Amplified Bible
2 Peter 2:19
19They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved.
2 Peter 2:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
- New International Version (NIV)They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
- New King James Version (NKJV)While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
Context of 2 Peter 2:19
17These [false teachers] are springs without water and mists driven by a tempest, for whom is reserved the gloom of black darkness. 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. They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved. 20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by [personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would have been better for them not to have [personally] known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to have turned back from the holy commandment [verbally] handed on to them.
Read all of 2 Peter 22 Peter 2:19 word by word
ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι, αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς· ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται, τούτῳ δεδούλωται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- While they promiseἐπαγγέλλωepaggellō · to professG1861
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- libertyἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
- areὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- the servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- of corruptionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of corruptionφθοράphthora · corruptionG5356
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- of whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- a manτιςtis · oneG5100
- is overcomeἡσσάομαιhēttaō · be lesserG2274
- of the sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- is he brought in bondageδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:19
- Galatians 5:1It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
- 1 Peter 2:16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.
- John 8:34Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin.
- Romans 6:12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts and passions.
- 2 Peter 2:20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by [personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition has become worse for them than the first.
- Isaiah 28:1Woe (judgment is coming) to [Samaria] the splendid crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the rich valley Of those who are overcome with wine!
- Jeremiah 23:9Concerning the prophets: My heart [says Jeremiah] is broken within me, All my bones shake; I have become like a drunken man, A man whom wine has overcome, Because of the Lord And because of His holy words [declared against unfaithful leaders].
- 2 Timothy 2:26and that they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Commentaries on 2 Peter 2:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19While they promise them liberty - Either to live in the highest degrees of spiritual good, or a freedom from the Roman yoke; or from the yoke of the law, or what they might term needless restraints. Their own conduct showed the falsity of their system; for they were slaves to every disgraceful lust. For of whom a man is overcome - This is an allusion to the ancient custom of selling for slaves those whom they had conquered and captivated in war. The…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19While they promise them liberty - True religion always promises and produces liberty (see the notes at John 8:36), but the particular liberty which these persons seem to have promised, was freedom from what they regarded as needless restraint, or from strict and narrow views of religion. They themselves are the servants of corruption - They are the slaves of gross and corrupt passions, themselves utter strangers to freedom, and bound in the chains of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 The word of truth is the water of life, which refreshes the souls that receive it; but deceivers spread and promote error, and are set forth as empty, because there is no truth in them. As clouds hinder the light of the sun, so do these darken counsel by words wherein there is no truth. Seeing that these men increase darkness in this world, it is very just that the mist of darkness should be their portion in the next. In the midst of their…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19False teaching often attracts people by promising freedom from authority. But this kind of freedom is not real (Romans 6:16). The false teachers celebrated what they thought was freedom (see 2 Peter 2:10). In truth, they were slaves to sin and corruption.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. promise ... liberty--(Christian)--These promises are instances of their "great swelling words" (2Pe 2:18). The liberty which they propose is such as fears not Satan, nor loathes the flesh. Pauline language, adopted by Peter here, and 1Pe 2:16; see on 1Pe 2:16; (compare 2Pe 3:15; Ro 6:16-22; 8:15, 21; Ga 5:1, 13; compare Joh 8:34). corruption--(See on 2Pe 2:12); "destroyed ... perish ... corruption." of whom--"by whatever ... by the same," &c.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Peter 2:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Peter 2
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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