2 Peter 2:12
What does 2 Peter 2:12 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 2:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 2:12 means
Peter compares the false teachers to unreasoning animals driven by instinct, creatures destined for capture and destruction. They bluster and slander in matters they do not comprehend, and their very activity becomes their undoing. Sin devours the sinner. This is not to dehumanize them but to expose the loss of spiritual discernment that comes with rejecting truth and authority. When people live by appetite and ignorant railing, they march toward the end suited to beasts. The sobering lesson: to throw off God’s wisdom is to forfeit the very reason that dignifies humanity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
KJV
King James Version · 1611But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But these men, like beasts without reason, whose natural use is to be taken and put to death, crying out against things of which they have no knowledge, will undergo that same destruction which they are designing for others;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and these, as irrational natural beasts, made to be caught and destroyed--in what things they are ignorant of, speaking evil--in their destruction shall be destroyed,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their corruption:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But these, as natural animals without reason, made to be caught and destroyed, speaking injuriously in things they are ignorant of, shall also perish in their own corruption,
Context
Peter’s imagery grows more severe, moving from irreverent speech (v.10–11) to the animal-like instincts fueling it. He emphasizes both ignorance and inevitable ruin. The next verse (13) will describe the form of their judgment—receiving harm as the wages of their wrongdoing—and will unveil their shameless revelry even in Christian fellowship settings, tightening the warning for the church.
v.11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.
v.12This passage
v.13suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 5:4
Then I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jehovah, nor the law of their God:
- Jeremiah 10:21
For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.
- 2 Peter 2:19
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
- Psalms 49:10
For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.
- John 8:21
He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.
- Jeremiah 12:3
But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
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