2 Corinthians 12:21

2 Corinthians 12:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
• New International Version (NIV)I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
• New King James Version (NKJV)lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:21

19All this time you have been thinking that we are [merely] defending ourselves to you. It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking [as one] in Christ; and everything, dearly beloved, is to strengthen you [spiritually]. 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not to be as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and decadence which they formerly practiced.

2 Corinthians 12:21 word by word

μὴ πάλιν ἐλθόντος μου ταπεινώσῃ με ὁ θεός μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πενθήσω πολλοὺς τῶν προημαρτηκότων καὶ μὴ μετανοησάντων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ ᾗ ἔπραξαν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• lestμήmē · notG3361
• when I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• will humbleταπεινόωtapeinoō · to humbleG5013
• amongπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• I shall bewailπενθέωpentheō · to mournG3996
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• have sinned alreadyπροαμαρτάνωproamartanō · to sin beforehandG4258
• haveμετανοέωmetanoeō · to repentG3340
• ofἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the uncleannessἀκαθαρσίαakatharsia · impurityG167
• fornicationπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
• lasciviousnessἀσέλγειαaselgeia · debaucheryG766
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they have committedπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:21

• 2 Corinthians 12:7Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself!
• 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.
• 2 Corinthians 9:3Still, I am sending the brothers [on to you], so that our pride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just as I told them you would be;
• 2 Corinthians 2:1But I made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful visit.
• Exodus 32:31So Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin [against You], and have made themselves a god of gold.
• Deuteronomy 9:15“So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.
• 1 Samuel 15:35Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my clothing and my robe [in grief], I pulled out some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled [at the shame of it].
• Ezra 10:1Now while Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and laying himself face down before the house of God, a very large group from Israel, of men, women, and children, gathered to him, for the people wept bitterly.
• Psalms 119:136My eyes weep streams of water Because people do not keep Your law.
• Jeremiah 9:1Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!
• Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not listen and obey, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And flow with tears, Because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
• Luke 9:41Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverted generation! How long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here [to Me].”
• Romans 9:2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
• Philippians 3:18For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation],
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I have already warned those who have sinned in the past and all the rest as well, and I warn them now even though I am absent [from you] as I did when I was with you the second time, that if I come back I will not spare anyone,

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Lest, when I come again - And even after all that has been done for you, I fear that when I do come - when I pay you my second visit, my God will humble me - will permit me to be affected with deep sorrow through what I may see among you; as I have been by the buffetings of the apostle of Satan, who has perverted you. Humiliation is repeatedly used for affliction, and here ͅ has certainly that meaning. Have sinned already - · Who have sinned before; who…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me … - Lest I should be compelled to inflict punishment on those whom I suppose to have been converted under my ministry. I had rejoiced in them as true converts: I had counted them as among the fruit of my ministry. Now to be compelled to inflict punishment on them as having no religion would mortify me and humble me. The infliction of punishment on members of the church is a sort of punishment to him who…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 We owe it to good men, to stand up in the defence of their reputation; and we are under special obligations to those from whom we have received benefit, especially spiritual benefit, to own them as instruments in God's hand of good to us. Here is an account of the apostle's behaviour and kind intentions; in which see the character of a faithful minister of the gospel. This was his great aim and design, to do good. Here are noticed several…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Paul fears that God will humble him in their presence, similar to the previous visit (2:1), when the Corinthians had rejected and humiliated him. The listed vices were among the Corinthians’ old sins (see 6:14–7:1; 1 Corinthians Book Introduction, "Setting").Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. my God--his God, however trying the humiliation that was in store for him. will humble me--The indicative implies that the supposition will actually be so. The faithful pastor is "humbled" at, and "bewails" the falls of his people, as though they were his own. sinned already--before my last coming [Bengel], that is, before the second visit which he paid, and in which he had much at Corinth to rebuke. have not repented--shall not have repented…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:21

• Adultery
• Backsliders
• Church
• Impenitence
• Lasciviousness
• Love
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Revelation
• Sufficient

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings