Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:2

What does 2 Corinthians 5:2 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 5:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 5:2 means

Feeling the weakness of life in this world, believers “groan”—not in despair, but with yearning. The longing is to be clothed with the heavenly dwelling described in the previous verse. Paul sees the future not as escape from embodiment, but as a fuller, richer embodiment from God. This holy ache comes from tasting life in Christ now and desiring its consummation. The verse recognizes both the reality of present burdens and the legitimacy of Christian desire for glory. The Christian’s hope is not merely to end suffering, but to be fitted with a God-given, immortal life that perfectly matches fellowship with Him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For in this we are crying in weariness, greatly desiring to be clothed with our house from heaven:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which [is] from heaven;

Context

Verse 2 develops the metaphor introduced in verse 1. Having mentioned the heavenly building, Paul names the felt experience it produces in believers: groaning and longing for that reality. This sets up verses 3–4, where he clarifies the kind of longing he means—not for disembodiment, but for a better, God-given clothing. The emotional tone of yearning will ground the practical courage of verses 6–9 and the sober motivation of the coming judgment in verse 10.

v.1For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

v.2This passage

v.3if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 8:23

    And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:53

    For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

  • 1 Peter 1:6

    Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,

  • 2 Corinthians 5:3

    if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

  • Romans 7:24

    Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?

  • Philippians 1:23

    But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:

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