2 Peter 2:16
What does 2 Peter 2:16 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 2:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 2:16 means
God interrupted Balaam’s madness through an astonishing rebuke: a donkey, normally mute, spoke with a human voice and restrained him. The point is not novelty but humiliation—creation itself rose to confront a prophet who would not heed God. Greed makes the wise foolish, pushing them toward ruin unless providence intervenes. Peter implies that false teachers walk a similar path of irrationality; if they will not listen to Scripture’s reproof, God can shame them by unlikely means. The Lord is not short of instruments to check those who merchandise his name.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man’s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man’s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But his wrongdoing was pointed out to him: an ass, talking with a man's voice, put a stop to the error of the prophet.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and had a rebuke of his own iniquity--a dumb ass, in man's voice having spoken, did forbid the madness of the prophet.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the yoke, which, speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but had reproof of his own wickedness — [the] dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the folly of the prophet.
Context
This verse completes the Balaam illustration, highlighting divine rebuke of profit-driven prophecy. With that example closed, Peter resumes his direct denunciation in verse 17, calling the false teachers dry wells and storm-driven mists destined for deep darkness, before explaining their seductive techniques and enslaving message in verses 18–19. The flow moves from example to metaphor to expose both character and consequences.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 26:11
And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
- Ecclesiastes 9:3
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
- Ecclesiastes 7:25
I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
- Hosea 9:7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the abundance of thine iniquity, and because the enmity is great.
- Luke 16:11
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
- Numbers 22:21
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
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