1 Corinthians 3:17
WEB
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.
BSB
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
KJV
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Matthew Henry
Greek interlinear
G1487
forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether
Derivation: a primary particle of conditionality;
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether.
Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in G1489, G1490, G1499, G1508, G1509, G1512, G1513, G1536, G1537. See also G1437.
See also: G1489, G1490, G1499, G1508, G1509, G1512, G1513, G1536, G1537, G1437.
G5100
a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever)
Derivation: an enclitic indefinite pronoun;
some or any person or object
KJV: a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
G3588
the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc
, including the feminine ἡ , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;
Derivation: the definite article;
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
G3485
shrine, temple
Derivation: from a primary ναίω (to dwell);
a fane, shrine, temple
KJV: shrine, temple.
Compare G2411.
See also: G2411.
G2316
X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward)
Derivation: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity;
figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
See also: G3588.
G5351
corrupt (self), defile, destroy
Derivation: probably strengthened from φθίω (to pine or waste);
properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. to spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially figuratively, by moral influences, to deprave)
KJV: corrupt (self), defile, destroy.
G3778
he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who
, including nominative masculine plural οὗτοι , nominative feminine singular αὕτη , and nominative feminine plural αὕται
Derivation: from the article G3588 and G846;
the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated)
KJV: he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.
See also: G846, G3588.
G1063
and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet
Derivation: a primary particle;
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
G40
(most) holy (one, thing), saint
Derivation: from ἅγος (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282);
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
KJV: (most) holy (one, thing), saint.
See also: G53, G2282.
G1510
am, have been, X it is I, was
Derivation: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb;
I exist (used only when emphatic)
KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was.
See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.
See also: G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.
G3748
X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever)
, including the feminine ἥτις , and the neuter ὅτι
Derivation: from G3739 and G5100;
which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same
KJV: X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).
Compare G3754.
See also: G3739, G5100, G3754.
G4771
thou
Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular;
thou
KJV: thou.
See also G4571, G4671, G4675; and for the plural G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.
See also: G4675, G4571, G4671, G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.
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Verses 16–17
1 Corinthians 3:16–17
Here the apostle resumes his argument and exhortation, founding it on his former allusion, You are God's building, Co1 3:9, and here, Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile (corrupt and destroy) the temple of God, him shall God destroy (the same word is in the original in both clauses); for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. It looks from other parts of the epistle, where the apostle argues to the very same purport (see Co1 6:13-20), as if the false teachers among the Corinthians were not only loose livers, but taught licentious doctrines, and what was particularly fitted to the taste of this lewd city, on the head of fornication. Such doctrine was not to be reckoned among hay and stubble, which would be consumed while the person who laid them on the foundation escaped the burning; for it tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the church, which was a building erected for God, and consecrated to him, and therefore should be kept pure and holy. Those who spread principles of this sort would provoke God to destroy them. Note, Those who spread loose principles, that have a direct tendency to pollute the church of God, and render it unholy and unclean, are likely to bring destruction on themselves. It may be understood also as an argument against their discord and factious strifes, division being the way to destruction. But what I have been mentioning seems to be the proper meaning of the passage: Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? It may be understood of the church of Corinth collectively, or of every single believer among them; Christian churches are temples of God. He dwells among them by his Holy Spirit. They are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph 2:22. Every Christian is a living temple of the living God. God dwelt in the Jewish temple, took possession of it, and resided in it, by that glorious cloud that was the token of his presence with that people. So Christ by his Spirit dwells in all true believers. The temple was devoted and consecrated to God, and set apart from every common to a holy use, to the immediate service of God. So all Christians are separated from common uses, and set apart for God and his service. They are sacred to him - a very good argument this against all fleshly lusts, and all doctrines that give countenance to them. If we are the temples of God, we must do nothing that shall alienate ourselves from him, or corrupt and pollute ourselves, and thereby unfit ourselves for his use; and we must hearken to no doctrine nor doctor that would seduce us to any such practices. Note, Christians are holy by profession, and should be pure and clean both in heart and conversation. We should heartily abhor, and carefully avoid, what will defile God's temple, and prostitute what ought to be sacred to him.
Cross-references: 1Cor 3:9 · 1Cor 6:13 · Eph 2:22