But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
Parallel translations
- KJV But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
- BSB But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
- NKJV But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
- NASB But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
- NLT Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
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.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Titus 3:9but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
- 1 Tim 6:20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge;
- 2 Th 2:7–8For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.
- Titus 1:14not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
- 2 Tim 2:14Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.
- Hos 12:1Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
- Ezra 10:10Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.
- 1 Tim 4:7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.
- Rev 13:3One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
- 1 Cor 5:6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
- Heb 12:15looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;
- 2 Pet 2:18For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
- 2 Tim 3:13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- 1 Cor 15:33Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”
- Titus 1:11whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.
- 2 Pet 2:2Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.
- Rev 13:14He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
How 2 Timothy 2:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.