Parallel Verses

An Understandable Version

God considered Christ to be sinful on our behalf, even though He never sinned, so that we could be considered right with God through Him.

New American Standard Bible

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

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.

Holman Bible

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

International Standard Version

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God's righteousness would be produced in us.

A Conservative Version

For the man who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

American Standard Version

Him who knew no sin he made to be'sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Amplified

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Anderson New Testament

for he has made him, who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Bible in Basic English

For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Common New Testament

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Daniel Mace New Testament

for he hath made him who knew no sin to be a sin-offering for us, that we might be justified by God thro' him.

Darby Translation

Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

Godbey New Testament

He made him sin in our behalf, who knew no sin; in order that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

Goodspeed New Testament

He made him who knew nothing of sin to be sin, for our sake, so that through union with him we might become God's uprightness.

John Wesley New Testament

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him.

Julia Smith Translation

For him not knowing sin, he made sin for us; that we might be the justice of God in him.

King James 2000

For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Lexham Expanded Bible

He made the one who did not know sin [to be] sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.

Modern King James verseion

For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

for he hath made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we by his means should be that righteousness which before God is allowed.

Moffatt New Testament

For our sakes He made him to be sin who himself knew nothing of sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Montgomery New Testament

Him who knew no sin, in our behalf he has made to be sin; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

NET Bible

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

New Heart English Bible

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Noyes New Testament

Him, who knew not sin, he made sin for us, that we might become Gods righteousness in him.

Sawyer New Testament

For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

The Emphasized Bible

Him who knew not sin, in our behalf, he made to be, sin, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

Thomas Haweis New Testament

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be a sin offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Twentieth Century New Testament

Him who never knew sin God made to be Sin, on our behalf; so that we, through union with him, might become the Righteousness of God.

Webster

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.

Weymouth New Testament

He has made Him who knew nothing of sin to be sin for us, in order that in Him we may become the righteousness of God.

Williams New Testament

He made Him who personally knew nothing of sin to be a sin-offering for us, so that through union with Him we might come into right standing with God.

World English Bible

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Worrell New Testament

Him Who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf, that we may become God's righteousness in Him.

Worsley New Testament

For He hath made Him, who knew no sin, to be a sin-offering for us, that in Him we might be made righteous before God.

Youngs Literal Translation

for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
For
γάρ 
Gar 
for, , not tr
Usage: 825

ποιέω 
Poieo 
do, make, bring forth, commit, cause, work, show, bear, keep, fulfil, deal, perform, not tr, , vr do
Usage: 372

to be sin
ἁμαρτία 
Hamartia 
Usage: 143

for
ὑπέρ 
Huper 
Usage: 138

us
ἡμῶν 
hemon 
our, us, we, not tr,
Usage: 388

γινώσκω 
Ginosko 
Usage: 147

no
μή 
me 
not, no, that not, God forbid 9, lest, neither, no man , but, none, not translated,
Usage: 493

sin
ἁμαρτία 
Hamartia 
Usage: 143

ἵνα 
Hina 
that, to,
Usage: 472

we
ἡμεῖς 
hemeis 
we, us, we ourselves
Usage: 120

might be made
γίνομαι 
Ginomai 
be, come to pass, be made, be done, come, become, God forbid , arise, have, be fulfilled, be married to, be preferred, not tr, , vr done
Usage: 531

δικαιοσύνη 
Dikaiosune 
Usage: 83

of God
θεός 
theos 
Usage: 1151

in
ἐν 
En 
in, by, with, among, at, on, through,
Usage: 2128

Devotionals

Devotionals about 2 Corinthians 5:21

Devotionals containing 2 Corinthians 5:21

Images 2 Corinthians 5:21

Context Readings

Controlled By The Love Of Christ

20 So, we [apostles] are ambassadors, [speaking] on behalf of Christ. [It is] as though God were appealing [to people] through us: "We urge you people, on behalf of Christ, to be restored to fellowship with God." 21 God considered Christ to be sinful on our behalf, even though He never sinned, so that we could be considered right with God through Him.

Cross References

1 Corinthians 1:30

But God brought you into [fellowship with] Christ Jesus, who was made to be God's wisdom for us. Through Christ you have received a right relationship with God, [as well as] holiness and redemption [i.e., being bought back from Satan].

Galatians 3:13

Christ bought us back from the curse [caused by our not obeying all the requirements] of the law of Moses; He became a curse for us [by dying on the cross], for it is written [Deut. 21:23], "Every one who hangs on a tree [i.e., a cross] is cursed [i.e., cut off from God]."

Romans 1:17

For the Gospel reveals how a person can be made right with God. It is through faith [in Jesus], from beginning to end, just as it is written [Hab. 2:4], "The righteous person will [obtain] life by [his] faith [in God]."

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ suffered once for people's sins [to be forgiven]. [It was the case of] a righteous Man suffering for unrighteous people, so that He could bring you [or, "us"] to God [for salvation]. [Though] He [i.e., Jesus] was put to death physically, He was brought back to life by the Holy Spirit [Note: Some translations say "in spirit"].

1 John 3:5

But, you [should] know that Christ appeared [on earth] to take away [our] sins, and that there is no sin in His life [See II Cor. 5:21].

Romans 3:21-26

But now [i.e., under the Gospel age], a way of being considered right with God apart from [any] law has been made known. [The writings of] the law [i.e., the Pentateuch] and the prophets bear witness to this.

Romans 4:25

[This] Jesus was delivered up [to die] for our sins and was raised [from the dead] to make us right with God.

Romans 8:1-4

Therefore, none of those who are in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus will be condemned.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if any person is in [fellowship with] Christ, he is a new person. His old ways have passed away; now his ways have become new.

Ephesians 5:2

Live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up [to die] for us as an offering and fragrant smelling sacrifice to God.

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a head priest who is incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but One [i.e., Jesus] who has been tempted in every way that we have, and yet without sinning.

Hebrews 7:26

For Jesus was a very suitable head priest for us [i.e., He meets our needs very well], because He was holy, innocent, without [moral] corruption, separated from sinners and [exalted] above the heavens.

Luke 1:35

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest [i.e., God] will overshadow you. Therefore, the child you carry will be called the holy Son of God.

Acts 3:14

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One [His rightful freedom] and asked for a murderer to be released to you [instead].

Romans 5:19

For just as many people [i.e., all mankind] were considered [by God] to be sinners [and thus to suffer physical death] through the disobedience of the one man [i.e., Adam]; even so, many people [i.e., all believing mankind] will be considered right with God [and thus live again] through the obedience of the one man [i.e., Christ].

Romans 10:3-4

For they did not know about God's way of making people right with Himself, so they attempted to establish their own way. In doing this they did not submit to God's way for being made right with Him.

Philippians 3:9

and to be found in [fellowship with] Him, not having a righteousness of my own, acquired by observing the law of Moses, but one acquired through believing in Christ. This righteousness, which comes from God, is based on faith.

1 Peter 2:22-24

[For] He neither sinned nor used deceitful words.

1 John 2:1-2

My little children [i.e., dear ones], I am writing this to you so that you will not sin anymore. But if anyone does sin, we have Someone to go to the Father on our behalf; it is Jesus Christ, the [only] righteous One.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain