English Standard Version
2 Peter 2:19
19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is 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.”
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
Context of 2 Peter 2:19
17These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered 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 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- 1 Peter 2:16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
- John 8:34Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
- Romans 6:12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
- 2 Peter 2:20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
- Isaiah 28:1Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!
- Jeremiah 23:9Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the Lord and because of his holy words.
- 2 Timothy 2:26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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