Parallel Verses

Holman Bible

But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.

New American Standard Bible

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

King James Version

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

International Standard Version

A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated.

A Conservative Version

Now the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is unable to understand because they are evaluated spiritually.

American Standard Version

Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.

Amplified

But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].

An Understandable Version

Now the natural person [Note: Since this person is contrasted with the spiritual person of verse 15, it is taken here to mean the person without the Holy Spirit] does not receive the things [i.e., truths] revealed by the Holy Spirit of God, because they are [considered] foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them because they must be discerned by using spiritual judgment [i.e., judgment aided by the Holy Spirit].

Anderson New Testament

But an animal man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he can not know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Bible in Basic English

For the natural man is not able to take in the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them, because such knowledge comes only through the Spirit.

Common New Testament

But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Daniel Mace New Testament

but the animal man does not receive the effusions of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can he understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Darby Translation

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him; and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned;

Godbey New Testament

But the intellectual man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; and he is not able to know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Goodspeed New Testament

A material man will not accept what the Spirit of God offers. It seems mere folly to him, and he cannot understand it, because it takes spiritual insight to see its true value.

John Wesley New Testament

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit; for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Julia Smith Translation

And the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: and he cannot know, for they are spiritually examined.

King James 2000

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Lexham Expanded Bible

But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

Modern King James verseion

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

For the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are but foolishness unto him: Neither can he perceive them, because he is spiritually examined.

Moffatt New Testament

The unspiritual man rejects these truths of the Spirit of God; to him they are 'sheer folly,' he cannot understand them. And the reason is, that they must be read with the spiritual eye.

Montgomery New Testament

The unspiritual man rejects the teachings of God's Spirit; for him it is folly. He cannot understand it, for it is spiritually discerned,

NET Bible

The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

New Heart English Bible

Now the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Noyes New Testament

But the unspiritual man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them; because they are spiritually discerned.

Sawyer New Testament

But the natural man receives not the [things] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them, for they are spiritually discerned.

The Emphasized Bible

But, a man of the soul, doth not welcome the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot get to know them, because, spiritually, are they examined;

Thomas Haweis New Testament

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are folly to him: and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Twentieth Century New Testament

The merely intellectual man rejects the teaching of the Spirit of God; for to him it is mere folly; he cannot grasp it, because it is to be understood only by spiritual insight.

Webster

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Weymouth New Testament

The unspiritual man rejects the things of the Spirit of God, and cannot attain to the knowledge of them, because they are spiritually judged.

Williams New Testament

An unspiritual man does not accept the things that the Spirit of God teaches, for they are nonsense to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are appreciated by spiritual insight.

World English Bible

Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Worrell New Testament

But a natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.

Worsley New Testament

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Youngs Literal Translation

and the natural man doth not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for to him they are foolishness, and he is not able to know them, because spiritually they are discerned;

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
But
δέ 
De 
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 2184

the natural
ψυχικός 
Psuchikos 
Usage: 6

man
ἄνθρωπος 
Anthropos 
man, not tr,
Usage: 316

δέχομαι 
Dechomai 
Usage: 30

not
οὐ 
Ou 
not, no, cannot ,
Usage: 1032

the things

which, who, the things, the son,
Usage: 0

of the Spirit
πνεῦμα 
Pneuma 
Usage: 334

of God
θεός 
theos 
Usage: 1151

for
γάρ 
Gar 
for, , not tr
Usage: 825

ἐστί 
Esti 
is, are, was, be, have, not tr, , vr is
Usage: 585

μωρία 
Moria 
Usage: 5


Usage: 0

οὐ 
Ou 
not, no, cannot ,
Usage: 1032

can
δύναμαι 
Dunamai 
can , cannot , be able, may , able,
Usage: 140

he know
γινώσκω 
Ginosko 
Usage: 147

ὅτι 
Hoti 
Usage: 764

πνευματικῶς 
Pneumatikos 
Usage: 2

Images 1 Corinthians 2:14

Prayers for 1 Corinthians 2:14

Context Readings

The Wisdom Revealed By The Spirit

13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.


Cross References

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.

Jude 1:19

These people create divisions and are unbelievers, not having the Spirit.

Matthew 13:11-17

He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.

1 Corinthians 15:44

sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Matthew 16:23

But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.”

John 3:3-6

Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 5:44

How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God.

John 8:51-52

I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death—ever!”

1 Corinthians 15:46

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.

James 3:15

Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Proverbs 14:6

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

John 6:44-45

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 8:43

Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to My word.

John 10:20

Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and He’s crazy! Why do you listen to Him?”

John 10:26-27

But you don’t believe because you are not My sheep.

John 12:37

Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him.

John 14:26

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

John 15:26

“When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.

John 16:8-15

When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

Acts 16:14

A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul.

Acts 17:18

Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?”

Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.

Acts 17:32

When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”

Acts 18:15

But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of such things.”

Acts 25:19

Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.

Acts 26:24-25

As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!”

Romans 8:5-8

For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:23

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 2:12

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6

In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

1 John 2:20

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge.

1 John 2:27

The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain