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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

2 Timothy 4:3–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
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From verse 3

  1. 2 Peter 2:1–3Rank 1 from verse 3
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    1BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

    2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

    3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  2. 2 Timothy 3:1–6Rank 2 from verse 3
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    1THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

    2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

    3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

    4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

    5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

    6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

  3. 1 Timothy 4:1–3Rank 3 from verse 3
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    1NOW the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

    2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

    3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

  4. 1 Timothy 1:10Rank 4 from verse 3
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    10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

  5. Galatians 4:16Rank 5 from verse 3
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    16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

  6. John 3:19–21Rank 6 from verse 3
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    19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

    20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

    21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

  7. Jeremiah 23:16–17Rank 7 from verse 3
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    16Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

    17They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

  8. Jeremiah 6:16–17Rank 8 from verse 3
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    16Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

    17Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

  9. Jeremiah 5:31Rank 9 from verse 3
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    31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  10. Micah 2:11Rank 10 from verse 3
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    11If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

  11. Luke 6:26Rank 11 from verse 3
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    26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

  12. 1 Kings 18:22Rank 12 from verse 3
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    22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

  13. Acts 17:21Rank 13 from verse 3
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    21(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

  14. Isaiah 28:12Rank 14 from verse 3
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    12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

  15. Jeremiah 29:8Rank 15 from verse 3
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    8¶ For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

  16. John 8:45Rank 16 from verse 3
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    45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

  17. 2 Chronicles 24:20–22Rank 17 from verse 3
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    20And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.

    21And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.

    22Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

  18. Jeremiah 18:18Rank 18 from verse 3
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    18¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

  19. 1 Corinthians 2:1Rank 19 from verse 3
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    1AND I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

  20. Jeremiah 27:9Rank 20 from verse 3
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    9Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

  21. 1 Corinthians 2:4Rank 21 from verse 3
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    4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

  22. 2 Chronicles 16:9–10Rank 22 from verse 3
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    9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

    10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

  23. 2 Chronicles 25:15–16Rank 23 from verse 3
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    15Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

    16And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

  24. Luke 20:19Rank 24 from verse 3
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    19¶ And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

  25. 1 Kings 22:18Rank 25 from verse 3
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    18And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

  26. 2 Chronicles 18:4–5Rank 26 from verse 3
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    4¶ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

    5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

  27. Amos 7:10–17Rank 27 from verse 3
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    10¶ Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

    11For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

    12Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

    13But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.

    14¶ Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

    15And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

    16¶ Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

    17Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

  28. Isaiah 33:9–11Rank 28 from verse 3
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    9The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

    10Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

    11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

  29. 1 Kings 22:8Rank 29 from verse 3
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    8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

  30. Exodus 32:33Rank 30 from verse 3
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    33And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

From verse 4

  1. Zechariah 7:11Rank 1 from verse 4
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    11But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

  2. Acts 7:57Rank 2 from verse 4
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    57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

  3. 1 Timothy 1:4Rank 3 from verse 4
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    4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

  4. 2 Peter 1:16Rank 4 from verse 4
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    16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

  5. 1 Timothy 4:7Rank 5 from verse 4
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    7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

  6. Titus 1:14Rank 6 from verse 4
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    14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

  7. 1 Timothy 6:20Rank 7 from verse 4
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    20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

  8. 2 Timothy 1:15Rank 8 from verse 4
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    15This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

  9. Proverbs 1:32Rank 9 from verse 4
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    32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

  10. Hebrews 13:25Rank 10 from verse 4
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    25Grace be with you all. Amen.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

2 Timothy 4:3

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

endure

↗

1. To continue, remain, last, or abide. 2. To bear, tolerate, withstand, or undergo. 3. To persevere without giving way.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sound

↗

Sense 1: Sound: an audible noise, voice, report, or message. Sense 2: As an adjective, healthy, whole, firm, or free from error. Sense 3: As a verb, to make a noise, play or blow an instrument, or give a signal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

doctrine

↗

That which is taught; teaching or instruction.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

heap

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Sense 1: A pile, mound, or gathered accumulation. Sense 2: To gather, pile, or accumulate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ears

↗

Plural form of ear. Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

2 Timothy 4:4

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

turn

↗

Sense 1: To change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change. Sense 2: One’s time or occasion in an order or succession.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ears

↗

Plural form of ear. Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

truth

↗

1. That which is true; conformity to fact or reality. 2. Faithfulness. 3. God's revealed word.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

turned

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of turn, meaning to change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · 2 Timothy 4:1–8

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4:1I CHARGE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Selected passage

4:4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

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4:5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

4:6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

4:7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

4:8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

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