2 Timothy 2 · Verse 17

2 Timothy 2:17

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;
2 Timothy 2:17, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:17 in other translations

BSBand the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
WEBand those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:
ASVand their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;
YLTand their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,
DARBYand their word will spread as a gangrene; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
BBEAnd their words will be like poisoned wounds in the flesh: such are Hymenaeus and Philetus;
WebsterAnd their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;

What does 2 Timothy 2:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. will eat--literally, "will have pasture." The consuming progress of mortification is the image. They pretend to give rich spiritual pasture to their disciples: the only pasture is that of a spiritual cancer feeding on their vitals. canker--a "cancer" or "gangrene." Hymenaeus--(See on 1Ti 1:20). After his excommunication he seems to have been readmitted into the Church and again to have troubled it.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. And their word. The word, or the discourses of those who love vain and idle disputations.

Will eat as doth a canker. Marg. gangrene. This word-- γαγγραινα occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is derived from γραιωγραινω, graio or graino--to devour, corrode, and means gangrene or mortifications the death of a part, spreading, unless arrested, by degrees over the whole body. The words rendered "will eat," mean will have nutriment; that is, will spread over and consumes the healthful parts. It will not merely destroy the parts immediately affected, bat will extend into the surrounding healthy parts and destroy them also. So it is with erroneous doctrines. They will not merely eat out the truth in the particular matter to which they refer, but they will also spread over and corrupt other truths. The doctrines of religion are closely connected, and are dependent on each other--like the different parts of the human body. One cannot be corrupted without affecting those adjacent to it, and unless checked, the corruption will soon spread over the whole.

Of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus. In regard to Hymeneus, 1Timm 1:20. Of Philetus nothing more is known. They have gained an undesirable immortality, destined to be known to the end of time only as the advocates of error.

(1) "canker" "gangrene"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Their word will eat as doth a canker - Ὡς γαγγραινα· As a gangrene; i.e. as a mortification in the flesh, where the circulation is entirely stopped, and putrefaction takes place, which continues to corrupt all the circumjacent flesh, spreading more and more till death takes place, unless stopped by a timely and judicious application of medicine. Such is the influence of false doctrine; it fixes its mortal seed in the soul, which continues to corrupt and assimilate every thing to itself, till, if not prevented by a timely application of the word of life, under the direction of the heavenly Physician, it terminates in the bitter pains of an eternal death. To such a gangrene the apostle compares the corrupt doctrines of Hymeneus and Philetus.

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 2:17 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.

καὶkaiandG2532
ὁhotheG3588
λόγοςlogostalkG3056
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
ὡςhōslikeG5613
γάγγραιναgangrainagangreneG1044
νομὴνnomēnpasture to growG3542
ἕξει·hexeiwill have;G2192
ὧνhōnamong whomG3739
ἐστινestinareG1510
ὙμέναιοςHumenaiosHymenaeusG5211
καὶkaiandG2532
Φίλητος,PhilētosPhiletus,G5372

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

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:17

  • 1 Timothy 1:20

    Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

  • Nahum 3:15

    There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.

  • James 5:3

    Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
their word.
Na 3:15; Jas 5:3
canker. or, gangrene. Hymenaeus.
1Ti 1:20

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

Context

  • 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;

  • 2 Timothy 2:18

    Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y la palabra de ellos carcomerá como gangrena: de los cuales es Himeneo y Fileto;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et leur parole rongera comme une gangrène, desquels sont Hyménée et Philète
German
Elberfelder 1871		und ihr Wort wird um sich fressen wie ein Krebs; unter welchen Hymenäus ist und Philetus,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et sermo eorum ut cancer serpit: ex quibus est Hymenæus et Philetus,