New Living Translation
2 Peter 2:21
21It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
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
19They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20And 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. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- it had beenεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
- for themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- notμήmē · notG3361
- to have knownἐπιγινώσκωepiginōskō · to come to knowG1921
- the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
- of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- thanἤē · orG2228
- to turnἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- theἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
- holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- deliveredπαραδίδωμιparadidōmi · to deliverG3860
Cross-references for 2 Peter 2:21
- Matthew 11:23“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.
- Luke 12:47“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.
- John 9:41“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.
- John 15:22They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
- Proverbs 12:28The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
- Matthew 21:32For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
- Psalms 36:3Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good.
- Psalms 125:5But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!
- Ezekiel 3:20“If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
- Ezekiel 18:24However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.
- Ezekiel 23:13I saw the way she was going, defiling herself just like her older sister.
- Zephaniah 1:6And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”
- Romans 7:12But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2For you remember what we taught 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
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
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