English Standard Version
2 Peter 2:20
20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2 Peter 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
- New International Version (NIV)If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.
Context of 2 Peter 2:20
18For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For 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. 22What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."
Read all of 2 Peter 22 Peter 2:20 word by word
εἰ γὰρ ἀποφυγόντες τὰ μιάσματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐν ἐπιγνώσει τοῦ κυρίου καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τούτοις δὲ πάλιν ἐμπλακέντες ἡττῶνται, γέγονεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ἔσχατα χείρονα τῶν πρώτων.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- after they have escapedἀποφεύγωapopheugō · to escapeG668
- the pollutionsμίασμαmiasma · defilementG3393
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- throughἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the knowledgeἐπίγνωσιςepignōsis · knowledgeG1922
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- Saviourσωτήρsōtēr · saviorG4990
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- ·δέde · thenG1161
- they areἐμπλέκωemplekō · to entangle/involveG1707
- againπάλινpalin · againG3825
- thereinοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- and overcomeἡσσάομαιhēttaō · be lesserG2274
- the latter endἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
- isγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- worseχείρωνcheirōn · worse thanG5501
- with themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- than the beginningπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:20
- Matthew 12:43"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
- Luke 11:24"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'
- Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
- Hebrews 10:26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
- 2 Peter 2:18For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
- 2 Peter 1:4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
- 2 Peter 1:2May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
- Numbers 24:20Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction."
- Deuteronomy 32:29If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!
- Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Commentaries on 2 Peter 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The pollutions of the world - Sin in general, and particularly superstition, idolatry, and lasciviousness. These are called , miasmata, things that infect, pollute, and defile. The word was anciently used, and is in use at the present day, to express those noxious particles of effluvia proceeding from persons infected with contagious and dangerous diseases; or from dead and corrupt bodies, stagnant and putrid waters, marshes etc., by which the sound and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world - This does not necessarily mean that they had been true Christians, and had fallen from grace. People may outwardly reform, and escape from the open corruptions which prevail around them, or which they had themselves practiced, and still have no true grace at heart. Through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesses Christ - Neither does This imply that they were true Christians, or that they…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. 20their final condition is worse than it was at first: The false teachers, or the people who followed them, had known the truth. But they chose to reject it. Their deliberate choice placed them in a much worse situation than when they sinned without understanding.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. after they--the seducers "themselves" have escaped (2Pe 2:19; see on He 6:4-6). pollutions--which bring "corruption" (2Pe 2:19). through--Greek, "in." knowledge--Greek, "full and accurate knowledge." the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ--solemnly expressing in full the great and gracious One from whom they fall. latter end is worse ... than the beginning--Peter remembers Christ's words. "Worse" stands opposed to "better" (2Pe 2:21).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Peter 2:20
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries