2 Corinthians 12:21

2 Corinthians 12:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
• New International Version (NIV)I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
• New King James Version (NKJV)lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:21

19Have you been thinking all along that we’re trying to defend ourselves to you? We speak as Christ’s people in God’s sight. Everything we do, dear friends, is for your benefit. 20I’m afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I’m afraid that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. I’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.

2 Corinthians 12:21 word by word

μὴ πάλιν ἐλθόντος μου ταπεινώσῃ με ὁ θεός μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πενθήσω πολλοὺς τῶν προημαρτηκότων καὶ μὴ μετανοησάντων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ ᾗ ἔπραξαν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• lestμήmē · notG3361
• when I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• will humbleταπεινόωtapeinoō · to humbleG5013
• amongπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• I shall bewailπενθέωpentheō · to mournG3996
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• have sinned alreadyπροαμαρτάνωproamartanō · to sin beforehandG4258
• haveμετανοέωmetanoeō · to repentG3340
• ofἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the uncleannessἀκαθαρσίαakatharsia · impurityG167
• fornicationπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
• lasciviousnessἀσέλγειαaselgeia · debaucheryG766
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they have committedπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:21

• 2 Corinthians 12:7especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited.
• 2 Corinthians 8:24So give these men a demonstration of your love. Show their congregations that we were right to be proud of you.
• 2 Corinthians 9:3I’ve sent my coworkers so that when we brag that you’re ready, we can back it up.
• 2 Corinthians 2:1I decided not to visit you again while I was distressed.
• Exodus 32:31So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “These people have committed such a serious sin! They made gods out of gold for themselves.
• Deuteronomy 9:15So I turned and went down the mountain while it was still burning with fire. I was carrying the two tablets with the promise on them.
• 1 Samuel 15:35Samuel didn’t see Saul again before he died, though Samuel mourned over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king of Israel.
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my clothes ⌞in distress⌟, pulled hair from my scalp and my beard, and sat down in shock.
• Ezra 10:1While Ezra was praying, confessing ⌞these sins⌟, crying, and throwing himself down in front of God’s temple, a large crowd of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. They also began to cry bitterly.
• Psalms 119:136Streams of tears flow from my eyes because others do not follow your teachings.
• Jeremiah 9:1“I wish that my head were ⌞filled with⌟ water and my eyes were a fountain of tears so that I could cry day and night for my dear people who have been killed.
• Jeremiah 13:17If you won’t listen, I will cry secretly over your arrogance. I will cry bitterly, and my eyes will flow with tears because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
• Luke 9:41Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!”
• Romans 9:2I have deep sorrow and endless heartache.
• Philippians 3:18I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I already warned you when I was with you the second time, and even though I’m not there now, I’m warning you again. When I visit you again, I won’t spare you. That goes for all those who formerly led sinful lives as well as for all the others.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Lest, when I come again - And even after all that has been done for you, I fear that when I do come - when I pay you my second visit, my God will humble me - will permit me to be affected with deep sorrow through what I may see among you; as I have been by the buffetings of the apostle of Satan, who has perverted you. Humiliation is repeatedly used for affliction, and here ͅ has certainly that meaning. Have sinned already - · Who have sinned before; who…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me … - Lest I should be compelled to inflict punishment on those whom I suppose to have been converted under my ministry. I had rejoiced in them as true converts: I had counted them as among the fruit of my ministry. Now to be compelled to inflict punishment on them as having no religion would mortify me and humble me. The infliction of punishment on members of the church is a sort of punishment to him who…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 We owe it to good men, to stand up in the defence of their reputation; and we are under special obligations to those from whom we have received benefit, especially spiritual benefit, to own them as instruments in God's hand of good to us. Here is an account of the apostle's behaviour and kind intentions; in which see the character of a faithful minister of the gospel. This was his great aim and design, to do good. Here are noticed several…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Paul fears that God will humble him in their presence, similar to the previous visit (2:1), when the Corinthians had rejected and humiliated him. The listed vices were among the Corinthians’ old sins (see 6:14–7:1; 1 Corinthians Book Introduction, "Setting").Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. my God--his God, however trying the humiliation that was in store for him. will humble me--The indicative implies that the supposition will actually be so. The faithful pastor is "humbled" at, and "bewails" the falls of his people, as though they were his own. sinned already--before my last coming [Bengel], that is, before the second visit which he paid, and in which he had much at Corinth to rebuke. have not repented--shall not have repented…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:21

• Adultery
• Backsliders
• Church
• Impenitence
• Lasciviousness
• Love
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Revelation
• Sufficient

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• 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