They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog turns to his own vomit again,” and “the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.”
- KJV But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
- BSB Of 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.”
- NKJV But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
- NASB It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Their condition fulfills the proverbs of a dog returning to its vomit and a washed sow returning to the mire. It matters because the proverbs vividly expose an unchanged nature beneath an outward reformation.
Overview
Peter applies two proverbs, one from Proverbs 26:11, to the false teachers and those they ensnare. The dog and sow act according to their unchanged nature, picturing those whose outward cleansing never produced an inward transformation. The imagery warns that mere reformation without regeneration cannot endure.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Prov 26:11As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
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Original language
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