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2 Corinthians 5:21

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that *we* might become God's righteousness in him.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Him who knew not sin, in our behalf, he made to be, sin, that we might become God's righteousness in him.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us: that we might be made the justice of God in him.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, who knewe no sinne, that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— For he who did not know sin, for your sakes made himself sin, that we may through him be made the righteousness of God.
John Etheridge Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1849)
— For Him who knew not sin, on our account hath he made sin, that we might be in him the righteousness of Aloha.
James Murdock Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1852)
— For, on your account, he hath made him who knew no sin to be sin, that we might by him become the righteousness of God.

Strong's Numbers & Red-LettersGreek New TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
For 1063
{1063} Prime
γάρ
gar
{gar}
A primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles).
he hath made 4160
{4160} Prime
ποιέω
poieo
{poy-eh'-o}
Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct).
z5656
<5656> Grammar
Tense - Aorist (See G5777)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Indicative (See G5791)
Count - 2319
him [to be] sin 266
{0266} Prime
ἁμαρτία
hamartia
{ham-ar-tee'-ah}
From G0264; sin (properly abstract).
for 5228
{5228} Prime
ὑπέρ
huper
{hoop-er'}
A primary preposition; 'over', that is, (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than. In compounds it retains many of the listed applications.
us, 2257
{2257} Prime
ἡμῶν
hemon
{hay-mone'}
Genitive plural of G1473; of (or from) us.
who y3588
[3588] Standard

ho
{ho}
The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
knew 1097
{1097} Prime
γινώσκω
ginosko
{ghin-oce'-ko}
A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as shown at left, with others not thus clearly expressed).
z5631
<5631> Grammar
Tense - Second Aorist (See G5780)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Participle (See G5796)
Count - 889
no 3361
{3361} Prime
μή
me
{may}
A primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverbially) not, (conjugationally) lest; also (as interrogitive implying a negative answer [whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one]); whether.
sin; 266
{0266} Prime
ἁμαρτία
hamartia
{ham-ar-tee'-ah}
From G0264; sin (properly abstract).
that 2443
{2443} Prime
ἵνα
hina
{hin'-ah}
Probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare G3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result).
we 2249
{2249} Prime
ἡμεῖς
hemeis
{hay-mice'}
Nomitive plural of G1473; we (only used when emphatic).
might be made 1096
{1096} Prime
γίνομαι
ginomai
{ghin'-om-ahee}
A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be ('gen' -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.).
z5741
<5741> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Middle or Passive Deponent (See G5790)
Mood - Subjunctive (See G5792)
Count - 40
the righteousness 1343
{1343} Prime
δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosune
{dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay}
From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification.
of God 2316
{2316} Prime
θεός
theos
{theh'-os}
Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very.
in 1722
{1722} Prime
ἐν
en
{en}
A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); 'in', at, (up-) on, by, etc.
him. 846
{0846} Prime
αὐτός
autos
{ow-tos'}
From the particle αὖ [[au]] (perhaps akin to the base of G0109 through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of G1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:21

_ _ For — omitted in the oldest manuscripts. The grand reason why they should be reconciled to God, namely, the great atonement in Christ provided by God, is stated without the “for” as being part of the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).

_ _ he — God.

_ _ sin — not a sin offering, which would destroy the antithesis to “righteousness,” and would make “sin” be used in different senses in the same sentence: not a sinful person, which would be untrue, and would require in the antithesis “righteous men,” not “righteousness”; but “sin,” that is, the representative Sin-bearer (vicariously) of the aggregate sin of all men past, present, and future. The sin of the world is one, therefore the singular, not the plural, is used; though its manifestations are manifold (John 1:29). “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the SIN of the world.” Compare “made a curse for us,” Galatians 3:13.

_ _ for usGreek, “in our behalf.” Compare John 3:14, Christ being represented by the brazen serpent, the form, but not the substance, of the old serpent. At His death on the cross the sin-bearing for us was consummated.

_ _ knew no sin — by personal experience (John 8:46) [Alford]. Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5.

_ _ might be made — not the same Greek as the previous “made.” Rather, “might become.”

_ _ the righteousness of God — Not merely righteous, but righteousness itself; not merely righteousness, but the righteousness of God, because Christ is God, and what He is we are (1 John 4:17), and He is “made of God unto us righteousness.” As our sin is made over to Him, so His righteousness to us (in His having fulfilled all the righteousness of the law for us all, as our representative, Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30). The innocent was punished voluntarily as if guilty, that the guilty might be gratuitously rewarded as if innocent (1 Peter 2:24). “Such are we in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God himself” [Hooker].

_ _ in him — by virtue of our standing in Him, and in union with Him [Alford].

Matthew Henry's Commentary

See commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

2 Corinthians 5:21

He made him a sin offering, who knew no sin — A commendation peculiar to Christ. For us — Who knew no righteousness, who were inwardly and outwardly nothing but sin; who must have been consumed by the divine justice, had not this atonement been made for our sins. That we might be made the righteousness of God through him — Might through him be invested wi th that righteousness, first imputed to us, then implanted in us, which is in every sense the righteousness of God.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him [to be] (q) sin for us, who (r) knew no sin; that we might be made the (s) righteousness of God in him.

(q) A sinner, not in himself, but by imputation of the guilt of all our sins to him.

(r) Who was completely void of sin.

(s) Righteous before God, and that with righteousness which is not fundamental in us, but being fundamental in Christ, God imputes it to us through faith.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
he:

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ... All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:9-12 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. ... Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ... And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

who:

Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
1 Peter 2:22-24 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ... Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

we:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Isaiah 45:24-25 Surely, shall [one] say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: [even] to him shall [men] come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. ... In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Jeremiah 23:26 How long shall [this] be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, [they are] prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Jeremiah 33:16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ... To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Romans 8:1-4 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ... That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. ... For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Is 45:24; 53:4, 9, 11. Jr 23:26; 33:16. Dn 9:24, 26. Zc 13:7. Lk 1:35. Ro 1:17; 3:21; 5:19; 8:1, 3; 10:3. 1Co 1:30. 2Co 5:17. Ga 3:13. Ep 5:2. Php 3:9. He 7:26. 1P 2:22; 3:18. 1Jn 2:1; 3:5.

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