2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
• New International Version (NIV)God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:21

19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 word by word

τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν, ἵνα ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ.¶Read the interlinear

• madeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• Him whoὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• noμήmē · notG3361
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• on our behalfὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• on our behalfἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• so thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• Himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• might becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Isaiah 53:4Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
• Daniel 9:26Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.
• Zechariah 13:7Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
• Romans 8:3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
• Galatians 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
• Ephesians 5:2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
• 1 John 2:1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
• Isaiah 53:9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
• Luke 1:35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
• Hebrews 7:26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
• 1 Peter 2:22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
• 1 John 3:5But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
• Isaiah 45:24Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.
• Isaiah 53:11After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us - ̔, ̔ ̔ ̔ · He made him who knew no sin, (who was innocent), a sin-offering for us. The word ̔ occurs here twice: in the first place it means sin, i.e. transgression and guilt; and of Christ it is said, He knew no sin, i.e. was innocent; for not to know sin is the same as to be conscious of innocence; so, nil conscire sibi, to be conscious of nothing against one's self, is the same as nulla pallescere culpa, to be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us - The Greek here is, for him who knew no sin, he hath made sin, or a sin-offering for us.‘ The design of this very important verse is, to urge the strongest possible reason for being reconciled to God. This is implied in the word ( ̀ gar) “for.” Paul might have urged other arguments, and presented other strong considerations. But he chooses to present this fact, that Christ has been made sin for us, as embodying and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Christ became the offering for our sin on the cross by taking the penalty of sin upon himself and dying a criminal's death. He did this even though he never sinned (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), so we might be made right with God. That is, we are set in a right relationship with God and accepted by him (see Galatians 3:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. For--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. The grand reason why they should be reconciled to God, namely, the great atonement in Christ provided by God, is stated without the "for" as being part of the message of reconciliation (2Co 5:19). he--God. sin--not a sin offering, which would destroy the antithesis to "righteousness," and would make "sin" be used in different senses in the same sentence: not a sinful person, which would be untrue, and would…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:21

• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Justification
• Offerings
• Reconciliation
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Covenant
• Death
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5

• 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