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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:21

19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he hath made himποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• who knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• noμήmē · notG3361
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• might be madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• the righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Isaiah 53:4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
• Daniel 9:26And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
• Zechariah 13:7"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
• Romans 8:3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he 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 hanged on a tree"—
• Ephesians 5:2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
• 1 John 2:1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
• Isaiah 53:9And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
• Luke 1:35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
• Hebrews 7:26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
• 1 Peter 2:22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
• 1 John 3:5You know that he appeared in order 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 45:24"Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.
• Isaiah 53:11Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall 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