2 Thessalonians 2:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; | Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. | let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul warns them not to let anyone deceive them. The day will not come until the falling away comes first and the man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed. Two things must happen before that day. 2 Thessalonians 2:22 Thessalonians 2:3
SpeakingPaul, writing with Silvanus and Timotheus. Paul signs the letter in his own hand (3:17). 2 Thessalonians overview
ToThe church of the Thessalonians, believers in Thessalonica whom Paul had taught in person. 2 Thessalonians overview
Also involvedThe Thessalonian believers, and anyone tempted to believe the day had come. 2 Thessalonians 2:22 Thessalonians 2:3
Paul says that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed. He describes the man of sin in 2:4 and his end in 2:8. 2 Thessalonians 2:32 Thessalonians 2:42 Thessalonians 2:8
The letter went to Thessalonica, a city of Macedonia in northern Greece. The letter does not say where it was written; the traditional view is Corinth. 2 Thessalonians overview
The eventsThe falling away and the revealing of the man of sin come before "that day." 2 Thessalonians 2:3
WrittenTraditional: about AD 50-51, from Corinth, a few months after 1 Thessalonians. Scholarly: some hold a follower wrote it in Paul's name later in the first century; many others accept that Paul wrote it soon after 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians overview
HerePaul gives the church a clear marker so they will not be deceived about the day of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:32 Thessalonians overview
In the whole of ScripturePaul wrote that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits" (1 Timothy 4:1). John wrote that "ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists" (1 John 2:18). Daniel saw one who "shall speak great words against the most High" (Daniel 7:25). 1 Timothy 4:11 John 2:18Daniel 7:25
For readersBelievers need not be deceived about the end. Scripture gives signs that come before the day of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3Matthew 24:4
Christians read this differently
Paul describes the man of sin (2:3-4, 2:8-10) but does not name him. Some identify him with the antichrist John mentions (1 John 2:18) and a single person still to come. Others see a line of rulers or a power over time, and some hold the prophecy was fulfilled in the first century. All agree on what the text says: he exalts himself against God, and the Lord will destroy him at his coming (2:8). 2 Thessalonians 2:32 Thessalonians 2:41 John 2:182 Thessalonians 2:8
- deceiveἐξαπατάω
The word means to deceive completely. Strong's G1818
- falling awayἀποστασία
The word means apostasy, a falling away. The lexicon lists Acts 21:21 as its other New Testament use. Strong's G0646
- sinἀνομία
The word means lawlessness. The phrase is literally "man of lawlessness." Strong's G0458
- perditionἀπώλεια
The word means destruction or ruin. The lexicon lists John 17:12 among its uses, where Jesus speaks of "the son of perdition." Strong's G0684
Takeaway
The day of Christ will not come until the falling away and the revealing of the man of sin, the son of perdition. 2 Thessalonians 2:31 Timothy 4:1
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
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | μή | mē | G3361 | notμή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. … |
| one | τις | tis | G5100 | oneτις (tis) τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. I. As subst., 1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. 2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. II. II. As adj., … |
| you | ὑμᾶς | humas | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| may deceive | ἐξαπατήσῃ | exapatēsē | G1818 | to deceiveἐξαπατάω (exapataō) ἐξ -απατάω, -ῶ strengthened form of ἀπατάω, [in LXX: Exo.8:29 (הָתַל hi.), Da TH Sus 5:6* ;] to deceive: with accusative, Rom.7:11 Rom.16:18, 1Co.3:18, 2Co.11:3, 2Th.2:3; pass., 1Ti.2:14.† (AS) |
| in | κατὰ | kata | G2596 | according toκατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; … |
| not one | μηδένα | mēdena | G3367 | nothingμηδείς (mēdeis) μηδείς, -δεμία, -δέν (and -θέν, Act.27:33, a Hellenistic form; see Bl., 6, 7; Thackeray, Gr., 58) related to οὐδείς as μή to οὐ, no, none, no one; neut., nothing: Mat.16:20, Mrk.5:43 6:8, Luk.3:14, Act.8:24, Rom.13:8, al.; with genitive, Act.4:17 24:23; neut. accusative, μηδέν, adverbially, in no respect, Act.10:20 11:12; as accusative obj. after verb, βλάπτειν, Luk.4:35; ὠφελεῖσθαι, Mrk.5:26; ὑστερεῖν, 2Co.11:5; μεριμνᾶν, Php.4:6; in double negation, strengthening the denial, μηκέτι μ., Mrk.11:14, Act.4:17; μὴ . . . μηδέν (μηδένα, μηδεμίαν), 2Co.13:7, 2Th.2:3, 1Pe.3:6 μηθείς, see. μηδείς … |
| way; | τρόπον· | tropon | G5158 | wayτρόπος (tropos) τρόπος, -ου, ὁ (τρέπω), [in LXX chiefly (ὃν τ.) for אֲשֶׁר ;] 1. a way, manner, fashion: Mat.23:37, Luk.13:34, Act.1:11 7:28, 2Ti.3:8, Ju 7; καθ᾽ ὃν τ., Act.15:11 27:25 (ef. MM, xxv); κατὰ πάντα τ., Rom.3:2; κατὰ μηδένα τ. (4Ma.4:24, al.), 2Th.2:3; (ἐν) παντὶ τ., Php.1:18, 2Th.3:16 2. Of persons, manner of life, character (Hdt., Æsch., al.): Heb.13:5.† (AS) |
| that | ὅτι | hoti | G3754H | that/since: thatὅτι (hoti) ὅτι, conjc. (prop. neut. of ὅστις). I. As conjc, introducing an objective clause, that; 1. after verbs of seeing, knowing, thinking, saying, feeling: Mat.3:9 6:32 11:25, Mrk.3:28, Luk.2:49, Jhn.2:22, Act.4:13, Rom.1:13 8:38 10:9, Php.4:15, Jas.2:24, al.; elliptically, Jhn.6:46, Php.3:12, al. 2. After εἶναι (γίνεσθαι): defining a demonstr. or of person(s) pron., Jhn.3:19 16:19, Rom.9:6, 1Jn.3:16 al.; with pron. interrog., Mat.8:27, Mrk.4:41, Luk.4:36, Jhn.4:22 al.; id. elliptically, Luk.2:49, Act.5:4, 9, al.; … |
| only | ἐὰν | ean | G1437 | ifἐάν (ean) ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; 1. with subjc. (cl.); (a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { (b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . … |
| unless | μὴ | mē | G3361 | notμή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. … |
| shall have come | ἔλθῃ | elthē | G2064 | to come/goἔρχομαι (erchomai) ἔρχομαι, [in LXX very frequently for בּוֹא, also for הלךְ ni., אתה, etc., 34 words in all ;] 1. to come; (a) of persons, either as arriving or returning from elsewhere: Mat.8:9, Mrk.6:31, Luk.7:8, Jhn.4:27, Rom.9:9, al.; before ἀπό, Mrk.5:35 7:1, Jhn.3:2, al.; ἐκ, Luk.5:17, Jhn.3:31, al.; εἰς, Mrk.1:29, al.; διά before εἰς, Mrk.7:31; ἐν (Cremer, 263f., but see: ἐν), Rom.15:29, 1Co.4:21; ἐπί, with accusative, Mrk.6:53 11:13, Jhn.19:33, al.; κατά, with accusative, Luk.10:33 Act.16:7; παρά, with genitive, Luk.8:49; with accusative, Mat.15:29, Mrk.9:14, al.; with dative comm., incomm. (M, Pr., … |
| apostasy | ἀποστασία | apostasia | G0646 | apostasyἀποστασία (apostasia) άποστασία, -ας, ἡ (ἀφίστημι), [in LXX for מַעַל, etc. ;] defection, apostasy, revolt; in late Gk. (MM, Exp., viii; Lft., Notes, 111; Cremer, 308) for cl. ἀπόστασις, frequently in sense of political revolt, in LXX (e.g. Jos.22:22, 2Ch.29:19, Jer.2:19) and NT always of religious apostasy: Act.21:21, 2Th.2:3.† (AS) |
| first | πρῶτον | prōton | G4413G | firstπρῶτον (prōton) πρῶτον, πρῶτος, see: πρότερος A. Compar., πρότερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX for רִאשׁוֹן ,לִפָנִים, etc. ;] before, of time, place, rank, etc.; in NT always of Time, before, former: Eph.4:22. Adverbially, πρότερον, before, aforetime, formerly: Jhn.7:50, 2Co.1:15, Heb.4:6; opposite to ἔπειτα, Heb.7:27; τὸ π., Jhn.6:62 9:8, Gal.4:13, 1Ti.1:13; αἱ π. ἡμέραι, Heb.10:32; αἱ π. ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.1:14.† (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| shall have been revealed | ἀποκαλυφθῇ | apokaluphthēa | G0601 | to revealἀποκαλύπτω (apokaluptō) ἀπο-καλύπτω [in LXX chiefly for גָּלָה ] 1. in general sense (cl.), to reveal, uncover, disclose, (a) of things: Mat.10:26, Luk.2:35 12:2, 1Co.3:13; (b) of persons: pass., Christ, Luk.17:30; Antichrist, 2Th.2:3 2:6 2:8 2. In LXX and NT, in special sense of divine revelation: Mat.11:25 (on the tense, see M, Pr., 136), ib. Mat.11:27 16:17, Luk.10:21-22, Jhn.12:38, Rom.1:17-18 8:18, 1Co.2:10 14:30, Gal.1:16 3:23, Eph.3:5, Php.3:15, 1Pe.1:5-12 5:1 (Westc., Eph., 178 f.; M, Th., 149 f.).† SYN.: φανερόω (see Thayer, 62; Cremer, 342).† (AS) |
| man | ἄνθρωπος | anthrōpos | G0444 | a humanἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) ἄνθρωπος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ ,אָדָם, also for אֱנוֹשׁ, etc. ;] man: 1. generically, a human being, male or female (Lat. homo): Jhn.16:21; with art., Mat.4:4 12:35, Mrk.2:27, Jhn.2:25, Rom.7:1, al; disting. from God, Mat.19:6, Jhn.10:33, Col.3:23, al.; from animals, etc., Mat.4:19, Luk.5:10, Rev.9:4, al.; implying human frailty and imperfection, 1Co.3:4; σοφία ἀνθρώπων, 1Co.2:5; ἀνθρώπων ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.4:2; κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖν, 1Co.3:3; κατὰ ἄ. λέγειν (λαλεῖν), Rom.3:5, 1Co.9:8; κατὰ ἄ- λέγειν, Gal.3:15 (cf. 1Co.15:32, Gal.1:11); by meton., of man's nature or condition, ὁ … |
| of lawlessness, | ἀνομίας, | anomias | G0458 | lawlessnessἀνομία (anomia) ἀνομία, -ας, ἡ (ἄνομος), [in LXX for עָוֺן, פָּשַׁע, פֶּשַׁע, תּוֹעֵבַה, רֶשַׁע, etc. ;] lawlessness, iniquity: Mat.7:23 13:41 23:28 24:12, Rom.6:19, 2Co.6:14, 2Th.2:3 2:7, Tit.2:14, Heb.1:9, 1Jn.3:4; in pl. (as LXX, Psa.31:1, al.; see 131., § 32, 6; Swete, Mk., 153), of acts or manifestations of lawlessness: Rom.4:7 (LXX), Heb.10:17.† SYN.: see: ἁμάρτημα, ἄνομος (AS) |
| son | υἱὸς | huios | G5207 | sonυἱός (uhios) υἱός, -οῦ, ὁ, [in LXX very frequently and nearly always for בֵּן, Gen.4:17, al.; for בַּר, Dan LXX TH 7:13, al.; etc. ;], a son; 1. in the ordinary sense: Mat.10:37, Mrk.9:17, Luk.1:13, al. mult.; omitted with the art. of origin (WM, §30, 3; Bl., §35, 2), τὸν τοῦ Ἰεσσαί, Act.13:22 (LXX); also with genitive anarth. (cl.), Σώπατρος Πύρρου Βεροιαῖος, Act.20:4; with adj., προτότοκος, Luk.2:7; μονογένης, Luk.7:12; opposite to νόθος, Heb.12:8; in a wider sense, of posterity: ὁ υἱ. Δαυΐδ, of the Messiah (cf. Dalman, Words, 316ff.; DCG, ii, 653f.), Mat.22:42, 45 Mrk.12:35, 37 Luk.20:41, 44 al.; υἱοὶ … |
| of destruction, | ἀπωλείας, | apōleias | G0684 | destructionἀπώλεια (apōleia) ἀπώλεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀπόλλυμι), [in LXX (Cremer, 797) for אָבַד, אֵיד, etc. ;] destruction, waste, loss, perishing (in π., of money, see MM, see word): Mat.26:8, Mrk.14:4, Act.8:20, Rom.9:22, 1Ti.6:9, 2Pe.2:1; in special sense of the loss of eternal life, perdition, the antithesis of σωτηρία: Mat.7:13, Jhn.17:12, Php.1:28 3:19, 2Th.2:3, Heb.10:39, 2Pe.2:3 3:7 3:16, Rev.17:8, 11 (DB, iii, 744).† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.