2 Corinthians 12:3

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.

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.

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 —

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;

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, even though it doesn't do any good. But I will now talk about visions and revelations given me by the Lord. ² I know a certain Christian man who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the highest heaven (I do not know whether this actually happened or whether he had a vision—only God knows). ³I 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. ⁵ So I will boast about this man—but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am. ⁶ If I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not boast, because I do not want any of you to have a higher opinion of me than you have as a result of what you have seen me do and heard me say. ⁷ But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. ⁸ Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. ¹⁰ I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then 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
His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations.

Genesis 27:29
May nations be your servants, and may peoples bow down before you. May you rule over all your relatives, and may your mother's descendants bow down before you. May those who curse you be cursed, and may those who bless you be blessed."

Genesis 28:14
They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations.

Genesis 30:27
Laban said to him, "Let me say this: I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.

Genesis 30:30
The little you had before I came has grown enormously, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I went. Now it is time for me to look out for my own interests."

Genesis 39:5
From then on, because of Joseph the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian and everything that he had in his house and in his fields.

Exodus 23:22
But if you obey him and do everything I command, I will fight against all your enemies.

Numbers 24:9
The nation is like a mighty lion; When it is sleeping, no one dares wake it. Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, And whoever curses Israel will be cursed."

Psalms 72:17
May the king's name never be forgotten; may his fame last as long as the sun. May all nations ask God to bless them as he has blessed the king.

Matthew 25:40
The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it 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.