2 Peter 2:18
What does 2 Peter 2:18 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 2:18 means
Their tool is rhetoric—big, boastful words that sound profound but are hollow. Their bait is sensuality—appealing to fleshly desires. Their target is the vulnerable—people just escaping from a life of error, who have not yet grown stable in truth. By dressing lust as liberty and vanity as wisdom, they re-enslave those newly freed. This is grooming, not guidance. The church must especially guard the young in faith, teaching them to test eloquence by substance and desire by holiness, lest they be charmed back into the very corruption they fled.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For with high-sounding false words, making use of the attraction of unclean desires of the flesh, they get into their power those newly made free from those who are living in error;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for overswellings of vanity speaking, they do entice in desires of the flesh--lasciviousnesses, those who had truly escaped from those conducting themselves in error,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the desires of fleshly riotousness those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For [while] speaking great highflown words of vanity, they allure with [the] lusts of [the] flesh, by dissoluteness, those who have just fled those who walk in error,
Context
Peter explains the mechanics of deception: vain verbiage plus sensual appeal aimed at the spiritually inexperienced. Verse 19 will now expose the core falsehood in their message—promising freedom while enslaved themselves—and state the spiritual law that mastery equals bondage. With the trap laid bare, verses 20–22 will warn of the especially grievous outcome for those who, after knowing Jesus Christ, are again entangled.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 73:8
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.
- Acts 2:40
And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
- Jude 1:15
to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
- Psalms 52:1
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.
- James 5:5
Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.
- 2 Peter 1:4
whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore 2 Peter 2
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 2 Peter 2.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Greed
The Bible consistently warns against greed, depicting it as a destructive force that hinders one’s relationship with God and others.
Topic
Bible Verses About Hell
The Bible consistently teaches that hell is a real place of eternal conscious punishment for those who reject God.
Topic
Bible Verses About God’s Calling
Explore what it means to be called by God, whether to salvation, service, or a particular purpose in life.