Parallel Verses

Modern King James verseion

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

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 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 So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ. 8 But then, indeed, not knowing God, you served as slaves to those not by nature being gods. 9 But now, knowing God, but rather are known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements to which you again desire to slave anew?

Cross References

1 Corinthians 1:21

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

(not in the passion of lust, even as the nations who do not know God),

1 Corinthians 8:4

Then concerning the eating of the things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Chronicles 13:9

Have you not cast out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, he may be a priest of those who 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; so they have destroyed them.

Ephesians 2:11-12

Therefore remember that you, the nations, in time past were 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 witness what kind of entrance we had to you, even how you turned from idols to God in order to serve the living and true God,

Exodus 5:2

And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.

Joshua 24:2

And Joshua said to all the people, So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Your fathers lived Beyond the River in times past, Terah the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seems evil to you to serve Jehovah, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served Beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.

Psalm 115:4-8

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

Psalm 135:15-18

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

Isaiah 44:9-20

Those who make a graven image are all of them vanity; and the things in which they delight shall not help; and they are their own witnesses. They do not see nor know, that they may be ashamed.

Jeremiah 2:11

Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods? But My people have changed their Glory for that which does not profit.

Jeremiah 10:3-16

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

Jeremiah 10:25

Pour out Your fury on the nations who do not know You, and on the families who do not call on Your name; for they have eaten up Jacob and have devoured him, and have destroyed him, and have made his dwelling desolate.

John 1:10

He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and the world did not know Him.

Acts 14:12

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

Acts 17:23

For as I passed by and saw the things you worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing then whom you worship, I make Him known to you.

Acts 17:29-30

Then being offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and man's imagination.

Romans 1:23

and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.

Romans 1:28

And even as they did not think fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right,

1 Corinthians 10:19-20

What then do I say? That the idol is anything, or that an idolatrous sacrifice is anything?

1 Corinthians 12:2

You know that being led away, you nations were led to dumb idols.

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 of life which is past is enough for us to have worked out the will of the nations, having gone on in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, parties, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know 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