New American Standard Bible 2020
2 Peter 2:21
211For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from 2the holy commandment 3handed on to them.
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 freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20For 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. For 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.”
Read all of 2 Peter 22 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
- For it would be betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
- for them not to have knownἐπιγινώσκωepiginōskō · to come to knowG1921
- the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
- of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- thanἤē · orG2228
- it, to turnὑποστρέφωhupostrephō · to returnG5290
- the holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
- handedπαραδίδωμιparadidōmi · to deliverG3860
Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:21
- Matthew 11:23And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
- Luke 12:47And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accordance with his will, will receive many blows,
- John 9:41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- Proverbs 12:28In the way of righteousness there is life, And in its pathway there is no death.
- Proverbs 16:31A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way 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 believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even have second thoughts afterward so as to believe him.
- Psalms 36:3The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
- Psalms 125:5But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord will lead them away with those who practice injustice. Peace be upon Israel.
- Ezekiel 3:20Again, when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits sin, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require from your hand.
- Ezekiel 18:24“But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.
- Ezekiel 23:13And I saw that she had defiled herself; they both took the same way.
- Zephaniah 1:6And those who have turned back from following the Lord, And those who have not sought the Lord nor inquired of Him.”
- Romans 7:12So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2For you know what 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
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 2 Peter 2:21 Ezek 18:24; Heb 6:4ff; 10:26f; James 4:17 ↩
- 2. 2 Peter 2:21 Gal 6:2; 1 Tim 6:14; 2 Pet 3:2 ↩
- 3. 2 Peter 2:21 Jude 3 ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries