2 Peter 2:20

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

18For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

2 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

• For ifεἰei · ifG1487
• escapedἀποφεύγωapopheugō · to escapeG668
• the defilementsμίασμαmiasma · defilementG3393
• of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• the knowledgeἐπίγνωσιςepignōsis · knowledgeG1922
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• and Saviorσωτήρsōtēr · saviorG4990
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• they are againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• entangledἐμπλέκωemplekō · to entangle/involveG1707
• them and areἡσσάομαιhēttaō · be lesserG2274
• the lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
• state has becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• worseχείρωνcheirōn · worse thanG5501
• for them than the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413

Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:20

• Matthew 12:43“Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.
• Luke 11:24“When the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it then 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 and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
• Hebrews 10:26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
• 2 Peter 2:18For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
• 2 Peter 1:4Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.
• 2 Peter 1:2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
• Numbers 24:20And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction.”
• Deuteronomy 32:29If only they were wise and they understood this; If only they would discern their future!
• Philippians 3:19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds 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

• Apostasy
• Backsliders
• Doctrines
• Jesus Continued
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Jesus Christ
• Chain
• Damnable
• Perish
• Privily
• Railing

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