Philippians 3:2

Bible in Basic English (1941)

Be on the watch against dogs, against the workers of evil, against those of the circumcision:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Βλέπετε τοὺς κύνας, βλέπετε τοὺς κακοὺς ἐργάτας, βλέπετε τὴν κατατομήν.

Transliteration

Blepete the kynas, blepete the kakous ergatas, blepete the katatomēn.

Grammar Details

• *blepete*: imperative, present, active, 2nd person plural - look at/beware of
• *kynas*: accusative, masculine, plural - dogs
• *kakous*: accusative, masculine, plural, adjective - evil/bad
• *ergatas*: accusative, masculine, plural - workers
• *katatomēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - mutilation/cutting

Word Meanings

• *blepete*: look at/watch out for/beware of
• *kynas*: dogs [derogatory term]
• *kakous*: evil/bad/wicked
• *ergatas*: workers/laborers
• *katatomēn*: mutilation/cutting [wordplay contrasting with *peritomē* (circumcision)]

Referenced Verses

• 2 Cor 11:13 : 13 For such men are false Apostles, workers of deceit, making themselves seem like Apostles of Christ.
• Gal 5:15 : 15 But if you are given to fighting with one another, take care that you are not the cause of destruction one to another.
• Ps 22:16 : 16 Dogs have come round me: I am shut in by the band of evil-doers; they made wounds in my hands and feet.
• Ps 22:20 : 20 Make my soul safe from the sword, my life from the power of the dog.
• Isa 56:10-11 : 10 His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dogs without tongues, unable to make a sound; stretched out dreaming, loving sleep. 11 Yes, the dogs are for ever looking for food; while these, the keepers of the sheep, are without wisdom: they have all gone after their pleasure, every one looking for profit; they are all the same.
• 2 Tim 3:1-6 : 1 But be certain of this, that in the last days times of trouble will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, uplifted in pride, given to bitter words, going against the authority of their fathers, never giving praise, having no religion, 3 Without natural love, bitter haters, saying evil of others, violent and uncontrolled, hating all good, 4 False to their friends, acting without thought, lifted up in mind, loving pleasure more than God; 5 Having a form of religion, but turning their backs on the power of it: go not with these. 6 For these are they who go secretly into houses, making prisoners of foolish women, weighted down with sin, turned from the way by their evil desires,
• Titus 1:16 : 16 They say that they have knowledge of God, while by their acts they are turning their backs on him; they are hated by all, hard-hearted, and judged to be without value for any good work.
• Rev 22:15 : 15 Outside are the dogs, and those who make use of evil powers, those who make themselves unclean, and the takers of life, and those who give worship to images, and everyone whose delight is in what is false.
• Rom 2:28 : 28 The true Jew is not one who is only so publicly, and circumcision is not that which may be seen in the flesh:
• Rev 21:8 : 8 But those who are full of fear and without faith, the unclean and takers of life, those who do the sins of the flesh, and those who make use of evil powers or who give worship to images, and all those who are false, will have their part in the sea of ever-burning fire which is the second death.
• 2 Pet 2:18-20 : 18 For 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; 19 Saying 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. 20 For if, after they have got free from the unclean things of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again taken in the net and overcome, their last condition is worse than their first.
• 2 Tim 4:3-4 : 3 For the time will come when they will not take the true teaching; but, moved by their desires, they will get for themselves a great number of teachers for the pleasure of hearing them; 4 And shutting their ears to what is true, will be turned away to belief in foolish stories.
• 2 Tim 4:14-15 : 14 Alexander the copper-worker did me much wrong: the Lord will give him the reward of his works: 15 But be on the watch for him, for he was violent in his attacks on our teaching.
• Jude 1:4 : 4 For certain men have come among you secretly, marked out before in the holy Writings for this evil fate, men without the fear of God, turning his grace into an unclean thing, and false to our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Jude 1:10-13 : 10 But these men say evil about such things as they have no knowledge of; and the things of which they have natural knowledge, like beasts without reason, are the cause of their destruction. 11 A curse on them! They have gone in the way of Cain, running uncontrolled into the error of Balaam for reward, and have come to destruction by saying evil against the Lord, like Korah. 12 These men are unseen rocks at your love-feasts, when they take part in them with you, keepers of sheep who without fear take the food of the sheep; clouds without water rushing before the wind, wasted trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots, 13 Violent waves of the sea, streaming with their shame, wandering stars for whom the darkest night is kept in store for ever.
• Matt 7:6 : 6 Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, or put your jewels before pigs, for fear that they will be crushed under foot by the pigs whose attack will then be made against you.
• Matt 7:15 : 15 Be on the watch for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are cruel wolves.
• Matt 7:22-23 : 22 A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power? 23 And then will I say to them, I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.
• Phil 3:3 : 3 For we are the circumcision, who give worship to God and have glory in Jesus Christ, and have no faith in the flesh:
• Phil 3:19 : 19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, whose minds are fixed on the things of the earth.
• 1 Tim 1:19 : 19 Keeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith:
• Gal 2:3-4 : 3 But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was made to undergo circumcision: 4 And that because of the false brothers let in secretly, who came searching out our free condition which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might make servants of us;
• Gal 5:1-3 : 1 Christ has truly made us free: then keep your free condition and let no man put a yoke on you again. 2 See, I Paul say to you, that if you undergo circumcision, Christ will be of no use to you. 3 Yes, I give witness again to every man who undergoes circumcision, that he will have to keep all the law.
• Gal 5:6 : 6 Because in Christ Jesus, having circumcision or not having circumcision are equally of no profit; but only faith working through love.
• Gal 5:13 : 13 Because you, brothers, were marked out to be free; only do not make use of your free condition to give the flesh its chance, but through love be servants one to another.
• Matt 24:10 : 10 And numbers of people will be turned from the right way, and will give one another up and have hate for one another.
• Ps 119:115 : 115 Go far from me, you evil-doers; so that I may keep the teachings of my God.
• Prov 26:11 : 11 Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.
• Rev 2:9 : 9 I have knowledge of your troubles and how poor you are (but you have true wealth), and the evil words of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a Synagogue of Satan.
• Rev 3:9 : 9 See, I will make those of the Synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews, and are not, but say what is false; I will make them come and give worship before your feet, and see my love for you.
• 2 Pet 2:22 : 22 They are an example of that true saying, The dog has gone back to the food it had put out, and the pig which had been washed to its rolling in the dirty earth.