1 Corinthians 10:10

10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

1 Corinthians 10:10 in Other Translations

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.

10 We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them.

10 Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

1 Corinthians 10:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 10:10

Neither murmur ye
Against the true apostles of Christ, and faithful ministers of the word; nor against the laws and ordinances of Christ, or providences of God; so some of the members of this church did, or were inclined to do:

as some of them also murmured:
as against the Lord, so against Moses and Aaron. The people of Israel were very prone unto, and often guilty of this sin; but what the apostle here has respect unto, is either their murmuring upon the report the spies made of the good land, in ( Numbers 14:1-5 ) , or that of Korah and his company against Moses and Aaron, as principal officers, who were for setting all upon a level; and of all the people against them, for the death of these men, ( Numbers 16:1-35 ) ,

and were destroyed of the destroyer;
meaning either some judgment of God upon them, as the earth's opening and swallowing up Korah and all that belonged unto him; and the fire that came down from heaven, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense; and the plague which swept away fourteen thousand and seven hundred of those that murmured against Moses and Aaron, on the account of the death of the said persons; and any other judgment by which the carcasses of those fell in the wilderness, that murmured upon the report of the spies; or else since angels were usually employed by God, in inflicting such judgments, by the destroyer may be meant an angel, such an one as smote the firstborn in Egypt, and bears the same name, ( Hebrews 11:28 ) and as smote Israel with a pestilence upon David's numbering the people, and was about to have destroyed Jerusalem, had he not been restrained, ( 2 Samuel 24:15 2 Samuel 24:16 ) and as, smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians, in one night, ( 2 Kings 19:35 ) . So that though an angel may be intended, it is not necessary, on account of the character given him, to understand an evil angel; it is true indeed, that Satan is by the Jews

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 called (tyxvmh) , "the destroyer"; and Samuel, the same with Satan, is called "the angel of death"; to which the allusion is in ( Hebrews 2:14 ) and evil angels are frequently styled (hlbx ykalm) , "destroying angels" ^F2; as distinct from ministering ones, and to which some think the apostle here refers.

F1 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 16. 2.
F2 T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 72. 1. Beracot, fol. 51. 1.

1 Corinthians 10:10 In-Context

8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.

10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 16:41; Numbers 17:5, 10
• 2. Numbers 16:49
• 3. Exodus 12:23; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Hebrews 11:28