Bible Strands
2 Timothy 2:26
Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Timothy, instructing him on how to conduct pastoral correction toward opponents. This charge is given during Paul’s final imprisonment, framing the task within the immediate reality of spiritual conflict.
The words — ἀνανήψωσιν (ananēpsōsin) literally means "to come to one's senses" or "recover," while ἐζωγρημένοι (ezōgrēmenoi) denotes those "captured" or held in bondage. These terms mark a transition from delusion to clarity and from captivity to release.
The thread — The imagery of breaking captivity and escaping a snare appears in Psalms 124:7 and Isaiah 49:25, while 1 Timothy 3:7 warns that poor leadership results in falling into the devil’s snare.
Why it lands — The text states that opponents must recover their senses and escape the devil’s snare only after God grants repentance. It requires the reader to pair gentle reproof with the expectation that divine action, not human argument, breaks spiritual captivity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Cross-references
- 1 Timothy 3:7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- Isaiah 49:25 Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.
- Psalms 124:7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.
- Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
- Colossians 1:13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- Isaiah 8:15 Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”
- Ephesians 5:14 So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
- Job 1:12 “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
- 2 Peter 2:18 With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.