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2 Corinthians 5

2 Cor. 5:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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Now then
oun (Greek #3767)
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
KJV usage: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
Pronounce: oon
Origin: apparently a primary word
we are ambassadors
presbeuo (Greek #4243)
to be a senior, i.e. (by implication) act as a representative (figuratively, preacher)
KJV usage: be an ambassador.
Pronounce: pres-byoo'-o
Origin: from the base of 4245
r for
huper (Greek #5228)
"over", i.e. (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
KJV usage: (+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.
Pronounce: hoop-er'
Origin: a primary preposition
Christ
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548
, as though
hos (Greek #5613)
which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
KJV usage: about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.
Pronounce: hoce
Origin: probably adverb of comparative from 3739
God
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
theos (Greek #2316)
a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
did beseech
parakaleo (Greek #3870)
to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)
KJV usage: beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
Pronounce: par-ak-al-eh'-o
Origin: from 3844 and 2564
you by
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
us
hemon (Greek #2257)
of (or from) us
KJV usage: our (company), us, we.
Pronounce: hay-mone'
Origin: genitive case plural of 1473
: we pray
deomai (Greek #1189)
to beg (as binding oneself), i.e. petition
KJV usage: beseech, pray (to), make request. Compare 4441.
Pronounce: deh'-om-ahee
Origin: middle voice of 1210
you in
huper (Greek #5228)
"over", i.e. (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
KJV usage: (+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.
Pronounce: hoop-er'
Origin: a primary preposition
Christ’s stead
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548
, be ye reconciled
katallasso (Greek #2644)
to change mutually, i.e. (figuratively) to compound a difference
KJV usage: reconcile.
Pronounce: kat-al-las'-so
Origin: from 2596 and 236
to God
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
theos (Greek #2316)
a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
.
r
Job 33:23• 23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: (Job 33:23)
;
Mal. 2:7• 7For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Mal. 2:7)
;
Eph. 6:20• 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 6:20)

More on:

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Christ,
God

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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ambassadors.
2 Cor. 3:6• 6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Cor. 3:6)
;
Job 33:23• 23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: (Job 33:23)
;
Prov. 13:17• 17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. (Prov. 13:17)
;
Mal. 2:7• 7For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Mal. 2:7)
;
John 20:21• 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21)
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Acts 26:17‑18• 17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
 18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:17‑18)
;
Eph. 6:20• 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 6:20)
as.
2 Cor. 5:11• 11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Cor. 5:11)
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2 Cor. 6:1• 1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2 Cor. 6:1)
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2 Kings 17:13• 13Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. (2 Kings 17:13)
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2 Chron. 36:15• 15And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: (2 Chron. 36:15)
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Neh. 9:29• 29And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. (Neh. 9:29)
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Isa. 55:6‑7• 6Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isa. 55:6‑7)
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Jer. 44:4• 4Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. (Jer. 44:4)
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Ezek. 18:31‑32• 31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
 32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. (Ezek. 18:31‑32)
in.
Job 33:6• 6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. (Job 33:6)
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Luke 10:16• 16He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. (Luke 10:16)
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1 Cor. 4:4‑5• 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Cor. 4:4‑5)
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1 Thess. 4:8• 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. (1 Thess. 4:8)
be.
Job 22:21• 21Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. (Job 22:21)
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Prov. 1:22‑33• 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
 23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
 24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Prov. 1:22‑33)
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Isa. 27:5• 5Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. (Isa. 27:5)
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Jer. 13:16‑17• 16Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
 17But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive. (Jer. 13:16‑17)
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Jer. 38:20• 20But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. (Jer. 38:20)
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Luke 14:23• 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23)
• Notice the omission of the “you” in verse 20 of our chapter. “Did beseech by us”: there is the verb only without the pronoun: he is saying how he preaches to the world, begging them to be reconciled. What he says is, “when I preach the gospel, this is what I do”: of course it means to the world. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 5” by J.N. Darby)
• But such an embassy supposed the absence of Christ; His ambassador acted in His stead. (“2 Corinthians 4” by J.N. Darby)
• It should be observed that, in verse 20, the word “you” ought to be omitted. It was the way in which the Apostle fulfilled his ministry to the world. (“2 Corinthians 4” by J.N. Darby)
• God as it were (it was not meet to speak absolutely) beseeching by us: we entreat on behalf, or instead, of Christ, Be reconciled to God. Such is the gospel call to the world. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 5:18-21” by W. Kelly)
• The messengers—“We are ambassadors.” The means—“God did beseech by us.” The message—“Be reconciled to God.” (“Reasons for This Session: 2 Corinthians 5:9-10” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as it wereg beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God.

JND Translation Notes

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"As of God beseeching"; "as though," or "as if," is too much similarity or comparison. God being in Christ, and they Christ's ambassadors, they besought on God's behalf. He was as beseeching by them. The apostle will not say God was beseeching, but softens it by "as it were." yet it amounted to that, as done on his behalf. It is difficult to translate, though the sense is most evident and beautiful.

W. Kelly Translation

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For Christ then we are ambassadors, God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God: