2 Peter 2:15-16
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The surprising thing here is that Balaam isn't just described as greedy, but as someone who loved the wrongdoing itself. He wasn't just after the money; he actively pursued and delighted in the unethical path that led him to it, showing a deeper corruption than simple avarice.
Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is warning believers about false teachers who have infiltrated the church, just as poisonous weeds can appear in a healthy garden. These deceivers, driven by greed and lust, are secretly leading people astray with destructive doctrines and deceptive practices. This particular verse highlights their abandonment of the true path of righteousness for the corrupt path of Balaam, a prophet who was willing to curse God's people for money.
Ever feel like you're drifting off course? This verse reminds us that straying from God's path isn't an accident—it's a deliberate departure.
Peter uses strong language here: 'Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.' This isn't a passive slipping; it's an active turning away.
Who was Balaam, and why does Peter hold him up as the ultimate example of going astray? His story is a stark warning for us today.
Peter doesn't just say they went astray; he points to a specific example: Balaam, son of Beor.
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Understand the original words
kataleipontes · Greek Verb
Abandoning the true path, doctrine, or relationship with God. It implies an active turning away from a position once held or a truth once known.
eutheian · Greek Adjective/Noun
The righteous, straight path of God’s commands and truth. To turn aside from this is to deviate into error, sin, or idolatry.
Balaam · Greek Proper Noun
A historical figure (Numbers 22-24) known for his greed and willingness to compromise God's people for financial reward. He is the archetype of a false teacher who uses spiritual influence for personal gain.
paranomia · Greek Noun
A violation of law or a moral principle; a departure from the standard set by God, implying rebellion or willful wrongdoing.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
A spokesperson for God who delivers divine messages; in a negative sense, one who claims divine authority but acts contrary to God's will.
paraphronia · Greek Noun
A state of mental derangement or loss of reason, often used in Scripture to describe moral failure, spiritual blindness, or irrational behavior in opposition to God.
The story of Balaam, a pivotal moment in Israel's history, serves as a powerful, ancient warning against the corrupting influence of greed and illicit desires, directly relevant to Peter's admonition of false teachers in his own time.
~1400 BC
Israelites Enter Moabite Territory
As the Israelites journeyed toward the Promised Land, they arrived at the borders of Moab. This put them in close proximity to the Midianites as well, with whom the Moabites were closely allied.
~1400 BC
Balak Hires Balaam
Balak, the king of Moab, feared the Israelites and hired the seer Balaam to curse them. Balaam was known for his ability to invoke divine power, and Balak hoped he could turn God's favor away from Israel.
~1400 BC— this verse
Balaam's Oracles and Compromise
Despite being forbidden by God to curse Israel, Balaam devised a plan. He advised the Moabites and Midianites to entice the Israelite men into sexual immorality and idolatry, leading them to displease God.
~1400 BC
Israel's Sin at Baal of Peor
Many Israelite men engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite women and worshipped their gods, leading to a plague and divine judgment. This event is a stark example of how enticement and greed can lead people astray.
c. AD 60-65
Peter Writes His Second Epistle
The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers facing false teachers. He uses the story of Balaam as a cautionary tale about those who abandon the true path for personal gain.
This passage introduces Balaam, showing the Moabite king Balak’s intention to hire him to curse Israel, which directly sets up Balaam’s misguided actions that Peter references.
Numbers 31:16This verse reveals the specific outcome of Balaam’s counsel to the Midianites: leading Israel into sin through sexual immorality and idolatry, a direct result of Balaam’s corrupting influence for personal gain.
Jude 1:11The letter of Jude echoes Peter’s warning, explicitly naming the same false teachers as following 'the way of Balaam,' highlighting the persistent danger of greed corrupting spiritual leadership throughout biblical history.
1 Timothy 6:10This passage speaks to the root of Balaam's sin, declaring that 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils,' a principle that directly explains Balaam's motivation for forsaking righteousness.
The surprising thing here is that Balaam isn't just described as greedy, but as someone who loved the wrongdoing itself. He wasn't just after the money; he actively pursued and delighted in the unethical path that led him to it, showing a deeper corruption than simple avarice.
Peter is warning believers about false teachers who have infiltrated the church, just as poisonous weeds can appear in a healthy garden. These deceivers, driven by greed and lust, are secretly leading people astray with destructive doctrines and deceptive practices. This particular verse highlights their abandonment of the true path of righteousness for the corrupt path of Balaam, a prophet who was willing to curse God's people for money.
Peter is warning believers about false teachers who have infiltrated the church, just as poisonous weeds can appear in a healthy garden. These deceivers, driven by greed and lust, are secretly leading people astray with destructive doctrines and deceptive practices. This particular verse highlights their abandonment of the true path of righteousness for the corrupt path of Balaam, a prophet who was willing to curse God's people for money.
"Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the…" — The surprising thing here is that Balaam isn't just described as greedy, but as someone who loved the wrongdoing itself. He wasn't just after the money; he actively pursued and delighted in the u…
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Last reviewed October 2026
