Berean Standard Bible
2 Peter 2:19
19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
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 men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18With 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. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If 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. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed 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
- They promiseἐπαγγέλλωepaggellō · to professG1861
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- freedomἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
- areὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- slavesδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- to depravityφθοράphthora · corruptionG5356
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- a man is a slaveοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- a man is a slaveκαίkai · andG2532
- a man is a slaveδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
- to whateverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- has mastered himτιςtis · oneG5100
- has mastered himἡσσάομαιhēttaō · be lesserG2274
Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:19
- Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
- 1 Peter 2:16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
- John 8:34Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
- Romans 6:12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
- 2 Peter 2:20If 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.
- Isaiah 28:1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.
- Jeremiah 23:9As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones tremble. I have become like a drunkard, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD, because of His holy words.
- 2 Timothy 2:26Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to 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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