2 Corinthians 4 · Verse 9

2 Corinthians 4:9

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Corinthians 4:9, King James Version

2 Corinthians 4:9 in other translations

BSBpersecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
WEBpursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
ASVpursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
YLTpersecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
DARBYpersecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed;
BBEWe are cruelly attacked, but not without hope; we are made low, but we are not without help;
WebsterPersecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

What does 2 Corinthians 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. not forsaken--by God and man. Jesus was forsaken by both; so much do His sufferings exceed those of His people (Mt 27:46). cast down--or "struck down"; not only "persecuted," that is, chased as a deer or bird (1Sa 26:20), but actually struck down as with a dart in the chase (He 11:35-38). The Greek "always" in this verse means, "throughout the whole time"; in 2Co 4:11 the Greek is different, and means, "at every time," "in every case when the occasion occurs."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. Persecuted.Often persecuted; persecuted in all places. The "Acts of the Apostles" show how true this was.

But not forsaken. Not deserted; not left by God. Though persecuted by men, yet they experienced the fulfillment of the Divine promise that he would never leave or forsake them. God always interposed to aid them; always saved them from the power of their enemies; always sustained them in the time of persecution. It is still true. people have been often persecuted. Yet God has often interposed to save them from the hands of their enemies; and where he has not saved them from their hands, and preserved their lives, yet he has never left them, but has sustained, upheld, and comforted them even in the dreadful agonies of death.

Cast down. Thrown down by our enemies, perhaps in allusion to the contests of wrestlers, or of gladiators.

But not destroyed. Not killed. They rose again; they recovered their strength; they were prepared for new conflicts. They surmounted every difficulty, and were ready to engage in new strifes, and to meet new trials and persecutions.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken - Διωκομενοι, αλλ' ουκ εγκαταλειπομενοι. The διωκομενοι, pursued, is peculiar to the δρομος, or race, when one being foremost others pursue, and get up close after him, endeavoring to outstrip him, but cannot succeed: this is the meaning of ουκ εγκαταλειπομενοι, not outstripped, or outgone, as the word implies. So in Plutarch: τους απολειφθεντας ου στεφανουσι, they do not crown them that are distanced or left behind. So says the apostle, 1Cor 9:24 : All run, but only One receiveth the Prize. Cast down, but not destroyed - Καταβαλλομενοι αλλ' ουκ απολλυμενοι. This also belongs to wrestlers, where he that throws the other first is conqueror. And so Hesychius: καταβαλει, νικησει, ῥιψει, to cast down is to overcome, to throw. And then, the being not destroyed signifies that, although they were thrown down-cast into troubles and difficulties, yet they rose again, and surmounted them all.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with wonderful support. Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor forsake them. There may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ's…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 →

2 Corinthians 4:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διωκόμενοιdiōkomenoibeing persecutedG1377
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι,egkataleipomenoibeing forsaken,G1459
καταβαλλόμενοιkataballomenoibeing struck downG2598
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
οὐκouknotG3756
ἀπολλύμενοι·apollumenoibeing destroyed;G622

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 4:9

  • Isaiah 43:2

    When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  • Micah 7:8

    Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

  • Psalms 37:24-25

    Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

  • Proverbs 24:16

    For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

  • Psalms 42:11

    Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

  • Isaiah 62:4

    Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi–bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:6

    Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

  • Psalms 9:10

    And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

  • Psalms 37:28

    For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

  • Job 5:17-19

    Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

  • John 15:20

    Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
but.
Ps 9:10; 22:1; 37:25,28; Isa 62:4; Heb 13:5
cast.
7:6; Job 5:17-19; 22:29; Ps 37:24; 42:5,11; Isa 43:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 4:8

    We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:9

    Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:10

    Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Perseguidos, mas no desamparados; abatidos, mas no perecemos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		persécutés, mais non pas abandonnés; abattus, mais ne périssant pas;
German
Elberfelder 1871		verfolgt, aber nicht verlassen; niedergeworfen, aber nicht umkommend;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		persecutionem patimur, sed non derelinquimur: dejicimur, sed non perimus: