2 Peter 2 · Verse 12

2 Peter 2:12

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;
2 Peter 2:12, King James Version

2 Peter 2:12 in other translations

BSBThese 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.
WEBBut these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed,
ASVBut 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,
YLTand these, as irrational natural beasts, made to be caught and destroyed--in what things they are ignorant of, speaking evil--in their destruction shall be destroyed,
DARBYBut these, as natural animals without reason, made to be caught and destroyed, speaking injuriously in things they are ignorant of, shall also perish in their own corruption,
BBEBut these men, like beasts without reason, whose natural use is to be taken and put to death, crying out against things of which they have no knowledge, will undergo that same destruction which they are designing for others;
WebsterBut 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:

What does 2 Peter 2:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. (Jude 19). But--In contrast to the "angels," 2Pe 2:11. brute--Greek, "irrational." In contrast to angels that "excel in strength." beasts--Greek, "animals" (compare Psa 49:20). natural--transposed in the oldest manuscripts, "born natural," that is, born naturally so: being in their very nature (that is, naturally) as such (irrational animals), born to be taken and destroyed (Greek, "unto capture and destruction," or corruption, see on Ga 6:8; compare end of this verse, "shall perish," literally, "shall be corrupted," in their own corruption. Jude 10, naturally ... corrupt themselves," and so destroy themselves; for one and the same Greek word expresses corruption, the seed, and destruction, the developed fruit). speak evil of--Greek, "in the case of things which they understand not." Compare the same presumption, the parent of subsequent Gnostic error, producing an opposite, though kindred, error, the worshipping of good angels": Col 2:18, "intruding into those things which he hath not seen."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. 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 wanting 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. We are not to suppose that this teaches that the only object which God had in view in making wild animals was that they might be destroyed; but that men so regard them.

Speak evil of the things that they understated not. Of objects whose worth and value they cannot appreciate. This is no uncommon thing among men, especially in regard to the works and ways of God.

And shall utterly perish in their own corruption. Their views will be the means of their ruin; and they render them fit for it, just as much as the fierce passions of the wild animals do.

(d) "brute beasts" Jer 12:3 (+) "perish" "be destroyed"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 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. And thus, by blaspheming what they do not understand, they at last perish in their own corruption; i.e. their corrupt doctrines and vicious practices.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Peter 2:10-16

Impure seducers and their abandoned followers, give themselves up to their own fleshly minds. Refusing to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ, they act against God's righteous precepts. They walk after the flesh, they go on in sinful courses, and increase to greater degrees of impurity and wickedness. They also despise those whom God has set in authority over them, and requires them to honour. Outward…

Read the full comment on 2 Peter 2:10-16 →

2 Peter 2:12 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.

οὗτοιhoutoiTheseG3778
δὲdehoweverG1161
ὡςhōslikeG5613
ἄλογαalogairrationalG249
ζῷαzōaanimalsG2226
γεγεννημέναgegennēmenathey were bornG1080
φυσικὰphusikaas creatures of instinctG5446
εἰςeisforG1519
ἅλωσινhalōsincaptureG259
καὶkaiandG2532
φθοράν,phthorandestruction,G5356
ἐνeninG1722
οἷςhoiswhatG3739
ἀγνοοῦσινagnoousinthey are ignorant ofG50
βλασφημοῦντεςblasphēmountesblasphemingG987
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
φθορᾷphthoradestructionG5356
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
φθαρήσονταιphtharēsontaiwill be destroyedG5351

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

Cross references for 2 Peter 2:12

  • Jude 1:10

    But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

  • Jeremiah 12:3

    But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

  • Galatians 6:8

    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • 2 Peter 2:19

    While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

  • Psalms 92:6

    A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

  • Jeremiah 10:21

    For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

  • Jeremiah 10:8

    But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Proverbs 14:32

    The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

  • Jeremiah 5:4

    Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.

  • 2 Peter 1:4

    Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

  • Psalms 49:10

    For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as natural.
Ps 49:10; 92:6; 94:8; Jer 4:22; 5:4; 10:8,21; 12:3; Eze 21:31; Jude 1:10
perish.
19; 1:4; Pr 14:32; Joh 8:21; Ga 6:8

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

Context

  • 2 Peter 2:11

    Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

  • 2 Peter 2:12

    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;

  • 2 Peter 2:13

    And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

Read all of 2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas éstos, diciendo mal de las cosas que no entienden, como bestias brutas, que naturalmente son hechas para presa y destrucción, perecerán en su perdición,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais ceux-ci, comme des bêtes sans raison, purement animales, nées pour être prises et détruites, parlant injurieusement dans les choses qu’ils ignorent, périront aussi dans leur propre corruption,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Diese aber, wie unvernünftige, natürliche Tiere, geschaffen zum Fang und Verderben, lästernd über das, was sie nicht wissen, werden auch in ihrem eigenen Verderben umkommen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hi vero velut irrationabilia pecora, naturaliter in captionem, et in perniciem in his quæ ignorant blasphemantes in corruptione sua peribunt,