2 Peter 2:19

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.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
• 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 wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 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. 20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2 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 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
• 1 Peter 2:16as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
• John 8:34Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
• Romans 6:12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
• 2 Peter 2:20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
• Isaiah 28:1Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valleys, To those who are overcome with wine!
• Jeremiah 23:9My heart within me is broken Because of the prophets; All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, And like a man whom wine has overcome, Because of the Lord, And because of His holy words.
• 2 Timothy 2:26and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive 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

• Anarchy
• Corruption
• Doctrines
• Fellowship
• Hypocrisy
• Minister, Christian
• Servant
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Chain
• Damnable
• Nicolaitanes
• Perish
• Privily
• Railing
• Reserve
• Riot
• Swift
• Wantonness

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