Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness
International Standard Version
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn their backs on the holy commandment that was committed to them.
American Standard Version
For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Amplified
For it would have been better for them not to have [personally] known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to have turned back from the holy commandment [verbally] handed on to them.
An Understandable Version
It would have been better for them if they had not known the right way [to God] than, after knowing it, to turn back from the sacred message that had been presented to them.
Anderson New Testament
For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Bible in Basic English
For it would have been better for them to have had no knowledge of the way of righteousness, than to go back again from the holy law which was given to them, after having knowledge of it.
Common New Testament
For it would have been 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.
Daniel Mace New Testament
for it had been better for them, not to have made any profession of the gospel, than after they have embraced it, to abandon the holy injunction, that was delivered to them.
Darby Translation
For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Emphatic Diaglott Bible
Therefore, it has been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Godbey New Testament
For it was better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment which has been delivered unto them.
Goodspeed New Testament
For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of uprightness than after knowing it to have turned their backs upon the sacred command with which they had been intrusted.
John Wesley New Testament
For it had 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.
Julia Smith Translation
For it was better for them not to have known the way of justice, than, having known, to turn back from the holy command delivererd to them.
King James 2000
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.
Lexham Expanded Bible
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known [it], to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
Modern King James verseion
For it would have been better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than fully knowing it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
For it had been better for them, not to have known the way of righteousness, then after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment given unto them.
Moffatt New Testament
Better had they never known the Way of righteousness, than to know it and then turn back from the holy command which was committed to them.
Montgomery New Testament
Indeed it would have been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.
NET Bible
For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
New Heart English Bible
For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Noyes New Testament
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Sawyer New Testament
For it is better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, having known, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
The Emphasized Bible
For, better, had it been for them - not to have obtained a personal knowledge of the way of righteousness, than, having obtained such knowledge, to turn back out of the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
For it had been better for them never to have been acquainted with the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to have turned aside from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Twentieth Century New Testament
It would, indeed, have been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn away from the holy Command delivered to them.
Webster
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 to them.
Weymouth New Testament
For it would have been better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandments in which they were instructed.
Williams New Testament
For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of uprightness than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command committed to their trust.
World English Bible
For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Worrell New Testament
For it were better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Worsley New Testament
for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than when they knew it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Youngs Literal Translation
for it were better to them not to have acknowledged the way of the righteousness, than having acknowledged it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them,
Themes
Apostasy » Guilt and punishment of
Apostates » Guilt and punishment of
Topics
Interlinear
me
Epiginosko
Epiginosko
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 38 Translations in 2 Peter 2:21
Images 2 Peter 2:21
Prayers for 2 Peter 2:21
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Rise And Fall Of The False Teachers
20 For if, having escaped the defilements of the world by knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and, having been again entangled in these, they are overcome, the last things have become worse for them than the first. 21 For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But that of the TRUE proverb has happened to them, The dog returning to his own vomit, and the sow that washed to wallowing in mire.
Names
Cross References
Ezekiel 18:24
But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered. I
Luke 12:47
And that bondman who knew his lord's will, and who did not prepare, nor do according to his will, will be beaten much,
Romans 7:12
So the law is indeed holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and who tasted of the heavenly gift, and who became partakers of Holy Spirit,
Psalm 36:3-4
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise [and] to do good.
Psalm 125:5
But as for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, LORD will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
Proverbs 12:28
Life is in the way of righteousness, and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Proverbs 16:31
The hoary head is a crown of glory. It shall be found in the way of righteousness.
Ezekiel 3:20
Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because thou have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which h
Ezekiel 23:13
And I saw that she was defiled. They both took one way.
Zephaniah 1:6
and those who are turned back from following LORD, and those who have not sought LORD, nor inquired after him.
Matthew 11:23-24
And thou, Capernaum, which was exalted as far as the sky. Thou will be brought down as far as Hades, because if the mighty works had occurred in Sodom that occurred in thee, it would have remained until this day.
Matthew 21:32
For John came to you in a way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him. And having seen it, ye did not repent afterward to believe him.
John 9:41
Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin, but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remains.
John 15:22
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:2
For ye know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
James 4:17
He therefore who knows to do good, and is not doing it, to him it is sin.