2 Corinthians 12:3

Mace New Testament

but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only 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.

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,

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)

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 Have not I reason to glory? for now I shall mention my visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I knew a christian who above fourteen years ago, was snatch'd up even to the third heaven, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows. ³ but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows, ⁴ this I know, that he was snatch'd up into paradise, and heard such secrets as it is not lawful for a man to reveal. ⁵ I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings. ⁶ tho' if I had a mind to glory, I might do it without vanity, for I should say nothing but what is true: but now I forbear, lest any man should ascribe more to me than my actions, or my preaching can justify. ⁷ and lest I should be exalted above measure by the extraordinary revelations I have had, I was afflicted in my person, so that the messenger of satan insulted me; concerning which, ⁸ I besought the Lord thrice, to make him leave me. ⁹ but he said to me, "my favour is sufficient for thee: for my strength is shown to be perfect by thy weakness." with pleasure therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may be seen to dwell in me. ¹⁰ I take pleasure then in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am afflicted, then it is I have fortitude.

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 reply, I declare unto you, your having done this for one of the least of these my brethren, is the same thing as doing it for me.

Matthew 25:45
to this he will reply, I declare unto you, your not doing this for one of the least of these, is the same thing as not doing it for me.

Romans 4:11
and he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the justification by that faith, which the uncircumcised have: that he might be the father of all those who believe, tho' they are uncircumcised, that it might be accounted to them also for righteousness:

1 Corinthians 1:30
for from him it is that ye believe in Christ Jesus, whom God has made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that,

Galatians 3:8
and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed."

Galatians 3:16
now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.

Galatians 3:28
there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all the spiritual blessings in Christ's kingdom.

Colossians 3:11
by which there is now neither Greek, or Jew; circumcised, or uncircumcised; Barbarian, or Scythian; slave, or freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

Revelation 7:9
After this I beheld, and there was a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people, and language, who stood before the throne, and before the lamb cloathed in white robes, having 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.