2 Peter 2:18
16 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.
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.
19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
20 If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.
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
- 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.
- KJV
- For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
- WEB
- For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
- ASV
- For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
- DARBY
- For [while] speaking great highflown words of vanity, they allure with [the] lusts of [the] flesh, by dissoluteness, those who have just fled those who walk in error,
- BLB
- For speaking great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the passions of the flesh to sensuality those barely escaping from those conducting themselves in error,
- ÅB
- For når de taler skrytende, tomme ord, forlokker de i kjøttets lyster ved skamløshet dem som nettopp har flyktet fra dem som lever i villfarelse,
- OTB
- For mens de taler ut arrogante ord uten verdi, lokker de ved kjødelige lyster, ved usømmelig oppførsel, de som knapt unnslipper fra de som lever i villfarelse,
- B1930
- For idet de taler skrytende, tomme ord, forlokker de i kjødslyster ved usedelighet dem som just har flyktet bort fra dem som ferdes i forvillelse,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Peter 2:20
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.
Read in contextJude 1:15–16
to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”
Read in contextRomans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Read in contextJames 5:5
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
Read in contextRevelation 13:5–6
The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
Read in context2 Thessalonians 2:4
He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Read in context2 Peter 1:4
Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Read in contextRevelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.
Read in context