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

19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved. 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

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

• that when I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• my Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• may humiliateταπεινόωtapeinoō · to humbleG5013
• me beforeπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• you, and I may mournπενθέωpentheō · to mournG3996
• over manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• of thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sinnedπροαμαρτάνωproamartanō · to sin beforehandG4258
• and not repentedμετανοέωmetanoeō · to repentG3340
• impurityἀκαθαρσίαakatharsia · impurityG167
• sexualπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
• and indecentἀσέλγειαaselgeia · debaucheryG766
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they have practicedπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:21

• 2 Corinthians 12:7Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
• 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
• 2 Corinthians 9:3But I have sent the brothers, in order that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you will be prepared;
• 2 Corinthians 2:1But I decided this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
• Exodus 32:31Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves!
• Deuteronomy 9:15“So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.
• 1 Samuel 15:35And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, though Samuel mourned for Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
• Ezra 9:3When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled out some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.
• Ezra 10:1Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women, and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept greatly.
• Psalms 119:136My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your Law.
• Jeremiah 9:1Oh, that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For those slain of the daughter of my people!
• Jeremiah 13:17But if you do not listen to it, My soul will weep in secret for such pride; And my eyes will shed And stream down tears, Because the flock of the Lord has been taken captive.
• Luke 9:41And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
• Romans 9:2that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
• Philippians 3:18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I have previously said when I was present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

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