thoughts of the wise - Their plans, purposes, designs. That they are vain - That they lack real wisdom; they are foolish; they shall not be accomplished as they expect; or be seen to have that wisdom which they now suppose they possess.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And again, - Psa 94:11.

The Lord knoweth - God searches the heart. The particular thing which it is here said that he knows, is, that the thoughts of man are vain. They have this quality; and this is that which the psalmist here says that God sees. The affirmation is not one respecting the omniscience of God, but with respect to what God sees of the nature of the thoughts of the wise.

The thoughts of the wise - Their plans, purposes, designs.

That they are vain - That they lack real wisdom; they are foolish; they shall not be accomplished as they expect; or be seen to have that wisdom which they now suppose they possess.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
The Lord Jehovah. (Psa 94:11).

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]

The Lord

Jehovah. (Psa 94:11).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
That they are but vain - Empty, foolish; they and all their thoughts. Psa 94:11.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

That they are but vain - Empty, foolish; they and all their thoughts. Psa 94:11.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise - They are always full of schemes and plans for earthly good; and God knows that all this is vain, empty, and unsatisfactory; and will stand them in no stead when he comes to take away their souls. This is a quotation from Psa 94:11. What is here said of the vanity of human knowledge is true of every kind of wisdom that leads not immediately to God himself.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise - They are always full of schemes and plans for earthly good; and God knows that all this is vain, empty, and unsatisfactory; and will stand them in no stead when he comes to take away their souls. This is a quotation from Psa 94:11. What is here said of the vanity of human knowledge is true of every kind of wisdom that leads not immediately to God himself.

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