2 Timothy 2:19

Revised Standard Version

But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But God's strong foundation never moves, and these words are written on it: "The Lord knows those who belong to him." Also, these words are written there: "Everyone who says they believe in the Lord must stop doing wrong."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But the sure grounde of god remayneth and hath this seale: the lorde knoweth them that are his and let every man that calleth on the name of Christ departe from iniquite.

Hebrew Names Version
However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

New American Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His;" and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness."

New Century Version
But God's strong foundation continues to stand. These words are written on the seal: "The Lord knows those who belong to him," and "Everyone who wants to belong to the Lord must stop doing wrong."

Update Bible Version
Nevertheless the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his: and, Let every one that names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

English Standard Version
But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."

World English Bible
However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But the foundation of God standeth fast, having this seal, The Lord knoweth those that are his: and, Let every one who nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.

Weymouth's New Testament
Yet God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who really belong to Him." And this also, "Let every one who names the Name of the Lord renounce all wickedness."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But the sad foundement of God stondith, hauynge this marke, The Lord knowith whiche ben hise, and, Ech man that nameth the name of the Lord, departith fro wickidnesse.

English Revised Version
Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity."

Contemporary English Version
But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, "The Lord knows who his people are. So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil."

Amplified Bible
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God [which He has laid] stands [sure and unshaken despite attacks], bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord stand apart from wickedness and withdraw from wrongdoing."

American Standard Version
Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.

Bible in Basic English
But God's strong base is unchanging, having this sign, The Lord has knowledge of those who are his: and, Let everyone by whom the name of the Lord is named be turned away from evil.

Complete Jewish Bible
Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, stamped with these words: "The Lord knows his own," and, "Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord stand apart from wrongdoing."

Darby Translation
Yet the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, [The] Lord knows those that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of [the] Lord withdraw from iniquity.

International Standard Version
However, God's solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: "The Lord knows those who belong to him,"Numbers 16:5">[fn] and "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil."Numbers 16:26">[fn]Numbers 16:5; Nahum 1:7; Matthew 24:24; John 10:14,27; Romans 8:35; 1 John 2:19;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But the true foundation of Aloha standeth; and it hath this signature: And the Lord knoweth them who are his. And, Let every one who invoketh the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.

Murdock Translation
But the firm foundation of God standeth; and it hath this seal, The Lord knoweth them who are his: and, Let every one who invoketh the name of our Lord, stand aloof from iniquity.

King James Version (1611)
Neuerthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure, hauing the seale, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let euery one that nameth the Name of Christ, depart from iniquitie.

New Living Translation
But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil."

New Life Bible
But the truth of God cannot be changed. It says, "The Lord knows those who are His." And, "Everyone who says he is a Christian must turn away from sin!"

New Revised Standard
But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness."

Geneva Bible (1587)
But the foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seale, The Lord knoweth who are his: and, Let euery one that calleth on the Name of Christ, depart from iniquitie.

George Lamsa Translation
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The LORD knows those who are his, and he will save from iniquity every one who calls upon the name of the LORD.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Howbeit, the firm foundation of God, standeth, having this seal - The Lord hath acknowledged them who are his, and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord stand aloof from unrighteousness.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But the sure foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal: the Lord knoweth who are his; and let every one depart from iniquity who nameth the name of the Lord.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the strong foundation of God standeth styl, hauyng this seale: The Lorde knoweth the that are his: And, let euery one that nameth the name of Christe, depart from iniquitie.

Good News Translation
But the solid foundation that God has laid cannot be shaken; and on it are written these words: "The Lord knows those who are his" and "Those who say that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing."

Christian Standard Bible®
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.

King James Version
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Lexham English Bible
However, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must abstain from unrighteousness."

Literal Translation
However, the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, "The Lord knew the ones being His;" see Num. 16:5, 7 , also, Let everyone naming the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.

Young's Literal Translation
sure, nevertheless, hath the foundation of God stood, having this seal, `The Lord hath known those who are His,' and `Let him depart from unrighteousness -- every one who is naming the name of Christ.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But ye sure grounde of God stondeth fast, and hath this seale: The LORDE knoweth them that are his, and let euery ma that calleth vpon the name of Christ, departe from iniquyte.

Mace New Testament (1729)
however, the foundation of the divine architect is still immoveable, having this inscription, " the Lord discerns who are his." and, " let every one that invokes the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity."

THE MESSAGE
Meanwhile, God's firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: god knows who belongs to him. spurn evil, all you who name god as god.

New English Translation
However, God's solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: " The Lord knows those who are his ," and "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil."

New King James Version
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ [fn] depart from iniquity."

Simplified Cowboy Version
But the bedrock of God's truth is inscribed with, "The Lord knows who his cowboys are," as well as, "All who ride for the brand must ride off from evil ways."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."

Legacy Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to depart from wickedness."

Contextual Overview

¹⁹ But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." ²⁰ In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble. ²¹ If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the foundation: Proverbs 10:25, Isaiah 14:32, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:25, Luke 6:48, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Timothy 6:19, Hebrews 11:10, Revelation 21:14

standeth: Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, Romans 8:31-35, Romans 9:11, Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 6:19, 1 John 2:19

sure: or, steady, Psalms 112:6, Psalms 125:1, Psalms 125:2

having: Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 3:9, Zechariah 4:7-9, Ephesians 4:30

The Lord: Numbers 16:5, Psalms 1:6, Psalms 37:18, Psalms 37:28, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 7:23, Luke 13:27, John 10:14, John 10:27-30, John 13:18, Romans 8:28, Romans 11:2, 1 Corinthians 8:3, Galatians 4:9, Revelation 17:8

Let: Numbers 6:27, Psalms 97:10, Isaiah 63:19, Isaiah 65:15, Matthew 28:19, Acts 9:14, Acts 11:26, Acts 15:17, Romans 15:9, Romans 15:20, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 3:15, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 22:4

depart: Job 28:28, Psalms 34:14, Psalms 37:27, Proverbs 3:7, Romans 12:9, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:17-22, Ephesians 5:1-11, Colossians 3:5-8, Titus 2:11-14, 1 Peter 1:13-19, 2 Peter 1:4-10, 2 Peter 3:14, 1 John 3:7-10

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:19 - For I Exodus 28:11 - engravings of a signet Exodus 33:12 - I know Numbers 3:40 - General Ezra 1:11 - the vessels Esther 8:8 - may no man reverse Job 22:23 - put Job 23:10 - he knoweth Job 31:6 - know Psalms 4:3 - that the Psalms 11:3 - If the Psalms 19:7 - sure Psalms 31:7 - known Psalms 82:5 - all the Psalms 85:8 - but Psalms 101:4 - know Psalms 130:4 - that thou mayest Proverbs 8:13 - The fear Proverbs 13:19 - depart Song of Solomon 8:6 - as a seal Isaiah 43:1 - thou art mine Jeremiah 1:5 - I knew Jeremiah 24:5 - I acknowledge Ezekiel 9:4 - set a mark Ezekiel 9:6 - but Matthew 25:12 - I know Matthew 27:66 - sealing Mark 12:16 - image Mark 14:15 - he will Luke 8:13 - which John 6:37 - shall John 6:39 - this John 6:64 - For John 10:3 - and he Romans 7:15 - allow Romans 8:29 - whom 2 Corinthians 1:22 - sealed Ephesians 1:4 - that Ephesians 1:13 - ye were 1 Thessalonians 5:9 - not 2 Peter 1:10 - to make Revelation 2:2 - know Revelation 7:2 - having

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Genesis 2:4
These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:20
The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him.

Genesis 2:22
and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:23
Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

Genesis 6:20
Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you, to keep them alive.

Genesis 9:2
The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the air, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure,.... That faith, which is the faith of God's elect, is of the operation of God, and is the gift of his grace, and of which Christ is the author and finisher, is firm and immovable as a foundation; it is solid and substantial; it is the substance of things hoped for; and it is permanent and abiding; it stands sure, being supported by the power of God, and prevalent mediation of Jesus Christ; and so cannot be overthrown by false teachers, when an historical faith, or the faith of temporary believers may: or the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is here meant, which was said to be past by the above false teachers; which is a fundamental doctrine of the Gospel, without which the preaching of it is vain, and faith is vain; and which is a doctrine of God, of pure revelation; and this will be effected by his power: this stands sure upon the testimony of the patriarchs, prophets, and of Christ, and his apostles; upon the sure word and writings both of the Old and New Testament; and will stand its ground against all opposition, and will have its certain effect; for the Lord Jesus knows who are his distinctly and perfectly; nor will he lose them, nor anything that belongs to them; not their bodies, any more than their souls, nor any dust of theirs, but will raise it up at the last day. Or else the doctrine of eternal election may be here designed; which is the foundation of all spiritual blessings, of faith and of holiness, of joy and comfort here, and happiness hereafter, and even of complete and everlasting salvation; and is of God's laying, and is owing to his sovereign pleasure and free rich grace; and stands sure, not on the foot of works, but upon the unchangeable and unfrustrable will of God; and this secures from a final and total deception by false teachers: and also into the account may be taken the persons of God's elect themselves; who are of God's founding, and are as immovable as the firmest foundation whatever, even as rocks and mountains, and stand sure upon the rock of ages, Christ Jesus, and shall never perish; nor can they be deceived by false Christs and false prophets, but will remain safe and sound, when the faith of ever so many is subverted by them.

Having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his: faith is sealed and insured to God's elect, by his foreknowledge and predestination of them; so that they certainly have it, and shall never lose it: and their election is according to God's foreknowledge of them; which designs not a foresight of their faith, holiness, and good works, as the motives of his choosing them; nor a bare prescience of their persons; but such a foreknowledge as includes special love to them, which is distinguishing, unchangeable, and everlasting; and this being a seal affixed to all the elect, shows the distinguishing grace of God in their election, the secrecy of it, and its firmness and irrevocableness, and also the safety of the chosen ones; things being sealed, to distinguish one thing from another, and to keep things secret, or to render them firm and authentic. So, among the Jews, seals were used in buying and selling, that it might be known what was bought, and to confirm the purchase i. The inference from this comfortable doctrine is,

and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ; "or of the Lord", as the Alexandrian copy, and others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions read; that is, whoever either are called by the name of Christ, or Christians, or whoever call upon his name: let them

depart from iniquity; both from doctrinal iniquity, the errors and heresies of the above false teachers, which increased to ungodliness, and ate as a gangrene, and were the subversion of the faith of some; and from all practical iniquity, which those men, and their followers, especially the Gnostics, were guilty of; and, generally speaking, when men make shipwreck of faith, they put away a good conscience: and the apostle may also mean, that all such should depart from iniquitous men, from men whether of bad principles or practices, or both, and have no fellowship with them, it being unworthy of the name by which they were called. Some reference seems to be had to Numbers 16:5 and so the false teachers, and their followers, may be compared to Korah, and his company, and the elect of God to Moses, and the Lord's people, who were bid to depart from the tents of those wicked men; and who stood firm, sure, and safe, when the earth opened, and swallowed up the others.

i Maimon. Hilchot Mechira, c. 7. sect. 6, 7, 8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Nevertheless the foundation of God is sure - Margin, “steady.” The meaning is, that though some had been turned away by the arts of these errorists, yet the foundation of the church which God had laid remained firm; compare Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” As long as this foundation remained firm, there was no reason to be troubled from the few instances of apostasy which had occurred; compare Psalms 11:3. It is not uncommon to compare the church to a building erected on a solid foundation; Ephesians 2:20-21; 1 Corinthians 3:9-10; Matthew 16:18.

Having this seal - Or rather a seal with this inscription. The word “seal” is sometimes used to denote the instrument by which an impression is made, and sometimes the impression or inscription itself. A seal is used for security Matthew 27:66, or as a mark of genuineness; Revelation 9:4. The seal here is one that was affixed to the foundation, and seems to refer to some inscription on the foundation-stone which always remained there, and which denoted the character and design of the edifice. The allusion is to the custom, in rearing an edifice, of inscribing the name of the builder and the design of the edifice on the cornerstone. See Rosenmuller, Alte undneue Morgenland, No. 405. So the church of Christ is a building reared by the hands of God. Its foundation has been firmly and securely laid, and on that foundation there is an inscription always remaining which determines the character of the edifice.

The Lord knoweth them that are his - This is one of the inscriptions on the foundation-stone of the church, which seems to mark the character of the building. It always stands there, no matter who apostatizes. It is at the same time a fearful inscription - showing that no one can deceive God; that he is intimately acquainted with all who enter that building; and that in the multitudes which enter there, the friends and the foes of God are intimately known. He can separate his own friends from all others, and his constant care will be extended to all who are truly his own, to keep them from falling. This has the appearance of being a quotation, but no such passage is found in the Old Testament in so many words. In Nahum 1:7, the following words are found: “And he knoweth them that trust in him;” and it is possible that Paul may have had that in his eye; but it is not necessary to suppose that he designed it as a quotation. A phrase somewhat similar to this is found in 1 Numbers 16:5, “the Lord will show who are his,” rendered in the Septuagint, “God knoweth who are his;” and Whitby supposes that this is the passage referred to. But whether Paul had these passages in view or not, it is clear that he meant to say that it was one of the fundamental things in religion, that God knew who were his own people, and that he would preserve them from the danger of making shipwreck of their faith.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity - This is the other seal or inscription which is made on the foundation which God has laid. The foundation has two inscriptions - the first implying that God knows all who are his own people; the other, that all who are his professed people should depart from evil. This is not found in so many words in the Old Testament, and, like the former, it is not to be regarded as a quotation. The meaning is, that it is an elementary principle in the true church, that all who become members of it should lead holy lives. It was also true that they would lead holy lives, and amidst all the defections of errorists, and all their attempts to draw away others from the true faith, those might be known to be the true people of God who did avoid evil.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. The foundation of God standeth sure — The word θεμελιος signifies literally a foundation, and especially the foundation of a building; and metaphorically, the building itself, and often a noble mansion or palace. In this place the apostle compares the religion of Christ to a great or noble mansion. See 2 Timothy 2:20. And as this religion is founded on the authority and power of the Almighty, it necessarily must stand sure and be permanent. This house has an inscription on it, for so σφραγις, seal, is frequently understood; and this is evidently an allusion to the ancient temples. Above the door of the temple of Delphi there was the Greek word ει thou art, on which Plutarch has written an express treatise. In many of the Mohammedan mosques the walls are covered with inscriptions, which are ordinarily sentences taken from the Koran, relative to the majesty of God, or the nature of his worship. And we know that there was an inscription on the mitre of the high priest among the Jews, viz: kodesh laihovah, "Holiness to the Lord;" Exodus 28:36; Exodus 39:30. See also Zechariah 14:20. And this inscription may here be represented as being made with the seal of God, for he stamps this on all things belonging to himself and his worship.

But some suppose θεμελιος here to signify a contract or covenant by which two parties are bound to fulfil certain conditions and duties, the obligation to which, each takes on him by sealing the instrument with his seal. Among the Asiatics, these seals have scarcely ever any image or figure on them, but always some very expressive inscription. I have seen many of these, and several of them are now before me. The twofold inscription, i.e. one on the seal of each party, may be here alluded to; that on God's seal is, Εγνω Κυριος τους οντας αὑτου· The Lord approveth of them that are his. That on the seal of his followers is, Αποστητω απο αδικιας πας ὁ ονομαζων το ονομα Κυριου. Let every one who nameth the name of the Lord (every Christian) depart from iniquity. Thus each has his peculiar inscription.

κυριου, Lord, instead of χριστου, Christ, is the reading of almost all the MSS. of importance, and the principal versions.

The Lord knoweth — i.e. Approves, watches over, and provides for, them that are his true followers. To this his followers most cheerfully subscribe, and say: Let every one that nameth this Lord avoid every appearance of evil.