2 Corinthians 11:33
New International Version
But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

New Living Translation
I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

English Standard Version
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

Berean Standard Bible
But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Berean Literal Bible
But I was let down in a basket through a window through the wall, and I escaped his hands.

King James Bible
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

New King James Version
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

New American Standard Bible
and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

NASB 1995
and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

NASB 1977
and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

Legacy Standard Bible
and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

Amplified Bible
and I was [actually] let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and slipped through his fingers.

Christian Standard Bible
So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

American Standard Version
and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Contemporary English Version
But I escaped by being let down in a basket through a window in the city wall.

English Revised Version
and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

Good News Translation
But I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

International Standard Version
but I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

Majority Standard Bible
But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

NET Bible
but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.

New Heart English Bible
Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
And through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Weymouth New Testament
but through an opening in the wall I was let down in a basket, and so escaped his hands.

World English Bible
I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I was let down through a window in a rope basket, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.

Berean Literal Bible
But I was let down in a basket through a window through the wall, and I escaped his hands.

Young's Literal Translation
and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.

Smith's Literal Translation
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and I escaped from his hands.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and so escaped his hands.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And, through a window, I was let down along the wall in a basket; and so I escaped his hands.

New American Bible
but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

New Revised Standard Version
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I was lowered in a basket from a window over the city wall, and thus I escaped from his hands.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And from a window in a basket they lowered me from a wall and I escaped from their hands.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and through a window I was let down in a basket through the wall, and escaped his hands.

Godbey New Testament
and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Haweis New Testament
and through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall, and escaped out of his hands.

Mace New Testament
but thro' a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and so escap'd.

Weymouth New Testament
but through an opening in the wall I was let down in a basket, and so escaped his hands.

Worrell New Testament
and through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Worsley New Testament
and I was let down by the wall through a window in a basket, and so escaped his hands.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Suffering and Service
32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Cross References
Acts 9:23-25
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. / One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

Joshua 2:15
Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.

1 Samuel 19:11-12
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

1 Kings 19:2-3
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!” / And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

Matthew 2:13-14
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,

Acts 17:10
As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Acts 14:5-6
But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, / they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

Acts 23:12-24
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...

1 Samuel 20:42
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

Jeremiah 38:6-13
So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. / Now Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, / Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king, ...

Matthew 10:23
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Acts 12:17
Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

2 Kings 6:32
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”


Treasury of Scripture

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

I let.

Joshua 2:18
Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

1 Samuel 19:12
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

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Basket Escaped Fled Free Hands Lowered Opening Rope Slipped Wall Window
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2 Corinthians 11
1. Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, he enters into a forced commendation of himself,
5. of his equality with the chief apostles,
7. of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them;
13. showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative;
23. and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior.














But I was lowered
The phrase "I was lowered" indicates a passive action, suggesting that Paul was reliant on others for his escape. This humility and dependence on fellow believers reflect the Christian community's role in supporting one another. The Greek word used here, "χαλάω" (chalao), implies a gentle and careful lowering, emphasizing the care and concern of those assisting Paul. This act of lowering is symbolic of the humility and vulnerability that believers often experience in their walk of faith.

in a basket
The "basket" mentioned here is translated from the Greek word "σπυρίς" (spuris), which refers to a large basket typically used for carrying provisions. This detail highlights the urgency and improvisation involved in Paul's escape. Historically, such baskets were common in the ancient world for transporting goods, indicating that Paul's escape was facilitated using everyday items, underscoring God's provision through ordinary means.

through a window
The "window" signifies an opening or opportunity provided by God for Paul's deliverance. In the ancient context, city walls often had windows or openings that could serve as escape routes. This imagery of a window suggests a divine intervention, a way out provided by God in times of distress, reminiscent of other biblical escapes, such as Rahab's assistance to the spies in Joshua 2.

in the wall
The "wall" refers to the city wall of Damascus, a fortified structure meant to protect the city but also serving as a barrier. Paul's escape through the wall symbolizes overcoming obstacles and barriers through divine assistance. Historically, city walls were significant for defense, yet here, they become a means of escape, illustrating how God can turn barriers into pathways.

and escaped his grasp
The phrase "escaped his grasp" indicates deliverance from danger, specifically from the hands of those who sought to harm Paul. The Greek word "ἐκφεύγω" (ekpheugo) means to flee out of or escape, emphasizing the urgency and necessity of the action. This escape is a testament to God's protection over Paul, ensuring the continuation of his ministry. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness in delivering His servants from peril, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of divine rescue and protection.

(33) Through a window in a basket . . .--On the mode of escape, see Notes on Acts 9:24-25. So the spies escaped from the house of Rahab (Joshua 2:15), and David from the pursuit of Saul (1Samuel 19:12). The word which St. Paul uses for "basket" (sargane) implies, perhaps, a more vivid personal recollection, as meaning specifically a rope-work hamper. St. Luke employs the more general term, spuris. (See Note on Matthew 15:32.)

Verse 33. - Through a window. A "little door," or lattice in some house which abutted on the wall. In a basket (comp. Joshua 2:15; 1 Samuel 19:12). The word used by St. Luke in Acts 9:25 is spuris, which is a general name for a large basket. The word here used is sargane, which is defined by Hesychius to be a basket of wickerwork, but which may also mean a rope basket. This particular incident, no doubt, seems to be less perilous and trying than many which St. Paul has already mentioned. We must, however, remember that escape from a window in the lofty wall of a city guarded by patrols was very perilous, and also that such a method of concealment was very trying to the dignity of an Oriental rabbi, such as St. Paul had been. Further, it is clear that St. Paul only mentions this as the earliest incident in along line of perils which it had been his original intention to recount. But at this point he was interrupted, and laid aside his task of dictation - an incident which has not unfrequently had its effect in literature. When next he resumed, the Epistle, he was no longer in the mood to break through his rule of reticence on these subjects. He had played "the fool" and "the madman," as he says of himself with indignant irony, enough; and he proceeds to speak of other personal claims which he regards as more Important and more Divine. Of all "chapters of unwritten history," not one is more deeply to be regretted than the one which we have them lost.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

I was lowered
ἐχαλάσθην (echalasthēn)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5465: To let down, lower, slacken, loosen. From the base of chasma; to lower.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

a basket
σαργάνῃ (sarganē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4553: A basket, generally of twisted cords. Apparently of Hebrew origin; a basket

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

a window
θυρίδος (thyridos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2376: A small opening, window. From thura; an aperture, i.e. Window.

in
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wall
τείχους (teichous)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 5038: A wall, especially of a city. Akin to the base of tikto; a wall.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

escaped
ἐξέφυγον (exephygon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1628: To flee out, away, escape; with an acc: I escape something. From ek and pheugo; to flee out.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

grasp.
χεῖρας (cheiras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5495: A hand.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 11:33 Through a window I was let down (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 11:32
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