Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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.
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 people who have escaped from the defiling practices of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, become tangled up in them again, and are overcome by them, these people are worse off than before they were converted. 21 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. 22 It has happened to them like the true proverb [says], "The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit," and "The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud."
Names
Cross References
Luke 12:47
And that slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not make preparations [i.e., for his master's return], or do what his master wanted, will be whipped with many lashes.
Romans 7:12
So, the law of Moses itself is holy and the commandment [against sinning] is holy and just and good.
Hebrews 6:4-6
[These are people] who were once enlightened [by the Gospel message], who had experienced the gift from heaven [i.e., forgiveness, never ending life, etc. See Rom. 6:23], who had partaken of the Holy Spirit [See Acts 2:38],
Matthew 11:23-24
And Capernaum, do you think you will be lifted up toward heaven [as a proud city]? [No indeed], you will [surely] go down to the place of the unseen [i.e., become obscure or obliterated as a city]. For if the powerful miracles had been performed in Sodom which were performed in your presence, it would have remained [even] until today.
Matthew 21:32
For John came to show you the way to be right with God, but you would not believe his message. Yet the tax collectors and prostitutes believed it, and when you saw this, even then you did not change your minds so as to believe his message.
John 9:41
Jesus said to them, "If you were [really] blind [i.e., unable to see spiritually], you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim, 'We can see [fine],' you remain guilty of sin."
John 15:22
They would not be guilty of sinning if I had not come and spoken to them. But now [that I have], they have no excuse for their sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:2
For you know [i.e., are aware of] the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
James 4:17
So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning.