Tree of Life Version
2 Corinthians 12:21
21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I will mourn for many of those who have sinned before and not repented of the impurity and sexual immorality and indecency which they committed.
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 along you’ve been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. It is before God that we’ve been speaking in Messiah—and all for building you up, loved ones. 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I may find you not as I wish, or I may be found by you not as you wish—that there may be strife, envy, outbursts of anger, self-seeking disputes, lashon ha-ra , gossip, arrogance, unruly commotions. I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I will mourn for many of those who have sinned before and not repented of the impurity and sexual immorality and indecency which they committed.
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 in the extraordinary quality of the revelations. So that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me—a a messenger of satan to torment me, so I would not exalt myself.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24Therefore, before Messiah’s communities show them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you.
- 2 Corinthians 9:3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not be in vain in this case, so that you may be prepared, just as I kept saying.
- 2 Corinthians 2:1So I made up my mind that I would not come to you again causing sorrow.
- Exodus 32:31Then Moses returned to Adonai and said, “Alas, these people have sinned greatly, and made gods of gold!
- Deuteronomy 9:15“So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire. Now the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.
- 1 Samuel 15:35Samuel never did see Saul again until the day of his death. Yet Samuel mourned over Saul, while Adonai regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
- Ezra 9:3When I heard this report, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled out some of the hair from my head and from my beard. Then I sat down devastated.
- Ezra 10:1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and prostrating himself before the House of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. The people also wept very bitterly.
- Psalms 119:136Streams of water run down from my eyes, because they do not observe Your Torah.
- Jeremiah 9:1If only I had a travelers’ lodging place in the wilderness, then I might leave my people and get away from them! For they are all adulterers, a bunch of traitors.
- Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not listen, my soul will sob in secret before such pride, and my eyes will weep bitterly and overflow with tears, for Adonai’s flock will be taken captive.
- Luke 9:41Then answering, Yeshua said, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
- Romans 9:2that my sorrow is great and the anguish in my heart unending.
- Philippians 3:18For many walk who are enemies of the cross of Messiah—I have often told you about them, and now I am even weeping as I tell you.
- 2 Corinthians 13:2I spoke a warning, when I was with you the second time. Though now I am away, I am again speaking a warning to those who have sinned before, as well as 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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