2 Corinthians 12:3

Complete Jewish Bible

And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don't know, God knows —

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows—

King James Version (1611)
And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth.)

King James Version
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

English Standard Version
And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

New American Standard Bible
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

New Century Version
And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things he is not able to explain, things that no human is allowed to tell.

Amplified Bible
And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

Legacy Standard Bible
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

Berean Standard Bible
And I know that this man-whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows-

Contemporary English Version
As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time.

Darby Translation
And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)

Easy-to-Read Version
And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)

George Lamsa Translation
And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; God knows;

Good News Translation
I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision—only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak.

Lexham English Bible
and I know this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

Literal Translation
And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows--

American Standard Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

Bible in Basic English
And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),

Hebrew Names Version
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),

International Standard Version
I know that this man - whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows -

Etheridge Translation
And I know this man himself,-but whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not, Aloha himself knoweth,

Murdock Translation
And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth;)

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I knewe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)

English Revised Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

World English Bible
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,

Weymouth's New Testament
And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y woot sich a man; whether in bodi, or out of bodi, Y noot, God woot;

Update Bible Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I don't know; God knows),

Webster's Bible Translation
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

New English Translation
And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)

New King James Version
And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--

New Living Translation
Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know

New Life Bible
I say it again, I know this man was taken up. But I do not know if his body or just his spirit was taken up. Only God knows.

New Revised Standard
And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, I know not, - God, knoweth,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):

Revised Standard Version
And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I knowe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body I canot tell god knoweth)

Young's Literal Translation
and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and I knowe the same man (whether he was in ye body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)

Mace New Testament (1729)
but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Listen close, I don't know if my body made the trip or just my mind. Like I said, only God knows.

Contextual Overview

¹ I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man in union with the Messiah who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the third heaven; whether he was in the body or outside the body I don't know, God knows. ³ And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don't know, God knows — ⁴ was snatched into Gan-‘Eden and heard things that cannot be put into words, things unlawful for a human being to utter. ⁵ About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. ⁶ If I did want to boast, I would not be foolish; because I would be speaking the truth. But, because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what my words or deeds may warrant. ⁷ Therefore, to keep me from becoming overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me, so that I wouldn't grow conceited. ⁸ Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; ⁹ but he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness." Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me. ¹⁰ Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:12 - the Spirit of the Lord 2 Kings 2:16 - the Spirit Ezekiel 11:24 - the spirit Daniel 10:8 - I was 2 Corinthians 5:8 - and willing 2 Corinthians 11:11 - God 2 Corinthians 12:2 - knew

Cross-References

Genesis 18:18
inasmuch as Avraham is sure to become a great and strong nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by him?

Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be lord over your kinsmen, let your mother's descendants bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!"

Genesis 28:14
Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed.

Genesis 30:27
Lavan answered him, "If you regard me favorably, then please listen: I have observed the signs that Adonai has blessed me on account of you.

Genesis 30:30
The few you had before I came have increased substantially; Adonai has blessed you wherever I went. But now, when will I provide for my own household?"

Genesis 39:5
From the time he appointed him manager of his household and all his possessions, Adonai blessed the Egyptian's household for Yosef's sake; Adonai 's blessing was on all he owned, whether in the house or in the field.

Exodus 23:22
But if you listen to what he says and do everything I tell you, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.

Numbers 24:9
"When they lie down they crouch like a lion, or like a lioness — who dares to rouse it? Blessed be all who bless you! Cursed be all who curse you!"

Psalms 72:17
May his name endure forever, his name, Yinnon, as long as the sun. May people bless themselves in him, may all nations call him happy.

Matthew 25:40
The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I knew such a man,.... The same man, namely himself, is here designed, and the same rapture spoken of, and the condition he was in expressed in the same words: which repetition is made for the more strong affirmation of what he delivered, and to signify the marvellousness of this vision, and how surprising and unaccountable it was.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I knew such a man - It is not uncommon to repeat a solemn affirmation in order that it may be made more emphatic. This is done here. Paul repeats the idea, that he was intimately acquainted with such a man, and that he did not know whether he was in the body or out of the body. All that was known to God.