2 Thessalonians 2:11
New International Version
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie

New Living Translation
So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.

English Standard Version
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,

Berean Standard Bible
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,

Berean Literal Bible
And because of this, God will send to them a working of delusion, for them to believe what is false,

King James Bible
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

New King James Version
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

New American Standard Bible
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

NASB 1995
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

NASB 1977
And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false,

Legacy Standard Bible
And for this reason God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

Amplified Bible
Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie,

Christian Standard Bible
For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false,

American Standard Version
And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

Contemporary English Version
So God will make sure they are fooled into believing a lie.

English Revised Version
And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That's why God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie.

Good News Translation
And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false.

International Standard Version
For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

Majority Standard Bible
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,

NET Bible
Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.

New Heart English Bible
And because of this, God sends them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

Webster's Bible Translation
And for this cause God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Weymouth New Testament
And for this reason God sends them a misleading influence that they may believe the lie;

World English Bible
Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and because of this God will send to them a working of delusion, for their believing the lie,

Berean Literal Bible
And because of this, God will send to them a working of delusion, for them to believe what is false,

Young's Literal Translation
and because of this shall God send to them a working of delusion, for their believing the lie,

Smith's Literal Translation
And for this, God shall send them the energy of error, for them to believe in falsehood:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
For this reason, God will send to them works of deception, so that they may believe in lies,

New American Bible
Therefore, God is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie,

New Revised Standard Version
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because of this, God sent them the activity of delusion that they would believe lies.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, in order that they may believe a lie,

Godbey New Testament
And on this account God sends to them the working of delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Haweis New Testament
And for this cause God shall send unto them the energy of delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Mace New Testament
wherefore God will suffer a spirit of delusion to work them into the belief of a lye:

Weymouth New Testament
And for this reason God sends them a misleading influence that they may believe the lie;

Worrell New Testament
And, for this cause, God sendeth them a working of delusion, that they may believe the lie;

Worsley New Testament
And for this cause God will send upon them the efficacy of error, so that they shall themselves believe the lie:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Man of Lawlessness
10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11 For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.…

Cross References
Romans 1:24-28
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. / For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ...

Isaiah 66:4
So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Ezekiel 14:9
But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

1 Kings 22:22-23
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ / So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Revelation 13:14
Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

Jeremiah 4:10
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how completely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”

1 John 4:6
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

1 John 2:18-19
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. / They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Zechariah 8:10
For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor.


Treasury of Scripture

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

for.

Psalm 81:11,12
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me…

Psalm 109:17
As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

Isaiah 29:9-14
Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink…

God.

1 Kings 22:18-22
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? …

2 Chronicles 18:18-22
Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left…

See on

Isaiah 6:9,10
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not…

Ezekiel 14:9
And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

that.

Isaiah 44:20
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Isaiah 66:4
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Jeremiah 27:10
For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

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2 Thessalonians 2
1. Paul urges them to continue stedfast in the truth received;
3. shows that there shall be a departure from the faith,
9. and a discovery of Antichrist, before the day of the Lord comes;
15. repeats his exhortation to stand firm, and prays for them.














For this reason
This phrase indicates a direct consequence of the actions or conditions previously described. In the context of 2 Thessalonians, Paul is addressing the rebellion and rejection of truth by those who are perishing. The Greek phrase "διὰ τοῦτο" (dia touto) emphasizes causality, suggesting that the subsequent action is a divine response to human choices. Historically, this reflects the biblical principle that God allows individuals to experience the consequences of their decisions, reinforcing the importance of free will and moral responsibility.

God will send
The active role of God in this phrase underscores His sovereignty and justice. The Greek verb "πέμπει" (pémpei) implies a deliberate action, highlighting that God is not passive but actively involved in the unfolding of His divine plan. This aligns with the biblical narrative where God, in His righteousness, sometimes allows or even orchestrates events to fulfill His purposes, as seen in the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in Exodus.

them
The pronoun "them" refers to those who have rejected the truth and are perishing. In the broader context of 2 Thessalonians, Paul is addressing individuals who have turned away from the gospel. This distinction between believers and non-believers is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the consequences of rejecting God's truth.

a powerful delusion
The term "powerful delusion" is translated from the Greek "ἐνέργειαν πλάνης" (energeian planēs), which conveys the idea of an effective or operative deception. This suggests a supernatural influence that leads individuals away from the truth. Historically, this can be seen as a reflection of the spiritual warfare described in the New Testament, where false teachings and deceptions are tools used by the adversary to lead people astray.

so that they will believe
This phrase indicates the purpose or result of the delusion. The Greek "πιστεύσωσιν" (pisteusōsin) means "to believe," and in this context, it implies a misplaced faith or trust. Theologically, this highlights the danger of rejecting truth, as it opens individuals to deception and falsehood, leading them further away from God.

the lie
The definite article "the" in "the lie" suggests a specific falsehood, likely referring to the ultimate deception of the antichrist or the rejection of the gospel itself. The Greek "τῷ ψεύδει" (tō pseudei) can be understood as a singular, significant falsehood that stands in opposition to the truth of Christ. This reflects the biblical theme of truth versus falsehood, light versus darkness, and the ultimate choice every individual must make regarding their faith and allegiance.

(11) And for this cause--i.e., because they did not care whether things were true or not. This verse is not a mere repetition of 2Thessalonians 2:9-10. There we were told of external dangers which would attend Antichrist's coming for them that perish: because they had not cared for truth, therefore the presence of the Man of Sin, which could not even imperil the truth-lovers, would for them be full of special marvels and frauds by which they might be misled. Here is set forth the effect upon their own selves of refusing to accept God's gift of love of truth: God takes from them (by His natural law) their power of discerning the true from the false, and thus (as it were) actually deceives them. Every wilful sin does this double mischief: it strengthens the power of the temptation without; it weakens the power to resist within. For an illustration, see 2Chronicles 18:7; 2Chronicles 18:22 : Ahab cares only for the pleasant, not the true, and the Lord requites him by sending forth a lying spirit to entice him.

Shall send.--The Greek has sendeth: so "is" in 2Thessalonians 2:9 : St. Paul sees it all going on before his eyes. "A strong delusion" should be "an effectual inward working of error"--no longer a mere indifference to truth, but a real influence of error upon their hearts. This inward work of error is sent "with a view to their believing the lie" (the Greek has the definite article)--the lie (that is) which Antichrist would have them believe. A terrible combination when God and Satan are agreed to deceive a man! Yet what an encouragement to see God using Satan for His own purposes.

Verse 11. - For this cause; on account of their being destitute of a love of the truth. God shall send them; or rather, God sends them; the present being chosen because the apostasy had already commenced, the mystery of lawlessness was already working. Strong delusion; or, a working of error (R.V.). These words are not to be weakened, as if they meant merely that in righteous judgment God permitted strong delusion to be sent them; the words are not a mere assertion of judicial permission, but of actual retribution. It is the ordinance of God that the wicked by their wicked actions fall into greater wickedness, and that thus sin is punished by sin; and what is an ordinance of God is appointed by God himself. That they should believe a lie; or rather, the lie, namely the falsehood which the man of sin disseminates by his deceit of unrighteousness. Being destitute of the love of the truth, they are necessarily led to believe a lie - their minds are open to all manner of falsehood and delusion.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For this reason,
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

will send
πέμπει (pempei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3992: To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.

them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

a powerful
ἐνέργειαν (energeian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1753: Working, action, productive work, activity; in the NT, confined to superhuman activity. From energes; efficiency.

delusion
πλάνης (planēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4106: Feminine of planos; objectively, fraudulence; subjectively, a straying from orthodoxy or piety.

so that
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

they
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

will believe
πιστεῦσαι (pisteusai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

[the] lie,
ψεύδει (pseudei)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5579: A lie, falsehood, untruth; false religion. From pseudomai; a falsehood.


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NT Letters: 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Because of this God sends them (2 Thess. 2 Thes. 2Th iiTh ii th)
2 Thessalonians 2:10
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