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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Pet 2 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22
OET (OET-LV) But these like illogical animals, having_been_born natural for capture and corruption, slandering in what things they_are_not_knowing, in the corruption of_them and they_will_be_being_corrupted,
OET (OET-RV) But these men act like unthinking animals that are born to be captured and destroyed when they slander concerning things they know nothing about, and they will bring about their own destruction.
In this section, Peter warned the people who read his letter against false teachers who behaved wickedly and who would try to encourage believers to behave in the same immoral way as they did. But God would certainly destroy these false teachers.
Many of the verses in this section are similar to verses in Jude’s letter. Whoever wrote second, Peter or Jude, may have had a copy of the other one’s letter and used words and ideas out of that letter. Or perhaps someone else had written something with similar words and ideas in it, and Peter and Jude both used words and ideas from that writing. Why these two letters are so similar is not the most important thing. But if you have already translated Jude, it is important to have that translation open in front of you while you are studying and translating this section of 2 Peter. However be careful not to copy any verse exactly from Jude’s letter to your translation of 2 Peter, because there are differences between them which must remain in your translation.
Peter was saying that the false teachers did all kinds of wicked things. They did not show respect for anyone, not even those greater than themselves. They behaved like wild animals, doing only what their bodies desired to do. Because they were so evil, and because they enticed others to behave as they themselves did, God would destroy them.
There are a couple of places in this verse where scholars understand the Greek in different ways. These Notes follow one widely accepted interpretation. Peter compared the false teachers to wild animals who behave according to their instinct. They act without thinking, according to what they want to do. God will destroy these false teachers in the same way that men catch and kill wild animals.
These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand,
But these false teachers behave like wild animals who have no power to think but do only what their bodies want to do. Such animals are born so that people can catch and kill them. Because they are like these animals, these teachers say bad things about matters they know nothing about.
But these teachers act like senseless animals who act as their bodies want to and who are born so that people can trap and kill them. Because they are like these animals, these teachers insult things that they really know nothing about.
like irrational animals, creatures of instinct: This is probably a pair of words that Peter used together in this sentence in order to emphasize how much like animals these false teachers were. The false teachers did only what the desires of their bodies drove them to do, like animals who do not think about what they do.
blaspheme: In English this word means “to say bad things about holy things or people.” But the Greek word it translates here can also mean “to say bad things about ordinary people or things.” Some scholars think Peter was talking about saying bad things about “glorious beings” (see 2:10c). But others think he meant saying bad things about church or government leaders.
and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
God will destroy them in the same way as people kill animals.
like such creatures, they too will be destroyed: Literally, “in their destruction they will be destroyed.” Scholars have interpreted this in many different ways, so it is difficult to be sure what Peter intended to say. Versions translate differently according to the interpretation they follow. For example:
Since the false teachers behave like wild animals, God will destroy them in the same way as people destroy wild animals. Peter used the same Greek word here for “destroy” as he used in 2:12a when talking about the animals being born “only to be caught and destroyed.” For exapmle:
They will be destroyed like wild animals (GNT) (BSB, GNT, NIV, NEB, and RSV follow this interpretation.)
The wicked behavior of the false teachers will cause their own destruction. For example:
They will certainly destroy themselves by their own work of destruction (JB) (JB, JBP also follows this interpretation.)
It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).
Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns
οὗτοι
these
Here, these men refers to the false teachers introduced in [2:1](../02/01.md). Alternate translation: [these false teachers]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
οὗτοι & ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα
these & like illogical animals
Peter describes the false teachers by comparing them to unreasoning animals. Just as animals cannot think rationally, neither can these people. Alternate translation: [these false teachers are like animals who are not capable of thinking rationally]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
γεγεννημένα φυσικὰ εἰς ἅλωσιν καὶ φθοράν
˓having_been˒_born (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
This clause gives more information about the unreasoning animals and thus, by way of comparison, the false teachers. Alternate translation: [which have by nature been born for capture and destruction]
γεγεννημένα φυσικὰ εἰς ἅλωσιν καὶ φθοράν
˓having_been˒_born (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
Here, by nature means that the unreasoning animals (and false teachers by comparison) were destined for capture and destruction due to their very nature as animals born for this purpose. Alternate translation: [according to their nature, these animals are born for capture and destruction]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
εἰς ἅλωσιν καὶ φθοράν
for capture (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
This is a purpose clause. The word for here indicates that what follows it is the purpose for which these animals have been born. Alternate translation: [for the purpose of capture and destruction]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
εἰς ἅλωσιν καὶ φθοράν
for capture (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract nouns capture and destruction by stating the ideas behind them with verbs. Alternate translation: [in order to capture and destroy them]
ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες
in what_‹things› ˱they˲_˓are˒_not_knowing slandering
This clause could refer to: (1) more information about the false teachers. Alternate translation: [who slander those things in which they are ignorant] (2) the reason the false teachers will be destroyed. Alternate translation: [because they slander those things in which they are ignorant]
ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν
in what_‹things› ˱they˲_˓are˒_not_knowing
Here, those things could refer to: (1) the “glorious ones” of [2:10](../02/10.md). Alternate translation: [who slander those of whom they are ignorant] (2) the Christian teachings that these false teachers are rejecting. Alternate translation: [who slander the teachings of which they are ignorant]
Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns
ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καὶ φθαρήσονται
in in the corruption ˱of˲_them (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
Here, the pronouns they and their refer to the false teachers introduced in [2:1](../02/01.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this explicitly. Alternate translation: [these false teachers will also be destroyed in their destruction]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
καὶ φθαρήσονται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
If your language does not use this passive form, you can express this with an active form, and you can state who will do the action. Alternate translation: [God will also destroy them]
καὶ φθαρήσονται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτοι Δέ ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικά εἰς ἅλωσιν καί φθοράν ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καί φθαρήσονται)
Here, also is used for emphasis and may be translated as “indeed” or “surely.” Alternate translation: [they will indeed be destroyed] or [they will surely be destroyed]
ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν
in in the corruption ˱of˲_them
This clause indicates the time when the false teachers will be destroyed. Alternate translation: [at the time of their destruction]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν
in in the corruption ˱of˲_them
If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun destruction with a verb, such as “destroy.” Alternate translation: [when they are destroyed]
2:10b-16 This profile of the false teachers focuses more on how they were living than on what they were teaching.
OET (OET-LV) But these like illogical animals, having_been_born natural for capture and corruption, slandering in what things they_are_not_knowing, in the corruption of_them and they_will_be_being_corrupted,
OET (OET-RV) But these men act like unthinking animals that are born to be captured and destroyed when they slander concerning things they know nothing about, and they will bring about their own destruction.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.