2 Peter 1:9

2 Peter 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
• New International Version (NIV)But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Context of 2 Peter 1:9

7and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. 8For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.

2 Peter 1:9 word by word

ᾯ γὰρ μὴ πάρεστιν ταῦτα, τυφλός ἐστιν μυωπάζων, λήθην λαβὼν τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ τῶν πάλαι αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτιῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butγάρgar · forG1063
• he thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• lackethπάρειμιpareimi · be presentG3918
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• blindτυφλόςtuphlos · blindG5185
• and cannot see afar offμυωπάζωmuōpazō · be nearsightedG3467
• and hathλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• forgottenλήθηlēthē · forgetfulnessG3024
• that he was purgedὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that he was purgedκαθαρισμόςkatharismos · cleansingG2512
• fromἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• oldπάλαιpalai · of oldG3819

Cross-references for 2 Peter 1:9

• 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),
• Mark 10:21Looking at him, Jesus felt a love (high regard, compassion) for him, and He said to him, “You lack one thing: go and sell all your property and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”
• Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing; sell everything that you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”
• Galatians 5:6For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.
• James 2:14What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.]
• John 9:40Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”
• 2 Corinthians 4:3But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing;
• 1 John 2:9The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now.
• Revelation 3:17Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],
• 2 Peter 1:4For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.
• 2 Peter 2:18For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.
• Romans 6:1What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow?
• Ephesians 5:26so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God],
• Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?
• 1 Peter 3:21Corresponding to that [rescue through the flood], baptism [which is an expression of a believer’s new life in Christ] now saves you, not by removing dirt from the body, but by an appeal to God for a good (clear) conscience, [demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• 1 John 1:7but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

Commentaries on 2 Peter 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9But he that lacketh these things - He, whether Jew or Gentile, who professes to have Faith in God, and has not added to that Faith fortitude, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and universal love; is blind - his understanding is darkened, and cannot see afar off, , shutting his eyes against the light, winking, not able to look truth in the face, nor to behold that God whom he once knew was reconciled to him: and thus it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind - He has no clear views of the nature and the requirements of religion. And cannot see afar off - The word used here, which does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament, ( ́ muōpazōnmeans to shut the eyes; i. e., to contract the eyelids, to blink, to twinkle, as one who cannot see clearly, and hence to be “near-sighted.” The meaning here is, that he is like one who has an indistinct vision; one who can see only…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-11God has given us many blessings through Christ (1:3–4). This provides a strong reason to encourage us to learn more about Christ (1:5–11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. But--Greek, "For." Confirming the need of these graces (2Pe 1:5-8) by the fatal consequences of the want of them. he that lacketh--Greek, "he to whom these are not present." blind--as to the spiritual realities of the unseen world. and cannot see afar off--explanatory of "blind." He closes his eyes (Greek) as unable to see distant objects (namely, heavenly things), and fixes his gaze on present and earthly things which alone he can see. Perhaps a…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Peter 1:9

• Ablution
• Backsliders
• Blindness
• Graces
• Religion
• Righteousness
• Unfaithfulness

In the dictionaries

• Assurance
• Calling
• Corruption
• Cunningly
• Diligence
• Escape
• Glory
• Prophecy
• Sure
• Jude, the Epistle of

Commentaries on 2 Peter 1

• 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
• 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