Galatians 4:8

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
Ἀλλὰ
G235 CONJ
alla
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
  • but
    • nevertheless, notwithstanding
    • "an objection"an exception"a restriction"nay, rather, yea, moreover"forms a transition to the cardinal matter
τότε
G5119 ADV
tote
the when, i.e., at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecution)
  • then
  • "at that time
μὲν
G3303 PRT
men
properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with G1161 (this one, the former, etc.)
  • truly, certainly, surely, indeed
οὐκ
G3756 PRT-N
ou
the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not
  • no, not
εἰδότες
G1492 V-RAP-NPM
eidō
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 and G3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
  • to see
    • to perceive with the eyes
    • "to perceive by any of the senses"to perceive, notice, discern, discover"to see
      • i.e., to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
      • "to pay attention, observe"to see about something
        • i.e., to ascertain what must be done about it
        to inspect, examine"to look at, behold
      to experience any state or condition"to see i.e., have an interview with, to visit
    to know
    • to know of anything
    • "to know, i.e., get knowledge of, understand, perceive
      • of any fact
      • "the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning"to know how, to be skilled in
      to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
θεὸν
G2316 N-ASM
theos
a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by Hebraism)
  • a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
  • "the Godhead, trinity
    • God the Father, the first person in the trinity
    • "Christ, the second person of the trinity"Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
    spoken of the only and true God
    • refers to the things of God
    • "his counsels, interests, things due to him
    whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
    • God's representative or viceregent
      • of magistrates and judges
ἐδουλεύσατε
G1398 V-AAI-2P
douleuō
to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)
  • to be a slave, serve, do service
    • of a nation in subjection to other nations
    metaphorically to obey, submit to
    • in a good sense, to yield obedience
    • "in a bad sense, of those who become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give one's self up to
τοῖς
G3588 T-DPM
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
μὴ
G3361
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
  • no, not lest
φύσει
G5449 N-DSF
physis
growth (by germination or expansion), i.e., (by implication) natural production (lineal descent); by extension, a genus or sort; figuratively, native disposition, constitution or usage
  • nature
    • as opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse
    • "birth, physical origin"a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature"the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, and intractability of beasts
οὖσιν
G5607
ōn
being
  • being, etc.
θεοῖς·
G2316 N-DPM
theos
a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by Hebraism)
  • a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
  • "the Godhead, trinity
    • God the Father, the first person in the trinity
    • "Christ, the second person of the trinity"Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
    spoken of the only and true God
    • refers to the things of God
    • "his counsels, interests, things due to him
    whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
    • God's representative or viceregent
      • of magistrates and judges

Ἀλλὰ τότε μὲν οὐκ εἰδότες θεὸν ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς μὴ φύσει οὖσιν θεοῖς·
8
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Cross References

1 Corinthians 8:4

Περὶ τῆς βρώσεως οὖν τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ καὶ ὅτι οὐδεὶς θεὸς ἕτερος εἰ μὴ εἷς
4
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

Ephesians 2:11

Διὸ μνημονεύετε ὅτι ὑμεῖς ποτὲ τὰ ἔθνη ἐν σαρκί οἱ λεγόμενοι ἀκροβυστία ὑπὸ τῆς λεγομένης περιτομῆς ἐν σαρκὶ χειροποιήτου
11
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

1 Thessalonians 4:5

μὴ ἐν πάθει ἐπιθυμίας καθάπερ καὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα τὸν θεόν
5
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

2 Thessalonians 1:8

ἐν πυρὶ φλογός διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσιν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·
8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Thessalonians 1:9

αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ
9
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

2 Chronicles 13:9

הֲלֹא הִדַּחְתֶּם אֶת-כֹּֽהֲנֵי יְהוָה אֶת-בְּנֵי אַֽהֲרֹן וְהַלְוִיִּם וַתַּֽעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם כֹּֽהֲנִים כְּעַמֵּי הָֽאֲרָצוֹת כָּל-הַבָּא לְמַלֵּא יָדוֹ בְּפַר בֶּן-בָּקָר וְאֵילִם שִׁבְעָה וְהָיָה כֹהֵן לְלֹא אֱלֹהִֽים׃
9
Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

1 Corinthians 10:19

τί οὖν φημι ὅτι εἴδωλον τί ἐστιν ὅτι εἰδωλόθυτον τί ἐστιν;
19
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

1 Corinthians 1:21

ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν θεόν εὐδόκησεν θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας·
21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Isaiah 37:19

וְנָתֹן אֶת-אֱלֹהֵיהֶם בָּאֵשׁ כִּי לֹא אֱלֹהִים הֵמָּה כִּי אִם-מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵֽי-אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן וַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃
19
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

1 Peter 4:3

ἀρκετὸς γὰρ ἡμῖν παρεληλυθὼς χρόνος τοῦ βίου τὸ θέλημα τῶν ἐθνῶν κατεργάσασθαι πεπορευμένους ἐν ἀσελγείαις ἐπιθυμίαις οἰνοφλυγίαις κώμοις πότοις καὶ ἀθεμίτοις εἰδωλολατρείαις·
3
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Isaiah 44:9

יֹֽצְרֵי-פֶסֶל כֻּלָּם תֹּהוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶם בַּל-יוֹעִילוּ וְעֵדֵיהֶם הֵׄמָּׄהׄ בַּל-יִרְאוּ וּבַל-יֵדְעוּ לְמַעַן יֵבֹֽשׁוּ׃
9
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

Joshua 24:15

וְאִם רַע בְּֽעֵינֵיכֶם לַֽעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָה בַּֽחֲרוּ לָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת-מִי תַֽעֲבֹדוּן אִם אֶת-אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר-עָֽבְדוּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר ‫(בעבר)‬ מֵעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר וְאִם אֶת-אֱלֹהֵי הָֽאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹֽשְׁבִים בְּאַרְצָם וְאָֽנֹכִי וּבֵיתִי נַֽעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָֽה׃
15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Jeremiah 10:3

כִּֽי-חֻקּוֹת הָֽעַמִּים הֶבֶל הוּא כִּֽי-עֵץ מִיַּעַר כְּרָתוֹ מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי-חָרָשׁ בַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃
3
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Joshua 24:2

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל-כָּל-הָעָם כֹּֽה-אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר יָֽשְׁבוּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם מֵֽעוֹלָם תֶּרַח אֲבִי אַבְרָהָם וַֽאֲבִי נָחוֹר וַיַּֽעַבְדוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִֽים׃
2
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Jeremiah 10:25

שְׁפֹךְ חֲמָתְךָ עַל-הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא-יְדָעוּךָ וְעַל מִשְׁפָּחוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּשִׁמְךָ לֹא קָרָאוּ כִּֽי-אָכְלוּ אֶֽת-יַעֲקֹב וַאֲכָלֻהוּ וַיְכַלֻּהוּ וְאֶת-נָוֵהוּ הֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃
25
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Οἴδατε ὅτι ἔθνη ἦτε πρὸς τὰ εἴδωλα τὰ ἄφωνα ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε ἀπαγόμενοι
2
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Ephesians 4:18

ἐσκοτισμένοι τῇ διανοίᾳ ὄντες ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ τὴν ἄγνοιαν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν αὐτοῖς διὰ τὴν πώρωσιν τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν
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:

Exodus 5:2

וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה מִי יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁמַע בְּקֹלוֹ לְשַׁלַּח אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אֶת-יְהוָה וְגַם אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃
2
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Romans 1:23

καὶ ἤλλαξαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀφθάρτου θεοῦ ἐν ὁμοιώματι εἰκόνος φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ πετεινῶν καὶ τετραπόδων καὶ ἑρπετῶν
23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Jeremiah 2:11

הַהֵימִיר גּוֹי אֱלֹהִים וְהֵמָּה לֹא אֱלֹהִים וְעַמִּי הֵמִיר כְּבוֹדוֹ בְּלוֹא יוֹעִֽיל׃
11
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.