Bible Strands
Philippians 3:2
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul writes to the Philippian believers immediately after instructing them to rejoice in the Lord, issuing a warning before defining true spiritual identity in the next verse.
The words — Βλέπετε (blepete) literally means "do beware of," while κακοὺς ἐργάτας (kakous ergatas) translates directly to "workers of evil."
The thread — The warning against deceptive religious figures appears in 2 Corinthians 11:13 regarding false apostles masquerading as Christ's messengers, and the metaphor of "dogs" as those excluded from the holy community reappears in Revelation 22:15.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to reject teachings that demand confidence in external rituals or fleshly observance, requiring them to test all religious claims against Christ-centered faith and Spirit-led worship.
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
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Isaiah 56:10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
- 2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
- Galatians 5:15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
- Psalms 22:16 For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- Philippians 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
- Psalms 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
- Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.