Parallel Verses

Montgomery New Testament

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

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.

King James Version

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them 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;

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 So each one of you is no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir, too, through God's grace. 8 But once, when you Gentiles had no knowledge of God, you were slaves to gods which have no real being. 9 Now, however, when you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are beginning to turn back to those weak and beggarly externalities, eager to be in bondage to them again?


Cross References

1 Corinthians 1:21

For when, in the wisdom of God, the world by its philosophy knew not God, the world by its philosophy knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save those who believe.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who know not God.

1 Corinthians 8:4

Now as to eating food that has been offered to idols, we know well that an idol has no real existence in the universe, and that there is no God but One.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

in flaming fire. Then shall he take vengeance on those who know not God, even on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 2:11-12

Do not forget then, that you Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by the "circumcision" made in flesh by man's hand,

1 Thessalonians 1:9

For others, of their own accord, tell about the welcome I had from you, and how you turned to God from your idols, to be slaved of a true and living God,

John 1:10

He was in the world, and through him the world came into being, yet the world knew him not.

Acts 14:12

And they began to call Barnabas "Zeus," and Paul, since he was the principal speaker, "Hermes";

Acts 17:23

"For as I was passing along and observing your objects of worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What you are worshiping in ignorance, this I am proclaiming to you.

Acts 17:29-30

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

Romans 1:23

and exchanged the majesty of the imperishable God for an idol, graven in the likeness of perishable man, or of birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.

Romans 1:28

And just as they refused to continue to retain God in their knowledge, so did God cast them out to an outcast mind, to do those things which were indecent.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20

What then shall we say? that an offering to an idol is anything? or that an idol is really anything?

1 Corinthians 12:2

You know that when you were heathen you went astray after dumb idols, wherever he be led.

Ephesians 4:18

having their understanding darkened, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts.

1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of life may suffice us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, when we spent our life in lasciviousness, lusts, hard drinking, revelry, banqueting, and abominable idol worship.

1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has given us in allowing us to be called "Children of God!" And that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not know him.

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