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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 2 Peter 2:19

17These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. The gloom of utter darkness has been reserved for them. 18For by mouthing grandiosities that amount to nothing, they entice in sensual fleshly passions those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption—for a person is a slave to whatever has overcome him. 20For if—after escaping the world’s pollutions through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah—they again become entangled in these things and are overcome, the end for them has become worse than the beginning. 21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on 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 5:1For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again.
• 1 Peter 2:16Live as free people, but not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Rather, live as God’s slaves.
• John 8:34Yeshua answered them, “Amen, amen I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
• Romans 6:12Therefore do not let sin rule in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
• 2 Peter 2:20For if—after escaping the world’s pollutions through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah—they again become entangled in these things and are overcome, the end for them has become worse than the beginning.
• Isaiah 28:1Oy , the proud crown of Ephraim’s drunks! Its glorious beauty is a fading flower, which is at the head of the fertile valleys of those overcome with wine!
• Jeremiah 23:9As for the prophets: My heart within me is broken, all my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine because of Adonai, because of His holy words.
• 2 Timothy 2:26Then they may regain their senses and escape the devil’s snare, in which they had been held 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