New English Translation
2 Corinthians 12:21
21I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.
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 this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. 20For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 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 12:7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.
- 2 Corinthians 9:3But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.
- 2 Corinthians 2:1So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit.
- Exodus 32:31So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold.
- Deuteronomy 9:15So I turned and went down the mountain while it was blazing with fire; the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands.
- 1 Samuel 15:35Until the day he died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
- Ezra 9:3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated.
- Ezra 10:1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites – men, women, and children alike – gathered around him. The people wept loudly.
- Psalms 119:136Tears stream down from my eyes, because people do not keep your law. צ (Tsade)
- Jeremiah 9:1(8:23) I wish that my head were a well full of water and my eyes were a fountain full of tears! If they were, I could cry day and night for those of my dear people who have been killed.
- Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not pay attention to this warning, I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride. I will weep bitterly and my eyes will overflow with tears because you, the Lord’s flock, will be carried into exile.”
- Luke 9:41Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.”
- Romans 9:2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
- Philippians 3:18For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, 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
In the dictionaries
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
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