2 Peter 2:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 2:10-22

The apostle's design being to warn us of, and arm us against, seducers, he now returns to discourse more particularly of them, and give us an account of their character and conduct, which abundantly justifies the righteous Judge of the world in reserving them in an especial manner for the most severe and heavy doom, as Cain is taken under special protection that he might be kept for uncommon vengeance. But why will God thus deal with these false teachers? This he shows in what follows. I.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 2:15-16

2:15-16 They have left the straight road and have gone awandering, and have followed the road of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the profit which unrighteousness brings and who was convicted of his lawlessness. A dumb ass spoke with a man's voice and checked the prophet's folly. Peter likens the evil men of his time to the prophet Balaam. In the popular Jewish mind Balaam had come to stand as the type of all false prophets. His story is told in Numbers 22:1-41 ; Numbers 23:1-30 ; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:16

But was rebuked for his iniquity ,.... Which was not merely going along with the messengers of Balak, for he had leave from the Lord so to do, Numbers 22:20 ; but going along with them with a desire to curse Israel, when it was the will of God he should go and bless them, in order to get Balak's money; so that his governing iniquity was covetousness, which led him to other sins; and for this he was rebuked by the angel, Numbers 22:32 , as well as reproved by his ass, Numbers 22:28 ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:16

The dumb ass, speaking with man's voice - See the note on Numbers 22:28 . The madness of the prophet - Is not this a reference to the speech of the ass, as represented in the Targums of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Jerusalem? "Wo to thee, Balaam, thou sinner, thou madman: there is no wisdom found in thee." These words contain nearly the same expressions as those in St. Peter. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:16

Verse 16 It may be here asked, by what right Balaam had the name of a prophet, when it appears that he was addicted to many wicked superstitions. To this I reply, that the gift of prophecy was so special, that though he did not worship the true God, and had not true religion, he might yet have been endued with it. Besides, God has sometimes caused prophecy to exist in the midst of idolatry, in order that men might have less excuse. Now, if any one considers the chief things which Peter says,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 2:16

But was rebuked for his iniquity; literally, but had a rebuke for his own transgression. The word for "rebuke" ( ἔλεγξιν ) Occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The guilt of offering the wages of unrighteousness rested with Balak; Balaam's own transgression lay in his readiness to accept them—in his willingness to break the law of God by cursing, for filthy lucre's sake, those whom God had not cursed. The dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 2:16

But was rebuked for his iniquity - The object of Peter in this seems to be to show that God employed the very extraordinary means of causing the ass on which he rode to speak, because his iniquity was so monstrous. The guilt of thus debasing his high office, and going forth to curse the people of God - a people who had done him no wrong, and given no occasion for his malediction - was so extraordinary, that means as extraordinary were proper to express it. If God employed means so extraordinary... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Peter 2:16

2 Peter 2:16. But was rebuked for his iniquity In a very extraordinary manner; the dumb ass On which he rode; speaking with man’s voice That is, in man’s language; forbade the madness of the prophet Namely, his endeavour to contradict the will of God, which might well be called madness, because it could have no effect but to bring the curse of God upon himself. “The apostle does not mean that the ass forbade Balaam, in so many words, to go with the princes of Moab; but that her... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:11-22

Character of the false teachers (2:10b-22)Being arrogant and self-assertive, the false teachers show no respect for anyone. They even insult angels, who hold a higher position than humans in the order of created beings. By contrast, the angels have such reverence for God that they dare not use insulting language in his presence, even against those who deserve condemnation (10b-11).The false teachers use neither their reasoning nor their willpower to control themselves. Like animals they simply... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Peter 2:16

was rebuked = had rebuke (Greek. elenxis. Only here). his = his own. iniquity . App-128 . Only here. dumb . See Acts 8:32 . ass . Greek. hupozugion. Only here and Matthew 21:5 . speaking . See Acts 4:18 . man's . App-123 . forbad = hindered. madness . Greek. paraphronia. Only here. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:23 . prophet . App-189 . Balaam delivered Jehovah's messages (Numbers 23:5 , Numbers 23:16 ; Numbers 24:4 , Numbers 24:13 ), however unwillingly. He afterwards became a minister... read more

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