2 Peter 2

2 Peter · Chapter 2

2 Peter 2:15

1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.11Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.12But 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;13And 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;14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.19While 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.20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

They have left the straight way and wandered off, following the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing. Like Balaam, they serve for profit. 2 Peter 2:142 Peter 2:15

SpeakingSimon Peter, "a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ," who saw Christ's majesty on the holy mount. 2 Peter overview

To"Them that have obtained like precious faith"; traditionally the same believers as 1 Peter, in Asia Minor. 2 Peter overview

Also involvedThe false teachers, compared to Balaam. 2 Peter 2:15

Peter gives an Old Testament example of a greedy prophet (2:15-16). 2 Peter 2:152 Peter 2:16

The letter names no place. If the readers are those of 1 Peter, they were in Asia Minor; tradition places Peter in Rome at the end of his life. 2 Peter overview

The eventsBalaam lived in Moses' time (Numbers 22). Numbers 22:5

WrittenTraditional: about AD 64-68, shortly before Peter's death. Scholarly: many hold a follower wrote it in Peter's name, perhaps AD 100-150; others accept that Peter wrote it near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview

HerePeter shows that greed for gain has corrupted prophets before. 2 Peter 2:152 Peter 2:3

In the whole of ScriptureBalak "sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor" (Numbers 22:5), and the elders came "with the rewards of divination in their hand" (Numbers 22:7). Jude says they "ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" (Jude 1:11). Revelation speaks of "the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock" (Revelation 2:14). Numbers 22:5Numbers 22:7Jude 1:11Revelation 2:14

For readersLoving "the wages of unrighteousness" leads away from the right way. Jude says the same of those who "ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" (Jude 1:11). 2 Peter 2:15Jude 1:11

  • rightεὐθύς
    Greek · euthus · G2117

    The word means straight. Strong's G2117

  • gone astrayπλανάω
    Greek · planaō · G4105

    The word means to wander, go astray. Strong's G4105

  • BalaamΒαλαάμ
    Greek · Balaam · G0903

    The name Balaam. The lexicon lists this verse and Revelation 2:14. Strong's G0903

  • BosorΒοσόρ, Βεώρ
    Greek · Bosor, Beōr · G1007

    Beor, Balaam's father. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G1007

  • wagesμισθός
    Greek · misthos · G3408

    The word means wages, pay. Strong's G3408

Takeaway

The false teachers left the straight way to follow Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. 2 Peter 2:15Jude 1:11

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
leavingκαταλείποντεςkataleipontesG2641
to leave behind

καταλείπω (kataleipō) κατα-λείπω [in LXX chiefly far שָׁאַר, ni., hi., also for עָזַב, יָתַר, etc. ;] 1 1, to leave behind, leave: with accusative of person(s) (of thing(s)), Mat.4:13, Mrk.12:19, 21, Luk.20:31, Act.24:27 25:14, Heb.11:27; of sailing by a place, Act.21:3; ptcp., καταλιπών, redundant (Dalman, Words, 21 f.), Mat.16:4 21:17; pass., Jhn.8:9, 1Th.3:1; metaphorically, εὐθεῖαν ὁδόν, 2Pe.2:15. 2. to forsake, abandon: Mat.19:5, Mrk.10:7" (LXX) Mrk.14:52, Luk.5:28 15:4, Act.6:2, Eph.5:31" (LXX) . …

straightεὐθεῖανeutheianG2117
Straight

εὐθύς (euthus) εὐθύς, -εῖα, -ύ [in LXX chiefly for יָשַׁר ;] 1. straight, direct: τρίβοι, Mat.3:3, Mrk.1:3, Luk.3:4" (LXX) ; εἰς εὐθειας, (sc. ὁδούς), Luk.3:5; εὐ. ὐδός, figuratively, Act.13:10, 2Pe.2:15; as (Proper name) of a street, Act.9:11. 2. In moral sense, straightforward, right: καρδία, Act.8:21 (cf. Psa.7:11 32:11, al.).† εὐθύς, adv., [in LXX (more frequently than εὐθέως) chiefly for יָשַׁר ;] = εὐθέως, straightway, directly: Mat.3:16 13:20-21 14:27 21:2-3 26:74, Luk.6:49, Jhn.13:30, 32 19:34, Act.10:16, 42 times in Mk.† (AS)

wayὁδὸνhodonG3598
road

ὁδός (hodos) ὁδός, -οῦ, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly (very freq.) for דֶּרֶךְ ;] 1. a way, path, road: Mat.2:12, Mrk.10:46, Luk.3:5 al.; κατὰ τὴν ὁ., Luk.10:4, al.; παρὰ τὴν ὁ., Mat.13:4, al.; with genitive of person(s), (subj.), τὴν ὁ. ἑτοιμάζειν (fig.), Mat.3:3, Mrk.1:3, al.; with genitive term. (obj.), ἐθνῶν, Mat.10:5; τ. ἁγίων (figuratively), Heb.9:8; accusative, ὁδόν, with force of prep. (like Heb. דֶּרֶךְ; Bl., §34, 8; 35, 5), ὁ. θαλάσσης, Mat.4:15 (LXX). …

they have gone astray,ἐπλανήθησαν,eplanēthēsanG4105
to lead astray

πλανάω (planaō) πλανάω, -ῶ (πλάνη), [in LXX chiefly for תָּעָה ;] to cause to wander, lead astray. Pass., to go astray, wander: Mat.18:12-13 Heb.11:38, 1Pe.2:25 (cf. Isa.53:6). Metaphorical, to lead astray, deceive: with accusative of person(s), Mat.24:4-5, 11 24:24, Mrk.13:5-6, Jhn.7:12, 2Ti.3:13; 1Jn.1:8 Jn 2:26 Jn 3:7, Rev.2:20 12:9 13:14 19:20 20:3, 8 20:10; pass., to be led astray, to err: Mat.22:29, Mrk.12:24, 27, Luk.21:8, Jhn.7:47, 2Ti.3:13, Tit.3:3, Heb.5:2, 2Pe.2:15, Rev.18:23; τ. καρδίᾳ, Heb.3:10; ἀπὸ τ. ἀληθείας, Jas.5:19;μὴ πλανᾶσθε, 1Co.6:9 15:33, Gal.6:7. Jas.1:16 (cf. ἀπο-πλανάω).† (AS)

having followedἐξακολουθήσαντεςexakolouthēsantesG1811
to follow

ἐξακολουθέω (exakoloutheō) ἐξ-ακολουθέω, -ῶ [in LXX Amo.2:4, Jer.2:2 (אַחַר הָלַךְ), Isa.56:11 (פָּנָה), Job.31:9 (פָּתָה ni.), Sir.5:2, Dan LXX TH Dan.3:1-30 :(41) * ;] to follow, follow up (in various senses): metaphorically, 2Pe.1:16 2:2 2:15 † (AS)

wayὁδῷhodōG3598
road

ὁδός (hodos) ὁδός, -οῦ, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly (very freq.) for דֶּרֶךְ ;] 1. a way, path, road: Mat.2:12, Mrk.10:46, Luk.3:5 al.; κατὰ τὴν ὁ., Luk.10:4, al.; παρὰ τὴν ὁ., Mat.13:4, al.; with genitive of person(s), (subj.), τὴν ὁ. ἑτοιμάζειν (fig.), Mat.3:3, Mrk.1:3, al.; with genitive term. (obj.), ἐθνῶν, Mat.10:5; τ. ἁγίων (figuratively), Heb.9:8; accusative, ὁδόν, with force of prep. (like Heb. דֶּרֶךְ; Bl., §34, 8; 35, 5), ὁ. θαλάσσης, Mat.4:15 (LXX). …

of BalaamΒαλαὰμBalaamG0903
Balaam

Βαλαάμ (Balaam) Βαλαάμ, ὁ, indecl. (Heb. בִּלְעָם), as in LXX (FlJ has ὁ βάλαμος); Balaam (Num.22-24): 2Pe.2:15, Ju 11, Rev.2:14.† (AS)

[son] of Bosor,Βοσόρ,BosorG1007
Beor

Βοσόρ, Βεώρ (Bosor, Beōr) Βοσόρ see Βεώρ - ὁ, indecl. (Heb. בְּעוֹר), Beor, father of Balaam: 2Pe.2:15 (Rec. Βοσόρ).† (AS)

whoὃςhosG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

[the] wageμισθὸνmisthonG3408
wage

μισθός (misthos) μισθός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for שָׂכָר ;] 1. prop., wages, hire: Mat.20:8, Luk.10:7, Rom.4:4, 1Ti.5:18, Jas.5:4, Ju 11; μ. ἀδικίας, Act.1:18, 2Pe.2:13 (but see Mayor and ICC, in l), 2Pe.2:15. 2. Generally, reward: Jhn.4:36, 1Co.9:18; esp. of divine rewards, Mat.5:12 6:1-2, 5 6:16 10:41-42 Mrk.9:41, Luk.6:23, 35, 1Co.3:8 3:14, 2Jn.8, Rev.11:18 22:12; ἔχειν μ., Mat.5:46, 1Co.9:17.† (AS)

of unrighteousnessἀδικίαςadikiasG0093
unrighteousness

ἀδικία (adikia) ἀδικία, -ας, ἡ (ἄδικος), [in LXX for עָוֹן, פֶּשַׁע, עָוֶל, etc. ;] 1. injustice: Luk.18:6, Rom.9:14. 2. unrighteousness, iniquity: Jhn.7:18, Act.8:23, Rom.1:18, 29 2:8 6:13, 2Ti.2:19, 1Jn.1:9 5:17; opposite to ἀλήθεια, 1Co.13:6, 2Th.2:12; to δικαιοσύνη ], Rom.3:5; ἀπάτη τῆς ἀ., 2Th.2:10; μισθὸς ἀδικίας, Act.1:18, 2Pe.2:13,15; ἐγράται τῆς ἀ., Luk.13:27; μαμωνᾶς τῆς ἀ., Luk.16:9; κόσμος τῆς ἀ., Jas.3:6; οἰκονόμος τῆς ἀ., Luk.16:8. 3. = ἀδίκημα, an unrighteous act: ironically, a favour, 2Co.12:13; pl., Heb.8:12 (Cremer, 261; MM, VGT, see word). † (AS)

loved,ἠγάπησεν,ēgapēsenG0025
to love

ἀγαπάω (agapaō) ἀγαπάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for אהב ;] to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing. 1. Of human affection, to men: τ. πλησίον, Mat.5:43; τ. ἐχθρούς, ib. 44; to Christ, Jhn.8:42; to God, Mat.22:37; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.11:43, Jhn.12:43, Eph.5:25, II Tim 4:8, 10, Heb.1:9, 1Pe.2:17, 3:10, 2Pe.2:15, 1Jn.2:15, Rev.12:11. 2. Of divine love; (a) God's love: to men, Rom.8:37; to Christ, Jhn.3:35; (b) Christ's love: to men, Mrk.10:21; to God, Jhn.14:31; with cogn. accusative, Jhn.17:26, Eph.2:4. …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.