2 Peter 2:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Ἐγένοντο δὲ καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐν τῷ λαῷ, ὡς καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσονται ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι, οἵτινες παρεισάξουσιν αἱρέσεις ἀπωλείας, καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς Δεσπότην ἀρνούμενοι, ἐπάγοντες ἑαυτοῖς ταχινὴν ἀπώλειαν.

Transliteration

Egenonto de and kai pseudoprophētai in the laō, hōs kai in you esontai pseudodidaskaloi, hoitines pareisaxousin haireseis apōleias, kai the agorasanta them Despotēn arnoumenoi, epagontes heautois tachinēn apōleian.

Grammar Details

• *Egenonto*: aorist indicative middle/passive, 3rd plural - 'became/arose'
• *de*: postpositive particle - 'but/and'
• *kai*: conjunction/adverb - 'also/even'
• *pseudoprophētai*: nominative plural masculine - 'false prophets'
• *laō*: dative singular masculine - 'people'
• *hōs*: adverb/conjunction - 'as/like'
• *esontai*: future indicative middle, 3rd plural - 'will be'
• *pseudodidaskaloi*: nominative plural masculine - 'false teachers'
• *hoitines*: nominative plural masculine relative pronoun - 'who/whoever'
• *pareisaxousin*: future indicative active, 3rd plural - 'will bring in secretly'
• *haireseis*: accusative plural feminine - 'heresies/divisions/choices'
• *apōleias*: genitive singular feminine - 'of destruction/ruin'
• *agorasanta*: aorist active participle, accusative singular masculine - 'having bought/purchased'
• *Despotēn*: accusative singular masculine - 'Master/Lord'
• *arnoumenoi*: present middle participle, nominative plural masculine - 'denying'
• *epagontes*: present active participle, nominative plural masculine - 'bringing upon'
• *heautois*: dative plural reflexive pronoun - 'themselves'
• *tachinēn*: accusative singular feminine - 'swift/quick'
• *apōleian*: accusative singular feminine - 'destruction/ruin'

Word Meanings

• *Egenonto*: arose/came to be/became
• *pseudoprophētai*: false prophets/those who falsely claim to speak for God
• *laō*: people/nation/crowd
• *pseudodidaskaloi*: false teachers/those who teach falsehoods
• *pareisaxousin*: will secretly introduce/will bring in alongside/will smuggle in
• *haireseis*: heresies/factions/sects/divisions/choices
• *apōleias*: of destruction/ruin/perdition/damnation
• *agorasanta*: having bought/purchased/redeemed
• *Despotēn*: Master/Sovereign Lord/absolute ruler
• *arnoumenoi*: denying/disowning/rejecting
• *epagontes*: bringing upon/drawing down upon
• *tachinēn*: swift/quick/sudden
• *apōleian*: destruction/ruin/perdition/damnation

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  But just as there were false prophets among the people, there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Ther were falce prophetes amonge the people even as ther shalbe falce teachers amonge you: wich prevely shall brynge in damnable sectes even denyinge the Lorde that hath bought them and brynge vpon them selves swyft damnacion

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Bvt there were false prophetes also amonge the people, euen as there shalbe false teachers amonge you likewyse, which preuely shal brynge in damnable sectes, euen denyenge the LORDE that hath boughte them, and shal brynge vpon them selues swift damnacion:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Bvt there were false prophets also among the people, euen as there shalbe false teachers among you: which priuily shall bring in damnable heresies, euen denying the Lorde, that hath bought them, and bring vpon themselues swift damnation.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  There were false prophetes also among the people, eue as there shalbe false teachers among you, whiche pryuyly shal bryng in damnable heresies, euen denying the Lorde that hath bought them, and bryng vpo them selues swyft damnation.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And there did come also false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall bring in besides destructive sects, and the Master who bought them denying, bringing to themselves quick destruction,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But there were false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly put forward wrong teachings for your destruction, even turning away from the Lord who gave himself for them; whose destruction will come quickly, and they themselves will be the cause of it.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The False Teachers’ Ungodly Lifestyle But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Pet 2:3 : 3 And through covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; their judgment is long overdue, and their destruction does not slumber.
• Jude 1:4 : 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lewdness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Matt 7:15 : 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
• Gal 2:4 : 4 And that because of false brethren stealthily brought in, who came in secretly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
• 1 Cor 11:19 : 19 For there must also be heresies among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
• Deut 13:1-3 : 1 If there arises among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; 3 You shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God tests you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
• 1 Cor 6:20 : 20 For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
• Matt 24:11 : 11 And many false prophets will rise and will deceive many.
• 2 Tim 4:3 : 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
• Col 2:8 : 8 Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the basic principles of the world, and not after Christ.
• Rev 2:9 : 9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
• Rev 2:13 : 13 I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and have not denied my faith even in those days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
• Rev 3:8 : 8 I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.
• Matt 10:33 : 33 But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
• Rev 5:9 : 9 And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
• Rev 13:14 : 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
• Jude 1:18 : 18 How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
• Col 2:18 : 18 Let no one beguile you of your reward in a false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
• 2 Thess 2:3-9 : 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come unless there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what restrains him, that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity already works: only he who now restrains will do so, until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
• 1 Tim 4:1-3 : 1 Now the Spirit speaks clearly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• 2 Tim 2:12-13 : 12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
• 2 Tim 3:1-9 : 1 Know this also, that in the last days perilous times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, 4 Traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power. From such turn away. 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and lead captive gullible women loaded with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disqualified concerning the faith. 9 But they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifested to all, as theirs also was.
• Gal 4:17 : 17 They zealously court you, but not for good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may have zeal for them.
• Gal 5:20 : 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousy, wrath, strife, seditious, heresies,
• Eph 1:7 : 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
• Eph 4:14 : 14 That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive;
• Phil 3:19 : 19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is their stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things.
• Titus 1:11 : 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
• Titus 3:10 : 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
• Heb 10:29 : 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
• 1 Pet 1:8 : 8 Whom having not seen you love; in whom, though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
• 1 John 2:18-19 : 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
• 1 John 2:26 : 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
• 1 John 4:1 : 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• Matt 24:5 : 5 For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many.
• 1 Cor 7:23 : 23 You were bought at a price; do not become servants of men.
• 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder; for Satan himself transforms into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
• Gal 3:13 : 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'
• Matt 24:24 : 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
• Mark 13:22 : 22 For false Christs and false prophets will rise, and will show signs and wonders, to seduce, if possible, even the elect.
• Luke 6:26 : 26 Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
• Luke 12:9 : 9 But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
• Luke 21:8 : 8 And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and the time draws near: do not go after them.
• Acts 3:13-14 : 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus; whom you delivered, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you;
• Acts 20:28-30 : 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
• Rom 16:18 : 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites; and by smooth talk and flattering words deceive the hearts of the innocent.
• Deut 32:6 : 6 Do you thus repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father who has bought you? Has he not made you, and established you?
• 1 Kgs 18:19-22 : 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22 Then said Elijah to the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
• 1 Kgs 22:6 : 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I refrain? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the king’s hand.
• Neh 6:12-14 : 12 And, indeed, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore he was hired, that I should be afraid, and act that way, and sin, so they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, who would have made me afraid.
• Isa 9:15 : 15 The elder and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail.
• Isa 56:10-11 : 10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his territory.
• Jer 14:13-15 : 13 Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.'' 14 Then the LORD said to me, 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.' 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, and I have not sent them, yet they say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'—by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
• Jer 23:16-17 : 16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. 17 They still say to those who despise me, 'The LORD has said, You shall have peace.' And they say to everyone who walks after the imagination of his own heart, 'No evil shall come upon you.'
• Jer 23:25-32 : 25 I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which everyone tells to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says the LORD. 29 Is not my word like a fire? says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words everyone from his neighbor. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues and say, 'He says.' 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and who tell them and cause my people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the LORD.
• Jer 27:14-15 : 14 Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets that speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie to you. 15 For I have not sent them, says the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that you might perish, you, and the prophets that prophesy to you.
• Jer 28:15-17 : 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD has not sent you; but you make this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD; Behold, I will cast you from off the face of the earth: this year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
• Jer 29:8-9 : 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners, who are among you, deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: I have not sent them, says the LORD.
• Jer 29:31-32 : 31 Send to all the exiles, saying, Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you and I did not send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie. 32 Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants; he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for my people, says the LORD, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD.
• Jer 37:19 : 19 Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?
• Lam 2:14 : 14 Your prophets have seen vain and foolish things for you: and they have not revealed your iniquity, to turn away your captivity; but have seen for you false burdens and causes of banishment.
• Ezek 13:3-9 : 3 Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps nor built a hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the LORD. 6 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, saying, 'The LORD says'; but the LORD has not sent them. And they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. 7 Have you not seen a vain vision, and have you not spoken a lying divination, when you say, 'The LORD says it,' although I have not spoken? 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have spoken vanity and seen lies, behold, I am against you, says the Lord GOD. 9 My hand shall be against the prophets who see vanity and divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of my people, nor shall they be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10 Because, indeed, they have seduced my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there was no peace; and one builds up a wall, and others daub it with untempered mortar. 11 Say to those who daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the daubing with which you have daubed it?' 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 14 So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in its midst; and you shall know that I am the LORD. 15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall and upon those who daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say to you, 'The wall is no more, nor are those who daubed it.' 16 This is concerning the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and see visions of peace for her, when there is no peace, says the Lord GOD. 17 Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy from their own heart; and prophesy against them, 18 And say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew cushions on all armholes and make veils for the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people and save the souls alive that come to you?
• Hos 9:8 : 8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God; but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
• Mic 2:11 : 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood lies, saying, I will prophesy to you of wine and strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
• Mic 3:5 : 5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who make my people err, who bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
• Mic 3:11 : 11 The leaders judge for reward, and the priests teach for hire, and the prophets divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.
• Zech 13:3-4 : 3 And it shall come to pass that when anyone continues to prophesy, then his father and his mother who gave birth to him shall say to him, You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD; and his father and his mother who gave birth to him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. 4 And it shall come to pass in that day that the prophets shall be ashamed, every one of his vision, when he has prophesied; nor shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
• Mal 3:5 : 5 And I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those who oppress the laborer in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who turn aside the stranger from his right, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.