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

19promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a man is subdued, by him is he also brought into slavery. 20For if after having escaped the pollutions of the world through [the] knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, again entangled, they are subdued by these, their last state is worse than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known [it] to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22But that [word] of the true proverb has happened to them: [The] dog [has] turned back to his own vomit; and, [The] washed sow to [her] rolling in 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

• wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• knownἐπιγινώσκωepiginōskō · to come to knowG1921
• wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• backὑποστρέφωhupostrephō · to returnG5290
• holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• deliveredπαραδίδωμιparadidōmi · to deliverG3860

Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:21

• Matthew 11:23And thou, Capernaum, who hast been raised up to heaven, shalt be brought down even to hades. For if the works of power which have taken place in thee, had taken place in Sodom, it had remained until this day.
• Luke 12:47But that bondman who knew his own lord's will, and had not prepared [himself] nor done his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes];
• John 9:41Jesus said to them, If ye were blind ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see, your sin remains.
• John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
• Proverbs 12:28In the path of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
• Proverbs 16:31The hoary head is a crown of glory, [if] it is found in the way of righteousness.
• Matthew 21:32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the tax-gatherers and the harlots believed him; but ye when ye saw [it] repented not yourselves afterwards to believe him.
• Psalms 36:3The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, to do good.
• Psalms 125:5But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!
• Ezekiel 3:20And when a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and do what is wrong, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die; because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous acts which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thy hand.
• Ezekiel 18:24And when the righteous turneth from his righteousness and practiseth what is wrong, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous acts which he hath done shall be remembered: in his unfaithfulness which he hath wrought, and in his sin which he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
• Ezekiel 23:13And I saw that she was defiled: both took one way.
• Zephaniah 1:6and them that turn back from after Jehovah, and that do not seek Jehovah, nor inquire for him.
• Romans 7:12So that the law indeed [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:2For ye know what charges we gave you through 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