Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, September 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Read the Bible

Murdock Translation

2 Corinthians 12:3

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Heaven;   Paul;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - Paul;   The Topic Concordance - Heaven/the Heavens;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Heaven;   Paradise;   Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Hear, Hearing;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Trance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecstasy;   Heaven;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Pseudepigrapha;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Ascension of Isaiah;   Grace;   Miracles;   Principality Principalities ;   Prophecy Prophet Prophetess;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Trance;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Meekness;   Trance;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for September 9;  

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;
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,
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 Glorying must be, but it is not profitable: so I proceed to visions and revelations of our Lord. 2 2 I knew a man in the Messiah fourteen years ago, (but whether in a body, or whether out of a body, I know not; God knoweth:) who was caught up to the third [fn] of heaven. 3 And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth;) 4 and he was caught up to Paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted a man to utter. 5 Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities. 6 Yet if I were disposed to glory, I should not be without reason; for I declare the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should think of me, beyond what he seeth in me and heareth from me. 7 And, that I might not be uplifted by the excellency of the revelations, there was imparted to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted. 8 Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I have pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in afflictions, in persecutions, in distresses, which are for the Messiah's sake: for when I am weak, then am I 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

Matthew 25:40
And the king will answer, and say to them: Verily I Say to you, That inasmuch as ye did so to one of these my little brothers, ye did so to me.
Matthew 25:45
Then will he answer, and say to them: Verily I say to you, That in as much as ye did not so to one of these little ones, ye did not so to me.
Romans 4:11
For he received circumcision, as the sign and the seal of the righteousness of his faith while in uncircumcision: that he might become the father of all them of the uncircumcision who believe; and that it might be reckoned to them also for righteousness:
1 Corinthians 1:30
And ye, moreover, are of him in Jesus Messiah; who hath become to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
Galatians 3:8
For, because God knew beforehand that the Gentiles would be made just by faith, he preannounced it to Abraham; as saith the holy scripture, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham was the promise made, and to his seed. And it said to him, not, to thy seeds, as being many; but to thy seed, as being one, which is the Messiah.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free-born, neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Jesus the Messiah.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who hath blessed us with all blessings of the Spirit in heaven, by the Messiah:
Colossians 3:11
where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, neither Greek nor barbarian, neither bond nor free; but the Messiah is all, and in all.
Revelation 7:9
And after these things, I looked, and lo, a great multitude, which no one could number, from all kindreds, and nations, and tribes, and tongues; who stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands;

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.


 
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