2 Peter 2:12
in 2 Peter 2These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
KJV
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
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This verse in 2 Peter 2
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThe inspired psalmist said this when he sang: "Man, when honored, had no understanding. He is like the beasts that perish." Although human beings had laws, their morals were irrational, and they soon degenerated into animals whose only end was destruction.
This site's exposition
natural brute beasts
on 2 Peter 2:12-13
These men are natural brute beasts, aloga zoa, animals without reason, made to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil of what they do not understand and set to perish in their own corruption, phthora, the same rot working from the inside that eventually finishes them. Verse 13 turns from beast to blemish, receiving the reward of unrighteousness for counting it pleasure to riot in the day time, open shamelessness rather than vice kept to the dark, spots they are and blemishes, spiloi kai momoi, on the church's own feasts, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you. The picture is of predators inside the fold rather than wolves circling outside it, which is the letter's whole alarm.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But like irrational brute creatures, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming in matters they do not understand, they will perish in their own corruption, receiving the wages of unrighteousness, as they count it pleasure to party in the daytime. And indeed the angels in …
The Medieval Church2 voices
But these, like irrational animals naturally, etc. Just as it is natural for irrational animals to often ignorantly fall into traps and destruction out of the need for food, so heretics, compared to foolish beasts, out of a desire to fulfill their own corruption, blaspheming …
Some explained this thus: they will perish in their own corruption, like irrational animals born naturally, that is, differing in no way from cattle that are born for destruction alone. "Like irrational animals, led by nature," that is, living by sensuality alone, and not by …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But these, as natural brute beasts,....
Their vices not only expose them to the wrath of God in another world, but often bring them to misery and ruin in this life; and surely such impudent offenders, who glory in their shame, and to whom openness in sin is an improvement of the pleasure of sinning, most justly deserve all the plagues of this life and the pains of the next in the greatest extremity.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
But these, as natural brute beasts - ‘Ὡς αλογα ζωα φυσικα· As those natural animals void of reason, following only the gross instinct of nature, being governed neither by reason nor religion. Made to be taken and destroyed - Intended to be taken with nets and gins, and then destroyed, because of their fierce and destructive nature; so these false teachers and insurgents must be treated; first incarcerated, and then brought to judgment, that they may have the reward of their doings.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But these, as natural brute beasts - These persons, who resemble so much irrational animals which are made to be taken and destroyed. The point of the comparison is, that they are like fierce and savage beasts that exercise no control over their appetites, and that seeM to be made only to be destroyed. These persons, by their fierce and ungovernable passions, appear to be made only for destruction, and rush blindly on to it. The word rendered “natural,” (which, however, is lacking in several manuscripts), means “as they are by nature,” following the bent of their natural appetites and passions. The idea is, that they exercised no more restraint over their passions than beasts do over their propensities. They were entirely under the dominion of their natural appetites, and did not allow their reason or conscience to exert any constraint. The word rendered “brute,” means without reason; irrational. Man has reason, and should allow it to control his passions; the brutes have no rational nature, and it is to be expected that they will act out their propensities without restraint. Man, as an animal, has many passions and appetites resembling those of the brute creation, but he is also endowed with a higher nature, which is designed to regulate and control his inferior propensities, and to keep them in subordination to the requirements of law. If a man sinks himself to the level of brutes, he must expect to be treated like brutes; and as wild and savage animals - lions, and panthers, and wolves, and bears - are regarded as dangerous, and as “made to be taken and destroyed,” so the same destiny must come upon men who make themselves like them. Made to be taken and destroyed - They are not only useless to society, but destructive; and men feel that it is right to destroy them. […]
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὗτοι | houtoi | These | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἄλογα | aloga | irrational | G249 → | |
| ζῷα | zoa | animals | G2226 → | |
| γεγεννημένα | gegennemena | they were born | G1080 → | |
| φυσικὰ | phusika | as creatures of instinct | G5446 → | |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἅλωσιν | halosin | capture | G259 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φθοράν, | phthoran | destruction, | G5356 → | 9 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| οἷς | hois | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἀγνοοῦσιν | agnoousin | they are ignorant of | G50 → | |
| βλασφημοῦντες | blasphemountes | blaspheming | G987 → | 34 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φθορᾷ | phthora | destruction | G5356 → | 9 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φθαρήσονται | phtharesontai | will be destroyed | G5351 → |
οὗτοιThese
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
ἄλογαirrational
alogaG249 →
ζῷαanimals
zoaG2226 →
γεγεννημέναthey were born
gegennemenaG1080 →
φυσικὰas creatures of instinct
phusikaG5446 →
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἅλωσινcapture
halosinG259 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φθοράν,destruction,
phthoranG5356 →9 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
οἷςwhat
hoisG3739 →1405 times
ἀγνοοῦσινthey are ignorant of
agnoousinG50 →
βλασφημοῦντεςblaspheming
blasphemountesG987 →34 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
φθορᾷdestruction
phthoraG5356 →9 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φθαρήσονταιwill be destroyed
phtharesontaiG5351 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 6:8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
it leads to
- Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
- 2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
- Hosea 10:13
You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,
- Job 4:8
As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
- Romans 8:13
Through
2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
it leads to
- John 8:34
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
- Romans 6:16–22
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to…
- John 8:34
Through
Psalms 92:6A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
About 2 Peter
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Cyril of Alexandria, CATENA; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Peter.