Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

2 Peter 2:16

14 Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

18 With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

Read the whole chapter

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
KJV
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
WEB
but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.
ASV
but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man`s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.
DARBY
but had reproof of his own wickedness [the] dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the folly of the prophet.
BLB
But he had reproof for his own violation of the law [by] a mute donkey; having spoken in a man’s voice, it restrained the madness of the prophet.
ÅB
og ble tilrettevist for sin egen overtredelse: et stumt trekkdyr talte med menneskestemme og hindret profetens galskap.
OTB
men han fikk en irettesettelse for sin egen overtredelse, for et stumt esel, talende med menneskelig stemme, hindret profetens galskap.
B1930
og blev refset for sin egen brøde: et umælende trældyr talte med et menneskes mæle og hindret profetens dårskap.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 22:21–33

    So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

    Read in context

  • Acts 26:11

    I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

    Read in context

  • Luke 16:11

    So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 7:25

    I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 9:3

    This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

    Read in context

  • Hosea 9:7

    The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.

    Read in context