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2 Peter 1:20

2 Peter 1:21 net — for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

NET Bible

"for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

— 2 Peter 1:21, NET Bible

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2 Peter 1:21 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

2 Peter 1 — Context

18

When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

19

Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

20

Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination,

21

for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:21 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Peter 1:21 say?
2 Peter 1:21 in the NET Bible reads: “for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Where is 2 Peter 1:21 in the Bible?
2 Peter 1:21 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 21.
Who wrote 2 Peter?
2 Peter is traditionally attributed to Peter the Apostle. Petrine authorship is widely held by the church but disputed by some critical scholars on stylistic grounds. It was written c. AD 65–68.
What is the book of 2 Peter about?
Peter's farewell letter, written near his death, warns the church against false teachers and scoffers, and grounds believers in the prophetic word and the certainty of the day of the Lord. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise."
What are the major themes of 2 Peter?
2 Peter explores themes including False Teachers, Day of the Lord, Scripture, Growth in Grace. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Peter 1:21.
What translation should I read 2 Peter 1:21 in?
2 Peter 1:21 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Peter 1:21?
2 Peter 1:21 reads (NET): “for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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