1 Corinthians 10:18 (DBY)

Passage

See Israel according to flesh: are not they who eat the sacrifices in communion with the altar?

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not [the] communion of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not [the] communion of the body of the Christ?

1 Corinthians 10:17 Because we, [being] many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.

1 Corinthians 10:18 See Israel according to flesh: are not they who eat the sacrifices in communion with the altar?

1 Corinthians 10:19 What then do I say? that what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

1 Corinthians 10:20 But that what [the nations] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "israel", "flesh", "sacrifices", "communion", and "altar". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "israel" and "flesh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Because we being many are one loaf..." into verse 19's "What then do I say that what...", so "israel" and "flesh" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "israel" and "flesh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.