Tree of Life Version
2 Peter 2:21
21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed 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
19They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption—for a person is a slave to whatever has overcome him. 20For if—after escaping the world’s pollutions through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah—they again become entangled in these things and are overcome, the end for them has become worse than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22What has happened to them confirms the truth of the proverb, “A dog returns to its vomit,” and “A scrubbed pig heads right back into 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 11:23And you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Sheol! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
- Luke 12:47“That slave who knew his master’s will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped.
- John 9:41Yeshua said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ So your sin remains.”
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
- Proverbs 12:28In the path of righteousness is life— it is a path to immortality.
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory, found on the path 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 even after you saw this, you had no change of heart to believe him.”
- Psalms 36:3For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to notice his iniquity —or hate it.
- Psalms 125:5But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, Adonai will lead them away with evildoers. Shalom be upon Israel.
- Ezekiel 3:20When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts perversely, I will lay a stumbling block before him and he will die. Because you have not warned him, he will die in his sin. His righteous deeds that he has done will not be remembered—but I will require his blood at your hand.
- Ezekiel 18:24But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity and does according to all the detestable acts that the wicked man does, will he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered; for his trespass that he trespassed and for his sin that he has sinned, for them he will die.
- Ezekiel 23:13I saw that she defiled herself; they both went the same way.
- Zephaniah 1:6those turning from following Adonai, not seeking Adonai or consulting Him.
- Romans 7:12So then, the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Yeshua.
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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