1
Ἐγένοντο δὲ καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐν τῷ λαῷ, ὡς καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσονται ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι, οἵτινες παρεισάξουσιν αἱρέσεις ἀπωλείας, καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς δεσπότην ἀρνούμενοι, ἐπάγοντες ἑαυτοῖς ταχινὴν ἀπώλειαν·
But false prophets also arose among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you, who will smuggle in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction —
Transition to the false teachersδὲThe δέ pivots from the prophetic word of ch. 1 to its counterfeit: as false prophets shadowed the true in Israel, so false teachers will shadow the apostolic word now. The relative clause sets the indictment's heading — heresy, denial of the Master, self-incurred ruin.
Ἐγένοντοthere aroseAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'come to be, arise'; the aorist sets the historical precedent of Israel's false prophets against which the future is read.
δὲbuttransitional conjunction
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive)
ψευδοπροφῆταιfalse prophetsNominativesubjectψευδοπροφήτης: 'false prophet'; the OT counterfeit to the true prophetic word (cf. 1:19–21).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
λαῷpeopleDativedat. of sphereλαός: 'people'; the covenant nation Israel, the locus of the old false prophets.
ὡςascomparative conjunctionὡς: 'as, just as'; drawing the analogy between past and future deceivers.
καὶalsoadverbial (correlative)
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)
ὑμῖνyouDativedat. of sphere
ἔσονταιthere will beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (comparative clause)→ predictive futureεἰμί: 'be'; the future warns of an inevitability — false teachers will appear within the church.
ψευδοδιδάσκαλοιfalse teachersNominativepredicate nominativeψευδοδιδάσκαλος: 'false teacher'; a NT hapax, coined to parallel ψευδοπροφῆται — the danger has shifted from prophecy to teaching.
οἵτινεςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject)ὅστις: indefinite relative, 'such as'; characterizing the class by what it does.
παρεισάξουσινwill smuggle inFut Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεισάγωmain verb (rel. clause)→ predictive futureπαρεισάγω: 'bring in alongside/secretly'; the double prefix connotes stealthy introduction (cf. Jude 4 παρεισέδυσαν).
αἱρέσειςheresiesAccusativedirect objectαἵρεσις: 'faction, sect, opinion'; here destructive party-teaching that splits the church (cf. 1 Cor 11:19).
ἀπωλείαςof destructionGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveἀπώλεια: 'ruin, destruction'; the keyword of the chapter (vv.1, 2, 3) — these teachings lead to and end in perdition.
καὶevenadverbial (ascensive)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀγοράσανταwho boughtAor Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ἀγοράζωattributive participle (modifies δεσπότην)→ constative aoristἀγοράζω: 'buy, purchase' (from the marketplace, ἀγορά); redemption-language — the Master bought them at the cross, which their denial repudiates.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ptc.
δεσπότηνMasterAccusativedirect object of ἀρνούμενοιδεσπότης: 'master, sovereign owner' (of slaves); a strong term of ownership — applied to Christ, whose purchased slaves they betray (cf. Jude 4).
ἀρνούμενοιdenyingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἀρνέομαιadverbial participle (manner)→ present (characteristic)ἀρνέομαι: 'deny, disown'; the heart of the heresy — repudiating the Lord who owns them.
ἐπάγοντεςbringingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐπάγωadverbial participle (result)→ present (resultant)ἐπάγω: 'bring upon'; they draw down ruin upon themselves (recurs v.5 of the flood).
ἑαυτοῖςupon themselvesDativedat. of disadvantageἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; the destruction is self-incurred.
ταχινὴνswiftAccusativeattributive adjectiveταχινός: 'swift, soon'; their ruin is imminent (the same adj. of Peter's death, 1:14).
ἀπώλειανdestructionAccusativedirect object of ἐπάγοντεςἀπώλεια: 'destruction'; the chapter's drumbeat — ruin matching the 'destructive' heresies.
2
καὶ πολλοὶ ἐξακολουθήσουσιν αὐτῶν ταῖς ἀσελγείαις, δι' οὓς ἡ ὁδὸς τῆς ἀληθείας βλασφημηθήσεται·
And many will follow their licentious ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed;
Consequence — the spread of the heresyκαὶThe teaching does not stay private: many follow the libertinism, and the gospel itself ('the way of truth') is slandered among outsiders by the scandal — the social fallout of the heresy.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πολλοὶmanyNominativesubject (substantival adj.)πολύς: 'many'; the heresy is no fringe — it draws a crowd.
ἐξακολουθήσουσινwill followFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξακολουθέωmain verb→ predictive futureἐξακολουθέω: 'follow after, follow out' (intensive of ἀκολουθέω); the very verb denied of the apostles in 1:16 (they did not follow 'cleverly devised myths') now of the deceived.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἀσελγείαιςlicentious waysDativedat. complement (object) of ἐξακολουθήσουσινἀσέλγεια: 'licentiousness, debauchery'; unbridled sensuality flaunted without shame — the moral signature of the libertines (vv.7, 18).
δι'because ofpreposition + accusative (cause)
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διά)
ἡtheNominativearticle
ὁδὸςwayNominativesubjectὁδός: 'way, road'; 'the Way' as a name for the Christian movement (Acts 9:2) — here qualified 'of truth' over against the deceivers.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
ἀληθείαςtruthGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveἀλήθεια: 'truth'; the gospel as the true path, opposed to the false teaching's lie.
βλασφημηθήσεταιwill be blasphemedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · βλασφημέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ predictive futureβλασφημέω: 'slander, revile, blaspheme'; outsiders defame the faith because of the libertines' conduct (cf. Isa 52:5; Rom 2:24).
3
καὶ ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ πλαστοῖς λόγοις ὑμᾶς ἐμπορεύσονται· οἷς τὸ κρίμα ἔκπαλαι οὐκ ἀργεῖ, καὶ ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν οὐ νυστάζει.
and in greed they will exploit you with fabricated words. Their judgment, long since, is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Motive (greed) and verdictκαὶTheir motive is named — greed — worked through manufactured arguments that 'merchandise' the flock; then the verdict snaps forward in two personified negations: the long-prepared judgment is not idle, the destruction not dozing. The clause turns from the teachers' acts to their doom (developed in B).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/sphere)
πλεονεξίᾳgreedDativedat. of mannerπλεονεξία: 'greed, covetousness' (lit. 'wanting more'); the driving vice, recurring with Balaam (v.15).
πλαστοῖςfabricatedDativeattributive adjectiveπλαστός: 'molded, fabricated, counterfeit' (whence 'plastic'); words shaped to deceive.
λόγοιςwordsDativedat. of meansλόγος: 'word'; the false teachers' instruments are forged arguments, opposed to the apostolic word.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object
ἐμπορεύσονταιthey will exploitFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐμπορεύομαιmain verb→ predictive futureἐμπορεύομαι: 'trade in, make merchandise of' (whence 'emporium'); they treat believers as commodities for profit.
οἷςfor whomDativedat. of (dis)advantage (relative)
τὸtheNominativearticle
κρίμαjudgmentNominativesubjectκρίμα: 'judgment, verdict, sentence'; the condemnation already pronounced, awaiting execution.
ἔκπαλαιlong sinceadverb (time)ἔκπαλαι: 'from of old, long ago'; the sentence was set down long before (cf. the ancient examples of vv.4–8).
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἀργεῖis idlePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀργέωmain verb→ stative presentἀργέω: 'be idle, inactive' (from ἀ-εργός, 'not working'); personified — the verdict is not loitering but on its way.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀπώλειαdestructionNominativesubjectἀπώλεια: 'destruction'; the keyword again, here personified as a wakeful pursuer.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive
οὐnotnegative particle
νυστάζειis asleepPres Act Indic 3 Sg · νυστάζωmain verb→ stative presentνυστάζω: 'doze, nod off'; the parallel to ἀργεῖ — their ruin is not dozing but vigilant.
4
Εἰ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς ἀγγέλων ἁμαρτησάντων οὐκ ἐφείσατο, ἀλλὰ σειροῖς ζόφου ταρταρώσας παρέδωκεν εἰς κρίσιν τηρουμένους,
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartarus with chains of gloom, handing them over to be kept for judgment,
Ground (first protasis of the long conditional)γὰρThe γάρ grounds v.3's certainty of judgment in history. A long εἰ-clause begins (vv.4–8), its apodosis withheld to v.9: the first exhibit is the sinning angels, neither spared nor freed but consigned to Tartarus and held for the day of reckoning (cf. Jude 6).
Εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)εἰ: 'if'; introducing a first-class condition assumed true — its apodosis comes in v.9.
γὰρforexplanatory/causal conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubjectθεός: God, the judge whose past acts guarantee the future verdict.
ἀγγέλωνangelsGenitivegenitive object of ἐφείσατοἄγγελος: 'angel, messenger'; the sinning angels — most read the watchers of Gen 6:1–4 / 1 Enoch (cf. Jude 6).
ἁμαρτησάντωνwhen they sinnedAor Act Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · ἁμαρτάνωadverbial participle (temporal, modifying ἀγγέλων)→ constative aoristἁμαρτάνω: 'sin, miss the mark'; the participle marks the occasion of the angels' fall.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐφείσατοspareAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · φείδομαιmain verb (protasis)→ constative aoristφείδομαι: 'spare, refrain from'; the verb tolls thrice in the protases (vv.4, 5) — God did not spare angels, the ancient world…
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
σειροῖςwith chainsDativedat. of meansσειρά/σειρός: 'chain, cord'; read here (NA28/SBLGNT) — others read σιροῖς, 'pits,' a near-homophone (cf. Jude 6 δεσμοῖς, 'bonds').
ζόφουof gloomGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveζόφος: 'nether gloom, darkness'; the murk of the underworld prison (recurs v.17; Jude 6, 13).
ταρταρώσαςhaving cast into TartarusAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ταρταρόωadverbial participle (means/manner, modifying θεός)→ constative aoristταρταρόω: 'consign to Tartarus'; a NT hapax borrowing the Greek name for the deepest abyss of punishment — vivid imagery, not endorsement of pagan myth.
παρέδωκενhanded overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (protasis)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over, deliver up'; God consigned them to custody for judgment.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativeobject of εἰς (purpose)κρίσις: 'judgment, trial'; the eschatological assize (cf. 'day of judgment,' v.9).
τηρουμένουςbeing keptPres Pass Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · τηρέωpredicate participle (object complement to angels)→ present (durative custody)τηρέω: 'keep, guard, hold in custody'; the present marks the angels' ongoing detention pending the verdict (the verb recurs v.9, 17).
5
καὶ ἀρχαίου κόσμου οὐκ ἐφείσατο, ἀλλὰ ὄγδοον Νῶε δικαιοσύνης κήρυκα ἐφύλαξεν, κατακλυσμὸν κόσμῳ ἀσεβῶν ἐπάξας,
and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Second protasis — the floodκαὶThe second exhibit pairs judgment with rescue: the antediluvian world was not spared, yet Noah, 'an eighth' (with seven kin), the preacher of righteousness, was guarded through the deluge — God both drowns the ungodly and saves the righteous.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀρχαίουancientGenitiveattributive adjectiveἀρχαῖος: 'ancient, original'; the primeval world before the flood.
κόσμουworldGenitivegenitive object of ἐφείσατοκόσμος: 'world'; here the inhabited antediluvian order, swept away.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐφείσατοspareAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · φείδομαιmain verb (protasis)→ constative aoristφείδομαι: 'spare'; the refrain binding the protases together.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
ὄγδοονas the eighthAccusativepredicate (numeral idiom: 'with seven others')ὄγδοος: 'eighth'; the idiom 'Noah an eighth' = Noah together with seven others (the eight saved, cf. 1 Pet 3:20).
ΝῶεNoahAccusativedirect object of ἐφύλαξενΝῶε: Noah (indeclinable Hebrew name), the righteous man preserved through the flood.
δικαιοσύνηςof righteousnessGenitiveobjective genitive (what he heralded)δικαιοσύνη: 'righteousness'; Noah preached the righteousness the world rejected (a Jewish tradition, cf. Josephus, 1 Clement).
κήρυκαa heraldAccusativeapposition to Νῶεκῆρυξ: 'herald, preacher'; one who publicly proclaims — Noah's life and labor were a summons to repent.
ἐφύλαξενpreservedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (protasis)→ constative aoristφυλάσσω: 'guard, protect, keep safe'; the positive counterpart to τηρέω — God guards his own through the judgment.
κατακλυσμὸνa floodAccusativedirect object of ἐπάξαςκατακλυσμός: 'deluge, flood' (whence 'cataclysm'); the LXX word for Noah's flood (Gen 6–7).
κόσμῳupon the worldDativedat. of disadvantage (recipient of the flood)κόσμος: 'world'; here the population of the ungodly that was inundated.
ἀσεβῶνof the ungodlyGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveἀσεβής: 'ungodly, impious'; the word-group runs through the chapter (vv.5, 6) — the irreverent are the flood's and Sodom's victims.
ἐπάξαςhaving broughtAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἐπάγωadverbial participle (temporal/means, modifying θεός)→ constative aoristἐπάγω: 'bring upon'; echoing v.1 (the teachers 'bring upon' themselves ruin) — here God brings the flood.
6
καὶ πόλεις Σοδόμων καὶ Γομόρρας τεφρώσας κατέκρινεν, ὑπόδειγμα μελλόντων ἀσεβέσιν τεθεικώς,
and by reducing the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them, having made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly,
Third protasis — Sodom and GomorrahκαὶThe third exhibit: the twin cities burned to ash stand as a 'pattern' of the coming doom of the ungodly — a worked-out type, prefacing the contrast of righteous Lot rescued (vv.7–8).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πόλειςthe citiesAccusativedirect object of κατέκρινενπόλις: 'city'; the cities of the plain destroyed in Gen 19.
Σοδόμωνof SodomGenitivegenitive of identificationΣόδομα: Sodom, byword for vice and judgment.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
Γομόρραςof GomorrahGenitivegenitive of identificationΓόμορρα: Gomorrah, paired with Sodom as the type of obliterated wickedness.
τεφρώσαςreducing to ashesAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · τεφρόωadverbial participle (means, modifying θεός)→ constative aoristτεφρόω: 'reduce to ashes, incinerate'; a NT hapax — the fire-and-brimstone destruction (Gen 19:24).
κατέκρινενhe condemnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατακρίνωmain verb (protasis)→ constative aoristκατακρίνω: 'condemn, pass sentence against'; the judicial verb — the burning was the execution of a sentence.
ὑπόδειγμαan exampleAccusativeobject complement / appositionὑπόδειγμα: 'example, pattern, warning-specimen'; Sodom is set forth as a paradigm of judgment (cf. Jude 7).
μελλόντωνof things to comePres Act Ptc · Gen Pl Neut · μέλλωsubstantival participle (objective genitive)→ present (imminent/future reference)μέλλω: 'be about to'; the participle substantivized — 'the things destined to come,' i.e. final judgment.
ἀσεβέσινto the ungodlyDativedat. of disadvantage (those warned)ἀσεβής: 'ungodly'; the irreverent for whom Sodom is the foretaste of doom.
τεθεικώςhaving madePerf Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · τίθημιadverbial participle (result/manner)→ consummative perfect (abiding result)τίθημι: 'set, place, appoint'; the perfect marks Sodom as a standing, abiding warning — set up once and remaining.
7
καὶ δίκαιον Λὼτ καταπονούμενον ὑπὸ τῆς τῶν ἀθέσμων ἐν ἀσελγείᾳ ἀναστροφῆς ἐρρύσατο·
and he rescued righteous Lot, who was distressed by the licentious conduct of the lawless
Rescue within the third exhibitκαὶPaired with v.6 as the flood was with Noah: while condemning the cities, God delivered righteous Lot, worn down by the debauchery around him — establishing the principle stated in v.9a (the Lord rescues the godly).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
δίκαιονrighteousAccusativeattributive adjectiveδίκαιος: 'righteous, just'; thrice of Lot (vv.7, 8 ×2) — surprising given Gen 19, but the point is his vexation at the sin around him.
ΛὼτLotAccusativedirect object of ἐρρύσατοΛώτ: Lot (indeclinable), Abraham's nephew, delivered from Sodom (Gen 19).
καταπονούμενονbeing distressedPres Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · καταπονέωadverbial participle (causal/circumstantial)→ present (ongoing oppression)καταπονέω: 'wear down, oppress, distress'; Lot was continually worn out by the surrounding immorality.
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agency)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἀναστροφῆς)
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀθέσμων)
ἀθέσμωνlawless onesGenitivesubstantival adj. (possessive genitive)ἄθεσμος: 'lawless, unprincipled' (lit. 'without θεσμός,' fixed ordinance); the men of Sodom flouting all decency (recurs 3:17).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
ἀσελγείᾳlicentiousnessDativedat. of mannerἀσέλγεια: 'licentiousness, debauchery'; the same vice as the false teachers' (v.2), linking Sodom to them.
ἀναστροφῆςconductGenitiveobject of ὑπό (agent of distress)ἀναστροφή: 'manner of life, conduct'; the Sodomites' way of life is what oppressed Lot.
ἐρρύσατοhe rescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (protasis)→ constative aoristῥύομαι: 'rescue, deliver, draw to oneself'; the verb of God's deliverance, picked up in the apodosis (v.9 ῥύεσθαι).
8
βλέμματι γὰρ καὶ ἀκοῇ ὁ δίκαιος ἐγκατοικῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας ψυχὴν δικαίαν ἀνόμοις ἔργοις ἐβασάνιζεν·
(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul day after day by what he saw and heard, at their lawless deeds) —
Parenthetical ground for 'righteous'γὰρA parenthesis justifying the epithet δίκαιος (v.7): living among them, Lot's righteous soul was tortured day by day through sight and hearing of their lawlessness — his inner anguish is the mark of his righteousness.
βλέμματιby what he sawDativedat. of meansβλέμμα: 'look, sight, what is seen'; a NT hapax — the spectacle of vice assaulting his eyes.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀκοῇby what he heardDativedat. of meansἀκοή: 'hearing, report, what is heard'; the second avenue of torment, paired with βλέμμα.
ὁtheNominativearticle
δίκαιοςrighteous manNominativesubject (substantival adj.)δίκαιος: 'righteous'; the epithet repeated — Lot is emphatically 'the righteous one' amid the lawless.
ἐγκατοικῶνdwellingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἐγκατοικέωadverbial participle (temporal/concessive)→ present (continuous residence)ἐγκατοικέω: 'dwell among' (a NT hapax); Lot's daily residence amid the corruption that grieved him.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)
αὐτοῖςthemDativeobject of ἐν
ἡμέρανdayAccusativeaccusative in temporal idiomἡμέρα: 'day'; in the idiom 'day from day' = day after day, marking the relentless, daily torment.
ἐξafterpreposition + genitive (temporal idiom)
ἡμέραςdayGenitiveobject of ἐξ (temporal idiom)ἡμέρα: 'day'; completing 'day after day.'
ψυχὴνsoulAccusativedirect object of ἐβασάνιζενψυχή: 'soul, inner self'; the seat of Lot's anguish.
δικαίανrighteousAccusativeattributive adjectiveδίκαιος: 'righteous'; a third use — his very soul was righteous, and so it suffered.
ἀνόμοιςby lawlessDativeattributive adjective (dat. of means)ἄνομος: 'lawless, without law'; the deeds that tormented him.
ἔργοιςdeedsDativedat. of means/causeἔργον: 'work, deed'; the concrete acts of the Sodomites.
ἐβασάνιζενhe tormentedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · βασανίζωmain verb (parenthesis)→ iterative/customary imperfectβασανίζω: 'torture, torment, test' (orig. of touchstone-testing); the imperfect paints the day-by-day, recurring agony.
9
οἶδεν κύριος εὐσεβεῖς ἐκ πειρασμοῦ ῥύεσθαι, ἀδίκους δὲ εἰς ἡμέραν κρίσεως κολαζομένους τηρεῖν,
the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment —
Apodosis of the long conditional (vv.4–8)asyndetonThe withheld main clause lands: from the three exhibits the principle is drawn — the Lord knows how to do both, deliver the godly (Noah, Lot) and reserve the unrighteous (the angels) for the day of judgment. The asyndeton gives the conclusion gnomic force.
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (apodosis)→ stative perfect (present sense)οἶδα: 'know'; perfect with present meaning — the Lord knows (how) to do both, a settled competence.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubjectκύριος: 'Lord'; God (the θεός of vv.4–6) as sovereign judge and deliverer.
εὐσεβεῖςthe godlyAccusativedirect object of ῥύεσθαι (substantival adj.)εὐσεβής: 'godly, devout'; the opposite of ἀσεβής (vv.5–6) — those like Noah and Lot.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
πειρασμοῦtrialGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source/separation)πειρασμός: 'trial, testing, temptation'; the trials from which the godly are drawn out (cf. the singular as a class).
ῥύεσθαιto rescuePres Mid Inf · ῥύομαιcomplementary infinitive (object of οἶδεν)→ present (general capacity)ῥύομαι: 'rescue, deliver'; picking up ἐρρύσατο (v.7) — the rescue of Lot now stated as a rule.
ἀδίκουςthe unrighteousAccusativedirect object of τηρεῖν (substantival adj.)ἄδικος: 'unrighteous, unjust'; the antithesis of δίκαιος (Lot) — held for judgment.
δὲandcoordinating conjunction (contrast)
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)
ἡμέρανthe dayAccusativeobject of εἰς (temporal goal)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the appointed day of reckoning.
κρίσεωςof judgmentGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveκρίσις: 'judgment'; 'the day of judgment' — the assize for which the angels too are kept (v.4).
κολαζομένουςbeing punishedPres Pass Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · κολάζωpredicate participle (object complement to ἀδίκους)→ present (ongoing punishment)κολάζω: 'punish, chastise'; the present suggests they are already under punitive custody while awaiting the verdict (cf. τηρουμένους, v.4).
τηρεῖνto keepPres Act Inf · τηρέωcomplementary infinitive (object of οἶδεν)→ present (general capacity)τηρέω: 'keep, hold in custody'; the verb of v.4 (angels kept) now stated as the rule for the unrighteous.
10
μάλιστα δὲ τοὺς ὀπίσω σαρκὸς ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ μιασμοῦ πορευομένους καὶ κυριότητος καταφρονοῦντας. Τολμηταὶ αὐθάδεις, δόξας οὐ τρέμουσιν βλασφημοῦντες,
and especially those who go after the flesh in defiling lust and despise lordship. Bold and self-willed, they do not tremble to blaspheme the glories,
Climax of the apodosis; transition to the indictmentδὲμάλιστα singles out the prime targets of the reserved punishment — the sensualists who scorn authority (v.10a closes B). Then a fresh, asyndetic sentence (v.10b) opens C: 'bold, self-willed,' they blaspheme the angelic 'glories' (cf. Jude 8–9).
μάλισταespeciallyadverb (superlative)μάλιστα: 'most of all, especially'; narrowing the 'unrighteous' of v.9 to the libertines in view.
δὲanddevelopmental conjunction
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitiveὀπίσω: 'behind, after'; 'going after the flesh' — the idiom for pursuing/serving (cf. 'walk after').
σαρκὸςthe fleshGenitiveobject of ὀπίσωσάρξ: 'flesh'; here the corrupt human nature and its sensual cravings.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
ἐπιθυμίᾳlustDativedat. of mannerἐπιθυμία: 'desire, craving, lust'; disordered appetite — the engine of their conduct.
μιασμοῦof defilementGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveμιασμός: 'pollution, defilement'; lust that pollutes (cf. μιάσματα, v.20).
πορευομένουςwalkingPres Mid Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · πορεύομαιsubstantival participle (object of preceding infinitives)→ present (characteristic)πορεύομαι: 'go, walk, conduct oneself'; the 'walk' as a way of life — here after the flesh (cf. 3:3).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κυριότητοςlordshipGenitivegenitive object of καταφρονοῦνταςκυριότης: 'lordship, dominion'; either the Lord's authority or an angelic order/'dominion' (cf. Jude 8) — likely divine authority generally.
καταφρονοῦνταςdespisingPres Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · καταφρονέωsubstantival participle (parallel to πορευομένους)→ present (characteristic)καταφρονέω: 'despise, think down on, disdain'; their contempt for authority.
Τολμηταὶbold onesNominativesubject (predicate-fronted)τολμητής: 'daring/presumptuous person' (a NT hapax); reckless audacity in spiritual matters.
αὐθάδειςself-willedNominativeattributive/predicate adjectiveαὐθάδης: 'self-willed, arrogant' (lit. 'self-pleasing'); stubborn in their own opinion (cf. Titus 1:7).
δόξαςthe gloriesAccusativedirect object of βλασφημοῦντεςδόξα: 'glory'; here in the plural, 'glorious ones' — most likely angelic beings/dignities (cf. Jude 8); the libertines defame what they should revere.
οὐnotnegative particle
τρέμουσινthey tremblePres Act Indic 3 Pl · τρέμωmain verb→ stative presentτρέμω: 'tremble, be afraid'; they feel no awe where awe is due (contrast the angels of v.11).
βλασφημοῦντεςblasphemingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · βλασφημέωadverbial participle (manner/means)→ present (characteristic)βλασφημέω: 'revile, blaspheme'; the reckless slander of the 'glories.'
11
ὅπου ἄγγελοι ἰσχύϊ καὶ δυνάμει μείζονες ὄντες οὐ φέρουσιν κατ' αὐτῶν βλάσφημον κρίσιν.
whereas angels, though greater in strength and power, do not bring against them a blasphemous judgment before the Lord.
Contrast (a fortiori)ὅπουThe foil: even angels, mightier than the slanderers, do not pronounce a reviling verdict 'against them' (the glories, or perhaps the false teachers). If their superiors withhold abuse, the libertines' presumption is the more monstrous (cf. Jude 9, Michael and the devil).
ὅπουwhereasconjunction (contrastive 'where(as)')ὅπου: 'where, whereas'; here logical/contrastive, setting angels against the blasphemers.
ἄγγελοιangelsNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'angel'; the good angels, who outrank the human deceivers yet show restraint.
ἰσχύϊin strengthDativedat. of respectἰσχύς: 'strength, might'; physical/intrinsic power.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
δυνάμειpowerDativedat. of respectδύναμις: 'power, ability'; paired with ἰσχύς to stress the angels' superiority.
μείζονεςgreaterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative)μέγας (compar. μείζων): 'greater'; greater than the libertines — or than the 'glories' reviled.
ὄντεςbeingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · εἰμίadverbial participle (concessive)→ present (stative)εἰμί: 'be'; concessive — 'though they are greater.'
οὐnotnegative particle
φέρουσινbringPres Act Indic 3 Pl · φέρωmain verb→ customary presentφέρω: 'bring, bear'; here 'bring (a charge)' — the angels do not lodge a reviling verdict.
κατ'againstpreposition + genitive (opposition)
αὐτῶνthemGenitiveobject of κατάαὐτῶν: 'them'; the antecedent is debated — the δόξαι (glories) reviled, or the false teachers themselves.
βλάσφημονa blasphemousAccusativeattributive adjectiveβλάσφημος: 'slanderous, reviling'; the very kind of judgment the libertines freely utter (v.10b).
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativedirect object of φέρουσινκρίσις: 'judgment, verdict'; here a verdict expressed in abusive terms — angels leave such judgment to God.
12
οὗτοι δέ, ὡς ἄλογα ζῷα γεγεννημένα φυσικὰ εἰς ἅλωσιν καὶ φθοράν, ἐν οἷς ἀγνοοῦσιν βλασφημοῦντες, ἐν τῇ φθορᾷ αὐτῶν καὶ φθαρήσονται,
But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming in matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their corruption,
Contrast — the brute nature and doom of the teachersδέOver against the restrained angels (v.11), 'these' are like brute beasts bred for capture and slaughter: reviling what they cannot comprehend, they will be destroyed along with the very corruption they embody — a fitting requital (cf. Jude 10).
οὗτοιtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'this'; the contemptuous 'these (men)' recurs through the indictment (vv.12, 17).
δέbutadversative conjunction
ὡςlikecomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'; introducing the beast-simile.
ἄλογαirrationalNominativeattributive adjectiveἄλογος: 'without reason, irrational' (ἀ- + λόγος); creatures lacking speech/reason — ironic against teachers of false λόγοι (v.3).
ζῷαanimalsNominativepredicate (in simile)ζῷον: 'living creature, animal'; mere brutes, governed by instinct.
γεγεννημέναbornPerf Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Neut · γεννάωattributive participle (modifies ζῷα)→ consummative perfectγεννάω: 'beget, bear'; the animals are by birth destined to their fate.
φυσικὰof instinctNominativeattributive adjectiveφυσικός: 'natural, by instinct'; governed by raw nature, not reason.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)
ἅλωσινcaptureAccusativeobject of εἰς (purpose)ἅλωσις: 'capture, catching' (a NT hapax); the beast is bred to be trapped.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
φθοράνdestructionAccusativeobject of εἰς (purpose)φθορά: 'corruption, destruction, decay'; the word tolls thrice in this verse and recurs v.19 — their native end.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (reference)
οἷςmatters whichDativerelative pronoun (object of ἀγνοοῦσιν)
ἀγνοοῦσινthey are ignorant ofPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀγνοέωverb of relative clause→ stative presentἀγνοέω: 'not know, be ignorant of'; they revile spiritual realities (the 'glories') beyond their understanding.
βλασφημοῦντεςblasphemingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · βλασφημέωadverbial participle (manner)→ present (characteristic)βλασφημέω: 'revile'; the third blasphemy reference (vv.10, 11, 12) — recklessly slandering what they cannot grasp.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/means)
τῇtheDativearticle
φθορᾷcorruptionDativedat. of sphere/meansφθορά: 'corruption, destruction'; a deliberate play — they will be destroyed (φθαρήσονται) in/by the very φθορά they spread.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive
καὶalsoadverbial (correlative)
φθαρήσονταιthey will be destroyedFut Pass Indic 3 Pl · φθείρωmain verb→ predictive futureφθείρω: 'corrupt, destroy, ruin'; the climactic cognate — like the beasts, they perish in their own corruption.
13
ἀδικούμενοι μισθὸν ἀδικίας· ἡδονὴν ἡγούμενοι τὴν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τρυφήν, σπίλοι καὶ μῶμοι ἐντρυφῶντες ἐν ταῖς ἀπάταις αὐτῶν συνευωχούμενοι ὑμῖν,
suffering wrong as the wages of wrongdoing. Counting it pleasure to revel in the daytime, they are spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast together with you,
Elaboration — their hedonism and shamelessnessasyndetonThe doom is the 'wage' fitting their wrongdoing (a wordplay, ἀδικούμενοι/ἀδικίας). Their character: daytime revelry, 'spots and blemishes' on the church's fellowship, carousing at the very love-feasts they corrupt (cf. Jude 12).
ἀδικούμενοιsuffering wrongPres Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἀδικέωadverbial participle (result/manner)→ present (resultant)ἀδικέω: 'do wrong, harm'; passive 'be wronged' — read here over the variant κομιούμενοι ('receiving as wages'); a bitter wordplay with ἀδικίας.
μισθὸνthe wagesAccusativeaccusative of inner content/resultμισθός: 'wage, reward, recompense'; their harm is the 'pay' earned by their wrongdoing (cf. Balaam's wages, v.15).
ἀδικίαςof wrongdoingGenitivegenitive of source/priceἀδικία: 'unrighteousness, wrongdoing'; the deeds whose due wage is harm.
ἡδονὴνpleasureAccusativeobject complement (predicate accusative)ἡδονή: 'pleasure, sensual delight' (whence 'hedonism'); they reckon dissipation a delight.
ἡγούμενοιcountingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἡγέομαιadverbial participle (characteristic)→ present (customary)ἡγέομαι: 'consider, regard, count'; their warped value-judgment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἐνinpreposition + dative (time)
ἡμέρᾳthe daytimeDativedat. of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; revelry by day (not under cover of night) marks shameless excess.
τρυφήνrevelryAccusativedirect object of ἡγούμενοιτρυφή: 'indulgence, luxury, revelry'; soft, self-pampering living.
σπίλοιspotsNominativepredicate nominativeσπίλος: 'spot, stain, blemish'; they defile the fellowship (cf. ἄσπιλοι, 'spotless,' 3:14; contrast 1 Pet 1:19).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
μῶμοιblemishesNominativepredicate nominativeμῶμος: 'blemish, disgrace' (a NT hapax); a sacrificial term for a disqualifying flaw — they mar the body.
ἐντρυφῶντεςrevelingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐντρυφάωadverbial participle (manner)→ present (characteristic)ἐντρυφάω: 'revel in, luxuriate' (a NT hapax, cognate with τρυφή); they wallow in their deceits.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἀπάταιςdeceptionsDativedat. of sphereἀπάτη: 'deceit, deception'; read here over the variant ἀγάπαις ('love-feasts'); the two are near-homophones (cf. Jude 12).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive
συνευωχούμενοιfeasting togetherPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · συνευωχέομαιadverbial participle (attendant circumstance)→ present (characteristic)συνευωχέομαι: 'feast together with' (a NT hapax, shared with Jude 12); they share the church's table while corrupting it.
ὑμῖνwith youDativedat. of association
14
ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντες μεστοὺς μοιχαλίδος καὶ ἀκαταπαύστους ἁμαρτίας, δελεάζοντες ψυχὰς ἀστηρίκτους, καρδίαν γεγυμνασμένην πλεονεξίας ἔχοντες, κατάρας τέκνα·
having eyes full of an adulteress and insatiable for sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed — accursed children!
Further description — lust, greed, seductionasyndetonThe portrait deepens: eyes that see every woman as an adulteress and never sated for sin; predators baiting the unsteady; a heart drilled in covetousness. The verse closes with the curse-formula 'children of a curse.'
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἔχοντεςὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the organ of their lust.
ἔχοντεςhavingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἔχωadverbial participle (characteristic)→ present (characteristic)ἔχω: 'have, hold'; describing their settled condition.
μεστοὺςfullAccusativepredicate adjective (modifies ὀφθαλμούς)μεστός: 'full, filled'; eyes brimming with adulterous intent.
μοιχαλίδοςof an adulteressGenitivegenitive of contentμοιχαλίς: 'adulteress'; lit. 'eyes full of an adulteress' — every glance lusts (cf. Mt 5:28).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀκαταπαύστουςinsatiableAccusativepredicate adjective (modifies ὀφθαλμούς)ἀκατάπαυστος: 'unceasing, that cannot be stopped' (a NT hapax); their craving never rests.
ἁμαρτίαςfor sinGenitivegenitive (of separation/reference after the adj.)ἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the object of their unrelenting appetite.
δελεάζοντεςenticingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · δελεάζωadverbial participle (characteristic)→ present (characteristic)δελεάζω: 'lure, bait, entice' (from δέλεαρ, 'bait'); a fishing/hunting term — they bait the weak (recurs v.18).
ψυχὰςsoulsAccusativedirect object of δελεάζοντεςψυχή: 'soul, person'; the targets of their seduction.
ἀστηρίκτουςunstableAccusativeattributive adjectiveἀστήρικτος: 'unstable, unsteadied' (not firmly fixed); the spiritually immature, easily baited (recurs 3:16; cf. στηριγμός 3:17).
καρδίανa heartAccusativedirect object of second ἔχοντεςκαρδία: 'heart'; the inner self, here trained for greed.
γεγυμνασμένηνtrainedPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Fem · γυμνάζωattributive participle (modifies καρδίαν)→ consummative perfect (settled training)γυμνάζω: 'exercise, train' (as an athlete, γυμνάς); the perfect — a heart drilled by long practice in covetousness.
πλεονεξίαςin greedGenitivegenitive of reference (sphere of training)πλεονεξία: 'greed, covetousness'; their habitual vice (cf. v.3).
ἔχοντεςhavingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἔχωadverbial participle (characteristic)→ present (characteristic)ἔχω: 'have'; resuming the description (the heart they possess).
κατάραςof a curseGenitiveattributive (Hebraic) genitiveκατάρα: 'curse'; 'children of a curse' = accursed ones, a Semitic idiom — their nature and destiny are damnation.
τέκναchildrenNominativenominative of exclamation/appositionτέκνον: 'child'; in the idiom, those belonging to / characterized by the curse.
15
καταλείποντες εὐθεῖαν ὁδὸν ἐπλανήθησαν, ἐξακολουθήσαντες τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ Βαλαὰμ τοῦ Βοσὸρ ὃς μισθὸν ἀδικίας ἠγάπησεν,
Forsaking the straight way, they have gone astray, following the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing,
The archetype — the way of BalaamasyndetonTheir apostasy is typed by Balaam: abandoning the straight road, they followed the prophet who 'loved the wages of unrighteousness' (μισθὸν ἀδικίας, echoing v.13) — greed as the root, the biblical paradigm of the hireling false prophet (Num 22; cf. Jude 11).
καταλείποντεςforsakingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · καταλείπωadverbial participle (means/manner)→ present (characteristic)καταλείπω: 'leave behind, abandon'; deliberately quitting the right path.
εὐθεῖανthe straightAccusativeattributive adjectiveεὐθύς: 'straight, right'; the 'straight way' is the path of righteousness (cf. Acts 13:10, of Paul to Bar-Jesus).
ὁδὸνwayAccusativedirect object of καταλείποντεςὁδός: 'way, road'; the moral 'way' (cf. v.2, 'the way of truth'; v.21, 'the way of righteousness').
ἐπλανήθησανthey went astrayAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πλανάωmain verb→ constative aoristπλανάω: 'lead astray, wander' (whence 'planet'); the passive/deponent — they were/got led off the road.
ἐξακολουθήσαντεςhaving followedAor Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐξακολουθέωadverbial participle (means)→ constative aoristἐξακολουθέω: 'follow after'; the same verb as v.2 — the deceived follow the teachers, the teachers follow Balaam.
τῇtheDativearticle
ὁδῷwayDativedat. complement of ἐξακολουθήσαντεςὁδός: 'way'; here 'the way of Balaam,' the path of greed-driven false prophecy.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
ΒαλαὰμBalaamGenitivegenitive of identificationΒαλαάμ: Balaam (indeclinable), the seer hired to curse Israel (Num 22–24), prototype of the mercenary prophet.
τοῦson ofGenitivearticle (with patronymic)
ΒοσὸρBosorGenitivegenitive (patronymic)Βοσόρ: 'Bosor' (indeclinable), a transliteration of Hebrew Beʿor (Balaam's father, Num 22:5) reflecting an Aramaizing pronunciation; some witnesses read Βεώρ.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject)
μισθὸνthe wagesAccusativedirect object of ἠγάπησενμισθός: 'wage, reward'; the fee Balaam coveted — the same word as v.13, binding the teachers to him.
ἀδικίαςof wrongdoingGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveἀδικία: 'unrighteousness, wrongdoing'; the ill-gotten gain Balaam loved.
ἠγάπησενhe lovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristἀγαπάω: 'love'; pointedly — Balaam set his love on profit, the false teachers' shared idol.
16
ἔλεγξιν δὲ ἔσχεν ἰδίας παρανομίας· ὑποζύγιον ἄφωνον ἐν ἀνθρώπου φωνῇ φθεγξάμενον ἐκώλυσεν τὴν τοῦ προφήτου παραφρονίαν.
but he received a rebuke for his own transgression: a mute beast of burden, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet's madness.
The rebuke of BalaamδὲThe Balaam type carries its own irony: the dumb donkey, given a human voice, checked the 'prophet's' madness — the brute rebuking the man who behaved as a brute (cf. vv.12, the 'irrational animals'). A pointed humiliation of the would-be seer.
ἔλεγξινa rebukeAccusativedirect object of ἔσχενἔλεγξις: 'rebuke, reproof' (a NT hapax); the correction Balaam met.
δὲbutadversative conjunction
ἔσχενhe receivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ ingressive aoristἔχω: 'have, get'; ingressive — 'got/received' a rebuke.
ἰδίαςhis ownGenitiveattributive adjectiveἴδιος: 'one's own'; emphasizing it was Balaam's personal transgression.
παρανομίαςtransgressionGenitiveobjective/descriptive genitive (rebuke for)παρανομία: 'lawbreaking, transgression' (a NT hapax, lit. 'beside the law'); his violation that drew the rebuke.
ὑποζύγιονa beast of burdenNominativesubjectὑποζύγιον: 'beast under the yoke,' i.e. a donkey (the LXX word for Balaam's ass, Num 22:28).
ἄφωνονmuteNominativeattributive adjectiveἄφωνος: 'voiceless, dumb' (ἀ- + φωνή); a speechless animal — the marvel of its speaking.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (means)
ἀνθρώπουof a humanGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveἄνθρωπος: 'human being'; the donkey spoke 'in a human voice.'
φωνῇvoiceDativedat. of meansφωνή: 'voice, sound'; the medium of the miraculous rebuke.
φθεγξάμενονspeakingAor Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Neut · φθέγγομαιadverbial participle (means/attendant circ.)→ constative aoristφθέγγομαι: 'utter, speak, make a sound' (recurs v.18); used of the donkey's utterance.
ἐκώλυσενrestrainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κωλύωmain verb→ constative aoristκωλύω: 'hinder, prevent, restrain'; the donkey checked Balaam's reckless course.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
προφήτουprophetGenitivepossessive genitiveπροφήτης: 'prophet'; ironic of Balaam, the pagan seer — his madness, not his vision, is on view.
παραφρονίανmadnessAccusativedirect object of ἐκώλυσενπαραφρονία: 'madness, derangement' (a NT hapax, lit. 'beside the mind'); Balaam's irrational folly — the beast was saner than the man.
17
οὗτοί εἰσιν πηγαὶ ἄνυδροι καὶ ὁμίχλαι ὑπὸ λαίλαπος ἐλαυνόμεναι, οἷς ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους τετήρηται.
These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved.
Two metaphors and their doomasyndetonTwin images of empty promise: springs without water, storm-blown mists — they offer refreshment and deliver nothing. The verse seals their fate with the perfect τετήρηται: the nether gloom 'has been reserved' (the τηρέω motif, vv.4, 9; cf. Jude 12–13).
οὗτοίtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; the contemptuous demonstrative resumes (cf. v.12).
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίlinking verb→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula introducing the metaphors.
πηγαὶspringsNominativepredicate nominativeπηγή: 'spring, fountain'; a source of water — but here dry.
ἄνυδροιwaterlessNominativeattributive adjectiveἄνυδρος: 'without water, dry' (ἀ- + ὕδωρ); a spring that fails the thirsty — empty teaching (Jude 12 has 'waterless clouds').
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁμίχλαιmistsNominativepredicate nominativeὁμίχλη: 'mist, fog' (a NT hapax); insubstantial vapor, soon dispersed.
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agency)
λαίλαποςa stormGenitiveobject of ὑπό (agent)λαῖλαψ: 'squall, whirlwind, storm'; the gale that drives the mist away — instability.
ἐλαυνόμεναιdrivenPres Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Fem · ἐλαύνωattributive participle (modifies ὁμίχλαι)→ present (ongoing)ἐλαύνω: 'drive, propel'; the mists are tossed about — no fixity (cf. ἀστήρικτος, v.14).
οἷςfor whomDativedat. of (dis)advantage (relative)
ὁtheNominativearticle
ζόφοςgloomNominativesubject of τετήρηταιζόφος: 'nether gloom, deep darkness'; the same murk that imprisons the angels (v.4).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
σκότουςdarknessGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveσκότος: 'darkness'; intensifying ζόφος — 'the gloom of (the) darkness,' the place of judgment.
τετήρηταιhas been reservedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · τηρέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ consummative perfect (settled reservation)τηρέω: 'keep, reserve'; the perfect — their doom is already fixed and waiting (the τηρέω thread of vv.4, 9).
18
ὑπέρογκα γὰρ ματαιότητος φθεγγόμενοι δελεάζουσιν ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις σαρκὸς ἀσελγείαις τοὺς ὀλίγως ἀποφεύγοντας τοὺς ἐν πλάνῃ ἀναστρεφομένους,
For uttering bombastic words of futility, they entice with the lusts of the flesh, by debauchery, those who are barely escaping from the ones who live in error,
Ground — how they prey on the newly-rescuedγὰρThe γάρ explains why such doom fits: their method is inflated, empty rhetoric, baiting (δελεάζουσιν, cf. v.14) recent converts — those 'barely escaping' from the world of error — back into fleshly lust. They re-enslave the newly freed (cf. Jude 16).
ὑπέρογκαbombastic wordsAccusativedirect object of φθεγγόμενοι (substantival adj.)ὑπέρογκος: 'swollen, bombastic, overblown' (lit. 'over-bulky'); pompous, inflated speech (cf. Jude 16).
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ματαιότητοςof futilityGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveματαιότης: 'emptiness, futility, vanity'; their grand words are hollow (cf. Eccl LXX 'vanity of vanities').
φθεγγόμενοιutteringPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · φθέγγομαιadverbial participle (means)→ present (characteristic)φθέγγομαι: 'utter, speak out'; the same verb as the donkey's (v.16) — ironic: the beast spoke truth, these speak vanity.
δελεάζουσινthey enticePres Act Indic 3 Pl · δελεάζωmain verb→ customary presentδελεάζω: 'lure, bait'; the fishing/hunting term of v.14 — they bait their prey.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (means)
ἐπιθυμίαιςthe lustsDativedat. of meansἐπιθυμία: 'desire, lust'; the bait is sensual craving (cf. v.10).
σαρκὸςof the fleshGenitiveattributive (subjective) genitiveσάρξ: 'flesh'; the lusts that belong to fallen nature.
ἀσελγείαιςby debaucheryDativedat. of means (in apposition/instrument)ἀσέλγεια: 'licentiousness'; the lure's content — the chapter's recurring vice (vv.2, 7).
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ὀλίγωςbarelyadverb (degree)ὀλίγως: 'barely, just' (a NT hapax); read here over the variant ὄντως ('really'); the converts have 'just barely' gotten away — still vulnerable.
ἀποφεύγονταςescapingPres Act Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · ἀποφεύγωsubstantival participle (object of δελεάζουσιν)→ present (in process)ἀποφεύγω: 'flee from, escape'; the present marks an escape still underway (recurs v.20) — the freshly converted.
τοὺςthe onesAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
πλάνῃerrorDativedat. of sphereπλάνη: 'wandering, error, deceit' (cognate with πλανάω, v.15); the pagan/heretical way of life left behind.
ἀναστρεφομένουςwho livePres Mid Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · ἀναστρέφωattributive participle (modifies τούς)→ present (customary)ἀναστρέφω: 'conduct oneself, live' (cf. ἀναστροφή, v.7); the world of those still walking in error.
19
ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι, αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς· ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται, τούτῳ δεδούλωται.
promising them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of corruption — for by whatever a person is overcome, to that he is enslaved.
The hollow promise and its maximasyndetonThe bait is 'freedom,' but the hawkers are themselves slaves of corruption — a flat contradiction. A proverb clinches it (γάρ): one is enslaved to whatever masters him. Their 'freedom' is bondage (cf. John 8:34; Rom 6:16).
ἐλευθερίανfreedomAccusativedirect object of ἐπαγγελλόμενοιἐλευθερία: 'freedom, liberty'; the antinomian slogan — license dressed as liberty.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedat. of indirect object
ἐπαγγελλόμενοιpromisingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐπαγγέλλομαιadverbial participle (manner)→ present (characteristic)ἐπαγγέλλομαι: 'promise, profess'; the lure they hold out.
αὐτοὶthemselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject)αὐτός: intensive 'themselves' — sharpening the irony of slaves promising freedom.
δοῦλοιslavesNominativepredicate nominativeδοῦλος: 'slave, bondservant'; the opposite of the freedom they offer.
ὑπάρχοντεςbeingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ὑπάρχωadverbial participle (concessive)→ present (stative)ὑπάρχω: 'be, exist (as)'; stressing their actual state — they really are slaves.
τῆςofGenitivearticle
φθορᾶςcorruptionGenitivegenitive of master/possession (whose slaves)φθορά: 'corruption, destruction, decay'; their true owner (cf. v.12) — moral ruin that also ends in perdition.
ᾧby whateverDativerelative pronoun (dat. of means/agency)
γάρforexplanatory conjunction
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)τις: 'someone, anyone'; the proverb is universal — true of all.
ἥττηταιis overcomePerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἡσσάομαιverb of relative clause→ consummative perfectἡσσάομαι/ἡττάομαι: 'be defeated, overcome' (recurs v.20); the perfect — a settled state of having been mastered.
τούτῳto thatDativedat. (of master) with δεδούλωταιοὗτος: 'this/that'; the conquering power becomes the conqueror's master.
δεδούλωταιhe is enslavedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · δουλόωmain verb (apodosis of proverb)→ consummative perfect (settled bondage)δουλόω: 'enslave, make a slave'; the perfect seals the point — defeat issues in lasting bondage.
20
εἰ γὰρ ἀποφυγόντες τὰ μιάσματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐν ἐπιγνώσει τοῦ κυρίου καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τούτοις δὲ πάλιν ἐμπλακέντες ἡττῶνται, γέγονεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ἔσχατα χείρονα τῶν πρώτων.
For if, after escaping the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
Ground — the worse end of the re-entangledγὰρA conditional applying the maxim to apostates: those who escaped the world's pollutions through knowing Christ, only to be re-ensnared and mastered, end worse than before — knowledge spurned aggravates guilt (cf. Mt 12:45; Heb 6:4–8).
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)εἰ: 'if'; a real condition stating the tragic case.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἀποφυγόντεςhaving escapedAor Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἀποφεύγωadverbial participle (temporal/concessive)→ constative aoristἀποφεύγω: 'escape, flee from'; the aorist (a completed escape) over against the present of v.18 — a real prior deliverance.
τὰtheAccusativearticle
μιάσματαdefilementsAccusativedirect object of ἀποφυγόντεςμίασμα: 'pollution, defilement' (cf. μιασμός, v.10); the moral filth of the pagan world.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κόσμουworldGenitiveattributive (subjective) genitiveκόσμος: 'world'; the present evil order and its corruptions.
ἐνthroughpreposition + dative (means)
ἐπιγνώσειknowledgeDativedat. of meansἐπίγνωσις: 'full/recognitional knowledge'; a key term of the letter (1:2, 3, 8) — the saving knowledge of Christ that effected the escape.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitiveobjective genitive (whom is known)κύριος: 'Lord'; the object of the knowledge.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
σωτῆροςSaviorGenitiveobjective genitive (apposition)σωτήρ: 'Savior'; the title paired with 'Lord' for Jesus (cf. 1:1, 11; 3:18).
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
τούτοιςin theseDativedat. (object) of ἐμπλακέντεςοὗτος: 'these'; resuming 'the defilements' — the very things they fled.
δὲanddevelopmental/adversative conjunction
πάλινagainadverb (repetition)πάλιν: 'again'; the tragic return to what was forsaken.
ἐμπλακέντεςentangledAor Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐμπλέκωadverbial participle (temporal/conditional)→ constative aoristἐμπλέκω: 'weave in, entangle, ensnare' (cf. 2 Tim 2:4); caught again in the net they had escaped.
ἡττῶνταιare overcomePres Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἡσσάομαιmain verb (protasis)→ present (resultant state)ἡσσάομαι: 'be defeated, overcome'; picking up v.19 — re-entangled, they are mastered, hence enslaved.
γέγονενhas becomePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (apodosis)→ consummative perfect (settled outcome)γίνομαι: 'become, come to be'; the perfect — their condition has settled into something worse.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedat. of disadvantage
τὰtheNominativearticle
ἔσχαταlast stateNominativesubject (substantival adj.)ἔσχατος: 'last, final'; 'the last things' — their later condition (cf. Mt 12:45, the verbal echo).
χείροναworseNominativepredicate adjective (comparative)χείρων: 'worse'; comparative of κακός — their end exceeds their beginning in misery.
τῶνthan theGenitivearticle (genitive of comparison)
πρώτωνfirstGenitivegenitive of comparison (substantival adj.)πρῶτος: 'first'; their original, pre-conversion state — now surpassed in guilt and ruin.
21
κρεῖττον γὰρ ἦν αὐτοῖς μὴ ἐπεγνωκέναι τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἢ ἐπιγνοῦσιν ὑποστρέψαι ἐκ τῆς παραδοθείσης αὐτοῖς ἁγίας ἐντολῆς.
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Ground — better never to have knownγὰρThe γάρ explains why their end is worse: enlightened apostasy is more culpable than ignorance. Better never to have known 'the way of righteousness' than, having known, to turn from the holy commandment — knowledge entails accountability.
κρεῖττονbetterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative)κρείττων: 'better, more advantageous'; comparative of ἀγαθός — the lesser of the two evils stated.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἦνit would have beenImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (impersonal)→ imperfect (potential/unreal)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect of an unrealized preference ('it would have been better').
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedat. of advantage
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ infinitive)
ἐπεγνωκέναιto have knownPerf Act Inf · ἐπιγινώσκωsubject infinitive (of ἦν)→ consummative perfect (abiding knowledge)ἐπιγινώσκω: 'know fully, recognize' (cognate with ἐπίγνωσις, v.20); the perfect infinitive — to have come to a settled knowledge.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ὁδὸνwayAccusativedirect object of ἐπεγνωκέναιὁδός: 'way'; 'the way of righteousness' — the gospel path (cf. 'way of truth,' v.2; 'straight way,' v.15).
τῆςofGenitivearticle
δικαιοσύνηςrighteousnessGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveδικαιοσύνη: 'righteousness'; the way Noah heralded (v.5) and these abandon.
ἢthancomparative particleἤ: 'than'; introducing the worse alternative.
ἐπιγνοῦσινhaving known itAor Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · ἐπιγινώσκωadverbial participle (concessive, agreeing with αὐτοῖς)→ constative aoristἐπιγινώσκω: 'know fully'; concessive — 'though they came to know it.'
ὑποστρέψαιto turn backAor Act Inf · ὑποστρέφωepexegetical/comparative infinitive→ constative aoristὑποστρέφω: 'turn back, return'; apostasy as a U-turn from the commandment (anticipating the dog and sow, v.22).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
παραδοθείσηςdeliveredAor Pass Ptc · Gen Sg Fem · παραδίδωμιattributive participle (modifies ἐντολῆς)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand down, deliver, transmit'; the technical verb for handing on the tradition (cf. Jude 3, 'the faith once delivered').
αὐτοῖςto themDativedat. of indirect object (w/ ptc.)
ἁγίαςholyGenitiveattributive adjectiveἅγιος: 'holy'; the commandment's sacred character heightens the guilt of forsaking it.
ἐντολῆςcommandmentGenitiveobject of ἐκ (separation)ἐντολή: 'commandment'; here the whole Christian moral/doctrinal rule received at conversion (cf. 3:2).
22
συμβέβηκεν αὐτοῖς τὸ τῆς ἀληθοῦς παροιμίας· Κύων ἐπιστρέψας ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον ἐξέραμα, καί· Ὗς λουσαμένη εἰς κυλισμὸν βορβόρου.
What the true proverb says has happened to them: "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, having washed, returns to wallowing in the mire."
Conclusion — the two proverbsasyndetonThe indictment seals with two earthy proverbs: the dog returning to its vomit (Prov 26:11) and the washed sow to the mire. Both reveal an unchanged nature — outward reform without inward renewal; the apostate reverts to type (cf. the 'irrational animals,' v.12).
συμβέβηκενhas happenedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · συμβαίνωmain verb→ consummative perfect (accomplished fact)συμβαίνω: 'happen, befall, come about'; the perfect — the proverb's truth has come true in them.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedat. of disadvantage
τὸthatNominativearticle (substantizes the saying)τό: the neuter article nominalizing the following proverb — 'the (matter) of the true proverb.'
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
ἀληθοῦςtrueGenitiveattributive adjectiveἀληθής: 'true'; the proverb's truth is vindicated by their conduct.
παροιμίαςproverbGenitiveattributive (descriptive) genitiveπαροιμία: 'proverb, maxim'; a wisdom-saying (cf. John 16:25).
Κύωνa dogNominativesubject (of the first proverb)κύων: 'dog'; in antiquity an unclean, contemptible scavenger — the proverb is Prov 26:11.
ἐπιστρέψαςreturningAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἐπιστρέφωsubstantival/predicate participle (the proverb's verb)→ gnomic aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back, return'; the proverb's action — reverting to what was expelled (cf. ὑποστρέψαι, v.21).
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)
τὸitsAccusativearticle
ἴδιονownAccusativeattributive adjectiveἴδιος: 'one's own'; the dog returns to its own disgusting discharge.
ἐξέραμαvomitAccusativeobject of ἐπί (goal)ἐξέραμα: 'vomit' (a NT hapax); the revolting image of reversion.
καίandcoordinating conjunction
Ὗςa sowNominativesubject (of the second proverb)ὗς: 'pig, sow'; an unclean animal — the second proverb, likely from a non-canonical or proverbial source.
λουσαμένηhaving washedAor Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · λούωadverbial participle (concessive/temporal)→ constative aoristλούω: 'wash, bathe'; the middle — having washed herself; the outward cleansing does not change her nature.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)
κυλισμὸνwallowingAccusativeobject of εἰς (goal)κυλισμός: 'rolling, wallowing' (a NT hapax); back to the mud she goes.
βορβόρουin the mireGenitiveobjective/descriptive genitive (the wallowing-place)βόρβορος: 'mud, filth, mire' (a NT hapax); the filth that suits her nature — the apostate reverts to type.