2 Peter 2:21

2 Peter 2:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
• New International Version (NIV)It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Context of 2 Peter 2:21

19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

2 Peter 2:21 word by word

κρεῖττον γὰρ ἦν αὐτοῖς μὴ ἐπεγνωκέναι τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἢ ἐπιγνοῦσιν ὑποστρέψαι ἐκ τῆς παραδοθείσης αὐτοῖς ἁγίας ἐντολῆς.Read the interlinear

• ·γάρgar · forG1063
• It would have beenεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• for themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• notμήmē · notG3361
• to have knownἐπιγινώσκωepiginōskō · to come to knowG1921
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• thanἤē · orG2228
• and then to turn awayὑποστρέφωhupostrephō · to returnG5290
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• passed onπαραδίδωμιparadidōmi · to deliverG3860

Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:21

• Matthew 11:23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
• Luke 12:47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
• John 9:41“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
• John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
• Proverbs 12:28There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.
• Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
• Matthew 21:32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
• Psalms 36:3The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.
• Psalms 125:5But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
• Ezekiel 3:20Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.
• Ezekiel 18:24But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
• Ezekiel 23:13And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path.
• Zephaniah 1:6and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”
• Romans 7:12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:2For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Commentaries on 2 Peter 2:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21For it had been better for them not to have known - For the reasons assigned above; because they have sinned against more mercy, are capable of more sin, and are liable to greater punishment. The holy commandment - The whole religion of Christ is contained in this one commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbor as thyself." He who obeys this great…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For it had been better for them … - Compare the notes at Matthew 26:24. It would have been better for them, for: (1)then they would not have dishonored the cause of religion as they have now done; (2)they would not have sunk so deep in profligacy as they now have; and, (3)they would not have incurred so aggravated a condemnation in the world of woe. If people are resolved on being wicked, they had better never pretend to be good. If they are to be cast…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 The word of truth is the water of life, which refreshes the souls that receive it; but deceivers spread and promote error, and are set forth as empty, because there is no truth in them. As clouds hinder the light of the sun, so do these darken counsel by words wherein there is no truth. Seeing that these men increase darkness in this world, it is very just that the mist of darkness should be their portion in the next. In the midst of their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-22Peter continues to describe the false teachers by showing how they harm other people.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. the way of righteousness--"the way of truth" (2Pe 2:2). Christian doctrine, and "the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour." turn--back again; so the Greek. from the holy commandment--the Gospel which enjoins holiness; in opposition to their corruption. "Holy," not that it makes holy, but because it ought to be kept inviolate [Tittmann]. delivered--once for all; admitting no turning back.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Peter 2:21

• Apostasy
• Backsliders
• Doctrines
• Gospel
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Chain
• Damnable
• Perish
• Privily
• Railing
• Reserve
• Riot
• Swift
• Wantonness
• Apostasy; Apostate

Commentaries on 2 Peter 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings