Parallel Verses

King James Version

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

New American Standard Bible

However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

Holman Bible

But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

International Standard Version

However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.

A Conservative Version

But of course not knowing God then, ye were in bondage to those in nature who are not gods,

American Standard Version

Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:

Amplified

But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all.

An Understandable Version

At that time, when you did not know God [as your Father], you were in bondage to those who were, by nature, not really gods at all.

Anderson New Testament

But, then, because you knew not God, you were enslaved to those who, by nature, are not gods:

Bible in Basic English

But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods:

Common New Testament

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

Daniel Mace New Testament

When you did not know God, you did service to those, who in reality are no Gods; but now that you know God,

Darby Translation

But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;

Goodspeed New Testament

But formerly, in your ignorance of God, you were slaves to gods that really did not exist,

John Wesley New Testament

Indeed then, when ye knew not God, ye served them that by nature are not gods.

Julia Smith Translation

But then truly, not having known God, ye were in a servile condition to them not being gods by nature.

King James 2000

But then, when you knew not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

Lexham Expanded Bible

But at that time [when you] did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods.

Modern King James verseion

But then, indeed, not knowing God, you served as slaves to those not by nature being gods.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Notwithstanding, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them, which by nature were no gods:

Moffatt New Testament

In those days, when you were ignorant of God, you were in servitude to gods who are really no gods at all;

Montgomery New Testament

But once, when you Gentiles had no knowledge of God, you were slaves to gods which have no real being.

NET Bible

Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.

New Heart English Bible

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

Noyes New Testament

But at that time, indeed, when ye knew not God, ye were in slavery to those who in their nature are not gods;

Sawyer New Testament

But formerly, not knowing God you served beings which are not really Gods;

The Emphasized Bible

But, at that time - not knowing God, ye were in servitude unto them who, by nature, are not Gods;

Thomas Haweis New Testament

But at that time when ye knew not God, ye served those who by nature are not gods.

Twentieth Century New Testament

Yet formerly, in your ignorance of God, you became slaves to 'gods' which were no gods.

Webster

However then, when ye knew not God, ye did service to them which by nature are no gods.

Weymouth New Testament

But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist.

Williams New Testament

But at that former time, as you did not know the true God, you were slaves to gods that do not really exist,

World English Bible

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

Worrell New Testament

But then, indeed, when ye knew not God, ye served those which by nature are no gods;

Worsley New Testament

But then indeed, when ye knew not God, ye served those which in reality are no gods.

Youngs Literal Translation

But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods,

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
ἀλλά 
Alla 
but, yea, yet, nevertheless, howbeit, nay, therefore, save, not tr,
Usage: 461

τότε 
Tote 
then, that time, when, not tr
Usage: 105

when ye knew not
οὐ 
Ou 
not, no, cannot ,
Usage: 1032

God
θεός 
theos 
Usage: 1151

δουλεύω 
Douleuo 
serve, be in bondage, do service
Usage: 20


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

by nature
φύσις 
Phusis 
Usage: 14

are
ὤν οὖσα ὄν 
On 
being, when ... was, which is, that is, not tr,
Usage: 128

no
μή 
me 
not, no, that not, God forbid 9, lest, neither, no man , but, none, not translated,
Usage: 493

Context Readings

Do Not Be Enslaved Again

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?


Cross References

1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

1 Corinthians 8:4

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Chronicles 13:9

Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

Isaiah 37:19

And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

Ephesians 2:11-12

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

1 Thessalonians 1:9

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Exodus 5:2

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Joshua 24:2

And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Psalm 115:4-8

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Psalm 135:15-18

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Isaiah 44:9-20

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

Jeremiah 2:11

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Jeremiah 10:3-16

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Jeremiah 10:25

Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

John 1:10

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Acts 14:12

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Acts 17:23

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Acts 17:29-30

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Romans 1:23

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:28

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

1 Corinthians 10:19-20

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

1 Corinthians 12:2

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Ephesians 4:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

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Word Concordance

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