2 Peter 2:22
Verse
Context
Deliverance from False Prophets
21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
According to the true proverb - This seems to be a reference to Pro 26:11 : ככלב שב אל קאו kekeleb shab al keo; as the dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool repeateth his folly. In substance this proverb is found among the rabbins; so Midrash Ruth, in Sohar Chadash, fol. 62: Orphah is returned to her mire, Ruth persevered in spirit; and again, Ibid. fol. 64: "Orphah, which is נפש הבהמית nephesh habbehemith, the bestial soul, is returned to her mire." The Greeks have something like it; so Arrian, Dissert. Epict. l. iv. c. 11, says: Απελθε και χοιρῳ διαλεγου, ἱν' εν βορβορῳ μη κυλιηται, "Go and reason with the swine, lest he be rolled in the mire." This is called a true proverb: for it is a fact that a dog will eat up his own vomit; and the swine, howsoever carefully washed, will again wallow in the mire. As applied here it is very expressive: the poor sinner, having heard the Gospel of Christ, was led to loathe and reject his sin; and, on his application to God for mercy, was washed from his unrighteousness. But he is here represented as taking up again what he had before rejected, and defiling himself in that from which he had been cleansed. Here is a sad proof of the possibility of falling from grace, and from very high degrees of it too. These had escaped from the contagion that was in the world; they had had true repentance, and cast up "their soursweet morsel of sin;" they had been washed from all their filthiness, and this must have been through the blood of the Lamb; yet, after all, they went back, got entangled with their old sins, swallowed down their formerly rejected lusts, and rewallowed in the mire of corruption. It is no wonder that God should say, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning: reason and nature say it must be so; and Divine justice says it ought to be so; and the person himself must confess that it is right that it should be so. But how dreadful is this state! How dangerous when the person has abandoned himself to his old sins! Yet it is not said that it is impossible for him to return to his Maker; though his case be deplorable, it is not utterly hopeless; the leper may yet be made clean, and the dead may be raised. Reader, is thy backsliding a grief and burden to thee? Then thou art not far from the kingdom of God; believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But--You need not wonder at the event; for dogs and swine they were before, and dogs and swine they will continue. They "scarcely" (Pe2 2:18) have escaped from their filthy folly, when they again are entangled in it. Then they seduce others who have in like manner "for a little time escaped from them that live in error" (Pe2 2:18). Peter often quoted Proverbs in his First Epistle (Pe1 1:7; Pe1 2:17; Pe1 4:8, Pe1 4:18); another proof that both Epistles come from the same writer. Next: 2 Peter Chapter 3
John Gill Bible Commentary
But it is happened unto them, according to the true proverb,.... Which is true, both in fact and in the application of it, and which lies in the Scriptures of truth, at least the first part of it, Pro 26:11. The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire; which expresses the filthy nature of sin, signified by vomit, mire, and dirt, than which nothing is more abominable and defiling; and also the just characters of these apostates, who are filly compared to dogs and swine and likewise their irreclaimable and irrecoverable state and condition, it being impossible they should be otherwise, unless their natures were changed and altered. In the Hebrew language, a "sow" is called from the root which signifies to "return", because that creature, as soon as it is out of the mire and dirt, and is washed from its filthiness, naturally returns to it again: so such apostates return to what they were before, to their former principles and practices: in this manner the Jews explain the proverb, "Tobiah returns to Tobiah, as it is said, Pro 26:11; as a dog returneth to his vomit (r).'' (r) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 16. fol. 158. 4. Next: 2 Peter Chapter 3
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:22 “A dog returns to its vomit”: Dogs were not seen as friendly family pets but as wild and filthy beasts. • “A washed pig returns to the mud”: This proverb might go back to a popular book of sayings called Ahiqar from around 500 BC, which reads, “My son, you have been to me like the pig who went into the hot bath with people of quality, and when it came out of the hot bath, it saw a filthy hole and went down and wallowed in it” (Ahiqar 8:18).
2 Peter 2:22
Deliverance from False Prophets
21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
We Shall All Stand Before the Judgement Seat of Christ
By David Wilkerson5.3K52:01ROM 14:10ROM 14:13TIT 2:2TIT 2:4JAS 2:122PE 2:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of appearing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. He references Romans 14:10, which states that everyone will give an account of themselves to God. The preacher criticizes the current generation for their lack of fear of God and their careless attitude towards life. He highlights the need for self-reflection and judgment in areas such as immodest dress and behavior that may detract from Jesus. However, he also offers hope, stating that God has made a way for believers to stand before the judgment seat without shame.
Personal Testimony
By Keith Daniel4.3K1:09:40TestimonyPRO 26:11MAT 6:33MAT 7:6ROM 6:16ROM 7:142PE 2:22In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a personal experience of going against his conscience and the consequences that followed. He describes the moment when his father confronted him after he had gotten into trouble, and the shame he felt. The speaker questions why he made the choices he did, attributing it to a weak moment of wanting to fit in with a crowd. The sermon emphasizes God's horror at seeing someone enslaved to sin and the destructive nature of going against one's conscience.
Die Feinde Des Evangeliums Sollen Abgeschnitten Werden (German)
By Richard Wurmbrand3.2K41:57GermanMAT 5:44MAT 18:21LUK 15:20JHN 15:6ROM 12:19GAL 5:122PE 2:22In this sermon, a young man shares his personal testimony of being freed from prison and his desire for forgiveness from his father. He believes that if he sees white bags hanging on the cherry tree in front of his parents' house, it will signify his father's forgiveness. As the train approaches his parents' house, he is filled with anxiety about whether or not the white bags will be there. The sermon then transitions to a discussion about the seriousness of sin and the consequences of being an enemy of the Gospel. The speaker emphasizes the need for repentance and keeping the door open for those who want to turn to God. The sermon concludes with a story about a father who reassures a restless young man that his house is filled with white kitchenware, symbolizing his father's love and acceptance. The sermon encourages listeners to take sin seriously and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Missing God's Promises
By Erlo Stegen1.0K53:34Promises2CH 7:1JER 29:11JHN 8:341CO 10:122PE 2:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of dying to the desire for wealth. He warns that those who desire to be rich often fall into temptation and harmful desires that lead to ruin and destruction. The love of money is described as the root of all kinds of evils, causing some to wander away from their faith. The preacher also shares a story of a man who had a near-death experience and was saved by God, highlighting the need for spiritual awakening and attentiveness to God's message. The sermon concludes with a reminder of God's promise of welfare and a future filled with hope.
2 Peter 2:22
By John Gill0ApostasyNature of SinPRO 26:11MAT 7:6LUK 15:172PE 2:22John Gill expounds on 2 Peter 2:22, illustrating the profound truth of the proverb that likens apostates to dogs returning to their vomit and washed sows returning to mire. He emphasizes the filthy nature of sin and the irreclaimable state of those who turn away from the truth, highlighting that without a change in nature, they are doomed to revert to their former sinful ways. Gill draws parallels from Hebrew interpretations, reinforcing the idea that such individuals are trapped in their own defilement, unable to escape their sinful tendencies.
Epistle 362
By George Fox0Christian LibertyServing OthersACT 6:9ROM 8:211CO 8:91CO 10:29GAL 2:4GAL 5:1GAL 5:131PE 2:162PE 2:192PE 2:22George Fox emphasizes the importance of standing firm in the liberty granted by Christ, urging believers to use their freedom not for selfish desires but to serve one another in love. He warns against the dangers of false liberty that leads to corruption and encourages the faithful to be vigilant against those who would seek to undermine their freedom in Christ. Fox highlights the apostolic teachings that call for a careful and responsible exercise of this liberty, ensuring it does not become a stumbling block for others. Ultimately, he calls for a life lived in the heavenly order of Christ, filled with His spirit and power, for the glory of God.
A Discriminating Ministry
By J.C. Philpot02SA 6:22JOB 40:4PSA 119:37PRO 23:23JER 15:19JHN 8:32JHN 14:62TI 2:211PE 1:72PE 2:22J.C. Philpot preaches about the prophet Jeremiah's rough path and rebellious nature, highlighting the distinction between precious and vile elements in God's sight. He emphasizes the importance of discerning and separating the precious from the vile in characters, doctrines, experiences, and practices. Philpot explains how precious characters, doctrines, experiences, and practices are valued by God, while vile ones are rejected. He urges the congregation to return to God and truth, emphasizing the need to stand firm in faithfulness and not compromise for the sake of pleasing others.
Sheep or Swine?
By Thomas Brooks0GraceStruggle with SinPSA 51:10ROM 7:151CO 10:12GAL 5:17EPH 6:12PHP 3:13HEB 12:1JAS 4:72PE 2:221JN 1:9Thomas Brooks emphasizes the struggle Christians face with sin, noting that even sincere repentance does not guarantee freedom from falling back into the same sins due to the persistent nature of sin in the heart. He reassures believers that while they may repeatedly stumble, God's grace offers forgiveness and understanding, distinguishing between those who fall due to weakness and those who revel in sin. Brooks highlights the importance of recognizing the difference between a repentant heart and a heart that delights in wrongdoing, urging Christians to remain vigilant in their faith.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
According to the true proverb - This seems to be a reference to Pro 26:11 : ככלב שב אל קאו kekeleb shab al keo; as the dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool repeateth his folly. In substance this proverb is found among the rabbins; so Midrash Ruth, in Sohar Chadash, fol. 62: Orphah is returned to her mire, Ruth persevered in spirit; and again, Ibid. fol. 64: "Orphah, which is נפש הבהמית nephesh habbehemith, the bestial soul, is returned to her mire." The Greeks have something like it; so Arrian, Dissert. Epict. l. iv. c. 11, says: Απελθε και χοιρῳ διαλεγου, ἱν' εν βορβορῳ μη κυλιηται, "Go and reason with the swine, lest he be rolled in the mire." This is called a true proverb: for it is a fact that a dog will eat up his own vomit; and the swine, howsoever carefully washed, will again wallow in the mire. As applied here it is very expressive: the poor sinner, having heard the Gospel of Christ, was led to loathe and reject his sin; and, on his application to God for mercy, was washed from his unrighteousness. But he is here represented as taking up again what he had before rejected, and defiling himself in that from which he had been cleansed. Here is a sad proof of the possibility of falling from grace, and from very high degrees of it too. These had escaped from the contagion that was in the world; they had had true repentance, and cast up "their soursweet morsel of sin;" they had been washed from all their filthiness, and this must have been through the blood of the Lamb; yet, after all, they went back, got entangled with their old sins, swallowed down their formerly rejected lusts, and rewallowed in the mire of corruption. It is no wonder that God should say, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning: reason and nature say it must be so; and Divine justice says it ought to be so; and the person himself must confess that it is right that it should be so. But how dreadful is this state! How dangerous when the person has abandoned himself to his old sins! Yet it is not said that it is impossible for him to return to his Maker; though his case be deplorable, it is not utterly hopeless; the leper may yet be made clean, and the dead may be raised. Reader, is thy backsliding a grief and burden to thee? Then thou art not far from the kingdom of God; believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But--You need not wonder at the event; for dogs and swine they were before, and dogs and swine they will continue. They "scarcely" (Pe2 2:18) have escaped from their filthy folly, when they again are entangled in it. Then they seduce others who have in like manner "for a little time escaped from them that live in error" (Pe2 2:18). Peter often quoted Proverbs in his First Epistle (Pe1 1:7; Pe1 2:17; Pe1 4:8, Pe1 4:18); another proof that both Epistles come from the same writer. Next: 2 Peter Chapter 3
John Gill Bible Commentary
But it is happened unto them, according to the true proverb,.... Which is true, both in fact and in the application of it, and which lies in the Scriptures of truth, at least the first part of it, Pro 26:11. The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire; which expresses the filthy nature of sin, signified by vomit, mire, and dirt, than which nothing is more abominable and defiling; and also the just characters of these apostates, who are filly compared to dogs and swine and likewise their irreclaimable and irrecoverable state and condition, it being impossible they should be otherwise, unless their natures were changed and altered. In the Hebrew language, a "sow" is called from the root which signifies to "return", because that creature, as soon as it is out of the mire and dirt, and is washed from its filthiness, naturally returns to it again: so such apostates return to what they were before, to their former principles and practices: in this manner the Jews explain the proverb, "Tobiah returns to Tobiah, as it is said, Pro 26:11; as a dog returneth to his vomit (r).'' (r) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 16. fol. 158. 4. Next: 2 Peter Chapter 3
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:22 “A dog returns to its vomit”: Dogs were not seen as friendly family pets but as wild and filthy beasts. • “A washed pig returns to the mud”: This proverb might go back to a popular book of sayings called Ahiqar from around 500 BC, which reads, “My son, you have been to me like the pig who went into the hot bath with people of quality, and when it came out of the hot bath, it saw a filthy hole and went down and wallowed in it” (Ahiqar 8:18).