2 Timothy 2 · Verse 16

2 Timothy 2:16

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:16, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:16 in other translations

BSBBut avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
WEBBut shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
ASVBut shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
YLTand the profane vain talkings stand aloof from, for to more impiety they will advance,
DARBYBut profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety,
BBEBut take no part in wrong and foolish talk, for those who do so will go farther into evil,
WebsterBut shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase to more ungodliness.

What does 2 Timothy 2:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. shun--literally, "stand above," separate from, and superior to. vain--opposed to "the truth" (2Ti 2:15). babblings--with loud voice: opposed to the temperate "word" (Tit 3:9). increase--Greek, advance"; literally, "strike forward": an image from pioneers cutting away all obstacles before an advancing army. They pretend progress; the only kind of progress they make is to a greater pitch of impiety. more ungodliness--Greek, "a greater degree of impiety."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. But shun profane and vain babblings. 1Timm 6:20.

For they will increase unto more ungodliness. Their tendency is to alienate the soul from God, and to lead to impiety. Such kinds of disputation are not merely a waste of time, they are productive of positive mischief. A man fond of contention in religious things is seldom one who has much love for the practical duties of piety, or any very deep sense of the distinction between right and wrong. You will not usually look for him in the place of prayer, nor can you expect his aid in the conversion of sinners, nor will you find that he has any very strict views of religious obligation.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Shun profane and vain babblings - This is the character he gives of the preaching of the false teachers. Whatever was not agreeable to the doctrine of truth was, in the sight of God, empty and profane babbling; engendering nothing but ungodliness, and daily increasing in that.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:14-21

Those disposed to strive, commonly strive about matters of small moment. But strifes of words destroy the things of God. The apostle mentions some who erred. They did not deny the resurrection, but they corrupted that true doctrine. Yet nothing can be so foolish or erroneous, but it will overturn the temporary faith of some professors. This foundation has two writings on it. One speaks our comfort. None can…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 2:14-21 →

2 Timothy 2:16 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.

ΤὰςTas<the>G3588
δὲdeButG1161
βεβήλουςbebēlousworldlyG952
κενοφωνίαςkenophōniasempty babblingsG2757
περιΐστασο·periistasodo yourself avoid;G4026
ἐπὶepionG1909
πλεῖονpleionto moreG4119
γὰρgarforG1063
προκόψουσινprokopsousinthey will leadG4298
ἀσεβείας,asebeiasto ungodliness,G763

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

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:16

  • Titus 3:9

    But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

  • 1 Timothy 6:20

    O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

  • 2 Timothy 2:14

    Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8

    For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

  • Titus 1:14

    Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

  • Hosea 12:1

    Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

  • 1 Timothy 4:7

    But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

  • Revelation 13:3

    And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

  • Ezra 10:10

    And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:6

    Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  • 2 Peter 2:2

    And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

  • 2 Timothy 3:13

    But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
shun.
14; 1Ti 4:7; 6:20; Tit 1:14; 3:9
for.
3:13; Ezr 10:10; Ho 12:1; 1Co 5:6; 15:33; 2Th 2:7,8; Tit 1:11
Heb 12:15; 2Pe 2:2,18; Re 13:3,14

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

Context

  • 2 Timothy 2:15

    Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  • 2 Timothy 2:16

    But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

  • 2 Timothy 2:17

    And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas evita profanas y vanas parlerías; porque muy adelante irán en la impiedad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais évite les discours vains et profanes, car ceux qui s’y livrent iront plus avant dans l’impiété,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die ungöttlichen eitlen Geschwätze aber vermeide; denn sie werden zu weiterer Gottlosigkeit fortschreiten,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Profana autem et vaniloquia devita: multum enim proficiunt ad impietatem: