God’s Word Translation
2 Peter 2:20
20People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Peter 2:20
18They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error. 19They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to. People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before. 21It would have been better for them never to have known the way of life that God approves of than to know it and turn their backs on the holy life God told them to live. 22These proverbs have come true for them: “A dog goes back to its vomit,” and “A sow that has been washed goes back to roll around in the mud.”
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 an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any.
- Luke 11:24“When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the home I left.’
- Hebrews 6:4Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 10:26If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins.
- 2 Peter 2:18They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error.
- 2 Peter 1:4Through his glory and integrity he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.
- 2 Peter 1:2May good will and peace fill your lives through your knowledge about Jesus, our God and Lord!
- Numbers 24:20Then Balaam saw the Amalekites and delivered this message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but in the end it will be destroyed.”
- Deuteronomy 32:29If only they were wise enough to understand this and realize what will happen to them!
- Philippians 3:19In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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