2 Peter 2:15

“Forsaking the straight way, they have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,”
2 Peter 2:15 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

Forsakingκαταλιπόντεςthe straightεὐθεῖανway,ὁδὸνthey have gone astray,ἐπλανήθησανfollowingἐξακολουθήσαντεςthe wayτῇ ὁδῷof Balaamτοῦ Βαλαὰμthe son of Bosor,τοῦ Βοσὸρwhoὃςlovedἠγάπησενthe wagesμισθὸνof unrighteousness,ἀδικίας

Theme · Numbers 22:28

Go to Numbers 22:28

2 Peter recalls Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, and the donkey that spoke with a human voice; Numbers 22:28 tells that YHWH opened the donkey’s mouth.

The same term appears in both passages.

ΒαλαὰμBalaamG903בִלְעָםvilamH1109“Balaam”

2 Peter 2:15, word by word

Forsakingκαταλιπόντεςkatalipontes

forsake

To give something up completely, for something greater.

Where else “katalipontes” appears

the straightεὐθεῖανeutheian

straight

Without bends, not turning aside.

Where else “eutheian” appears

wayὁδὸνhodon

road

The route by which one goes from one place to another, or the trip itself.

Where else “hodon” appears

they have gone astrayἐπλανήθησανeplanēthēsan

go astray

To lose one's way, or be wrong.

Where else “eplanēthēsan” appears

followingἐξακολουθήσαντεςexakolouthēsantes

Follow, go after someone or something.

Where else “exakolouthēsantes” appears

of BalaamΒαλαὰμBalaam

Balaam

Balaam, the prophet who sought to curse Israel for money.

Where else “Balaam” appears

the son of BosorΒοσὸρBosor

Bosor

Bosor, father of Balaam (in the Old Testament, Beor).

Where else “Bosor” appears

lovedἠγάπησενēgapēsen

love

Love: to seek the good of the other, even of someone who does not deserve it.

Where else “ēgapēsen” appears

the wagesμισθὸνmisthon

wages

What is earned for work.

Where else “misthon” appears

of unrighteousnessἀδικίαςadikias

unrighteousness

Injustice, unrighteousness.

Where else “adikias” appears

Translation note· on the manuscripts

Recalls Numbers 22-24. The Old Testament calls his father Beor; many manuscripts read “Beor.”

The context

14They have eyes full of adultery and insatiable for sin; they entice unsteady souls; they have a heart trained in greed; they are children of a curse.

15 · This verse (above)

16but he received a rebuke for his own transgression: a mute beast of burden speaking with a human voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

Read all of 2 Peter 2

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