2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
• New International Version (NIV)God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:21

19That is, in Messiah God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them; and He has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. 20We are therefore ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Messiah, be reconciled to God. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 word by word

τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν, ἵνα ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he hath made himποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• who knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• noμήmē · notG3361
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• might be madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• the righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Isaiah 53:4Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our pains. Yet we esteemed Him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted.
• Daniel 9:26Then after the 62 weeks Mashiach will be cut off and have nothing. Then the people of a prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. But his end will come like a flood. Until the end of the war that is decreed there will be destruction.
• Zechariah 13:7Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man who is My companion! It is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered! I will turn My hand against the little ones.
• Romans 8:3For what was impossible for the Torah—since it was weakened on account of the flesh—God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh—
• Galatians 3:13Messiah liberated us from Torah’s curse, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)—
• Ephesians 5:2and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma.
• 1 Peter 3:18For Messiah once suffered for sins also—the righteous for the unrighteous—in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Ruach.
• 1 John 2:1My children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Intercessor with the Father—the righteous Messiah Yeshua.
• Isaiah 53:9His grave was given with the wicked, and by a rich man in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
• Luke 1:35And responding, the angel said to her, “The Ruach ha-Kodesh will come upon you, and the power of Elyon will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One being born will be called Ben-Elohim.
• Hebrews 7:26For such a Kohen Gadol was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
• 1 Peter 2:22“He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.”
• 1 John 3:5You know that Yeshua appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
• Isaiah 45:24They will say of Me, ‘Only in Adonai is righteousness and strength.’ All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.
• Isaiah 53:11As a result of the anguish of His soul He will see it and be satisfied by His knowledge. The Righteous One, My Servant will make many righteous and He will bear their iniquities.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us - ̔, ̔ ̔ ̔ · He made him who knew no sin, (who was innocent), a sin-offering for us. The word ̔ occurs here twice: in the first place it means sin, i.e. transgression and guilt; and of Christ it is said, He knew no sin, i.e. was innocent; for not to know sin is the same as to be conscious of innocence; so, nil conscire sibi, to be conscious of nothing against one's self, is the same as nulla pallescere culpa, to be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us - The Greek here is, for him who knew no sin, he hath made sin, or a sin-offering for us.‘ The design of this very important verse is, to urge the strongest possible reason for being reconciled to God. This is implied in the word ( ̀ gar) “for.” Paul might have urged other arguments, and presented other strong considerations. But he chooses to present this fact, that Christ has been made sin for us, as embodying and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Christ became the offering for our sin on the cross by taking the penalty of sin upon himself and dying a criminal's death. He did this even though he never sinned (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), so we might be made right with God. That is, we are set in a right relationship with God and accepted by him (see Galatians 3:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. For--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. The grand reason why they should be reconciled to God, namely, the great atonement in Christ provided by God, is stated without the "for" as being part of the message of reconciliation (2Co 5:19). he--God. sin--not a sin offering, which would destroy the antithesis to "righteousness," and would make "sin" be used in different senses in the same sentence: not a sinful person, which would be untrue, and would…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:21

• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Justification
• Offerings
• Reconciliation
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Covenant
• Death
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings