Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by [personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition has become worse for them than the first.
21 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.
22
The thing spoken of in the true proverb has happened to them, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “A sow is washed only to wallow [again] in the mire.”
Names
Cross References
Ezekiel 18:24
“But when the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin and acts in accordance with all the repulsive things that the wicked man does, will he live? All of his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered because of the treachery that he has committed and for his sin which he has committed; for them he shall die.
Luke 12:47
Romans 7:12
So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Hebrews 6:4-6
For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have
Psalm 36:3-4
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Psalm 125:5
But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways [in unresponsiveness to God],
The Lord will lead them away with those who do evil.
Peace be upon Israel.
Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality—eternal life].
Proverbs 16:31
The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.
Ezekiel 3:20
Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness (right standing with God) and sins, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered; but you will be responsible for his blood.
Ezekiel 23:13
I saw that she had defiled herself; they both behaved the same way.
Zephaniah 1:6
And those who have turned back from following the Lord,
And those who have not sought the Lord [as their most important need] or inquired of Him.”
Matthew 11:23-24
Matthew 21:32
John 9:41
Jesus said to them,
John 15:22
1 Thessalonians 4:2
For you know what commandments and precepts we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
James 4:17
So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.