King James Version

What Does 2 Corinthians 12:21 Mean?

2 Corinthians 12:21 in the King James Version says “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, an...” — study this verse from 2 Corinthians chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”

2 Corinthians 12:21 · King James Version

Context

19

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20

For I fear, lest , when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

21

And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. Paul's fear deepens: his third visit might bring humbling (tapeinōsei, ταπεινώσει)—not honor but shame when he must publicly grieve over unrepentant sinners. The phrase my God will humble me shows Paul doesn't see this as human-caused embarrassment but divine discipline: God orchestrates humbling through congregational sin that Paul must confront.

The mourning is pastoral: I shall bewail (pentho, πενθήσω, "mourn," "lament") many which have sinned already, and have not repented. Past tense "sinned already" (perhaps the incest case from 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 or other sexual sins) coupled with ongoing impenitence creates crisis. Paul will mourn (not merely rebuke)—pastoral grief over souls endangered by sin.

The specific sins: akatharsia (ἀκαθαρσία, "uncleanness," moral impurity), porneia (πορνεία, "fornication," sexual immorality), and aselgeia (ἀσέλγεια, "lasciviousness," sensuality). This triad covers the spectrum of sexual sin—internal impurity, external fornication, and shameless excess. Corinth's culture was notoriously immoral ("to Corinthianize" meant to practice sexual vice), and the church remained contaminated despite Paul's previous corrections (1 Corinthians 5-6).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Corinth was a port city infamous for sexual immorality, including temple prostitution at the Aphrodite temple. The Corinthian church, emerging from this pagan context, struggled to apply gospel holiness to sexual ethics (1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:12-20). Paul's fear that many remained impenitent suggests widespread tolerance of sexual sin—a devastating failure requiring apostolic discipline on his third visit.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does "my God will humble me" reframe pastoral grief over congregational sin—not as personal failure but as God-ordained humbling through others' impenitence?
  2. Why does Paul emphasize "have not repented" rather than simply "have sinned"—what does this reveal about the sin that most endangers the church?
  3. What does Paul's weeping ("I shall bewail") over sexual sin teach about appropriate pastoral response—combining truth about sin's seriousness with brokenhearted love for sinners?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 27 words
μὴ1 of 27

“And lest”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

πάλιν2 of 27

“again”

G3825

(adverbially) anew, i.e., (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand

ἐλθόντα3 of 27

“when I come”

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

με4 of 27

“me”

G3165

me

ταπεινώσῃ5 of 27

“will humble”

G5013

to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart)

τῇ6 of 27

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θεός7 of 27

“God”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

μου8 of 27

“my”

G3450

of me

πρὸς9 of 27

“among”

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

ὑμᾶς10 of 27

“you”

G5209

you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)

καὶ11 of 27

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πενθήσω12 of 27

“that I shall bewail”

G3996

to grieve (the feeling or the act)

πολλοὺς13 of 27

“many”

G4183

(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely

τῇ14 of 27

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

προημαρτηκότων15 of 27

“have sinned already”

G4258

to sin previously (to conversion)

καὶ16 of 27

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

μὴ17 of 27

“And lest”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

μετανοησάντων18 of 27

“have”

G3340

to think differently or afterwards, i.e., reconsider (morally, feel compunction)

ἐπὶ19 of 27

“of”

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

τῇ20 of 27

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀκαθαρσίᾳ21 of 27

“the uncleanness”

G167

impurity (the quality), physically or morally

καὶ22 of 27

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πορνείᾳ23 of 27

“fornication”

G4202

harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry

καὶ24 of 27

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀσελγείᾳ25 of 27

“lasciviousness”

G766

licentiousness (sometimes including other vices)

ᾗ26 of 27

“which”

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἔπραξαν27 of 27

“they have committed”

G4238

to "practise", i.e., perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from g4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication, to execute,

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Corinthians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Corinthians 12:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Corinthians 12:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Corinthians 13:2Colossians 3:51 Corinthians 5:9-111 Corinthians 5:1Galatians 5:191 Peter 4:2-3

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