2 Peter 2:19
What does 2 Peter 2:19 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 2:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 2:19 means
They advertise liberty but are themselves slaves of corruption. This unmasks their message: freedom defined as doing whatever one desires becomes bondage to desire. A spiritual axiom follows—whatever overcomes a person becomes that person’s master. Real autonomy is impossible; we are shaped by what we serve. When sin rules, it imprisons. The promise of liberty apart from holiness is a lie. The only true freedom is freedom from corruption, which this verse implies they do not possess; hence they cannot impart it. They are salesmen of chains, calling them keys.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000promising 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611While 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901promising 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Saying that they will be free, while they themselves are the servants of destruction; because whatever gets the better of a man makes a servant of him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862liberty to them promising, themselves being servants of the corruption, for by whom any one hath been overcome, to this one also he hath been brought to servitude,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a man is subdued, by him is he also brought into slavery.
Context
Having shown the seductive technique (v.18), Peter exposes the false teachers’ core contradiction: enslaved men promising emancipation. This sets the stage for the grave warning of verses 20–21 about those who, after escaping the world’s defilements through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, fall back and end in a worse state. Verse 22 will then seal the warning with vivid proverbs of relapse.
v.18For, 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;
v.19This passage
v.20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.
- Titus 3:3
For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
- Isaiah 28:1
Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine!
- 2 Timothy 2:26
and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
- Galatians 5:1
For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
- Jeremiah 23:9
Concerning the prophets. My heart within me is broken, all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of Jehovah, and because of his holy words.
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