Parallel Verses

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.

New American Standard Bible

For it would be 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.

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 than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.

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.

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.

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,

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
For
γάρ 
Gar 
for, , not tr
Usage: 825

it had been
ἦν 
En 
was, were, had been, had, taught , stood , , vr was
Usage: 410

κρείττων 
Kreitton 
Usage: 19


Usage: 0

not
μή 
me 
not, no, that not, God forbid 9, lest, neither, no man , but, none, not translated,
Usage: 493

to have known
ἐπιγινώσκω 
Epiginosko 
Usage: 37

the way
ὁδός 
Hodos 
Usage: 75

δικαιοσύνη 
Dikaiosune 
Usage: 83

ἤ 
or, than, either, or else, nor, not tr,
Usage: 199

ἐπιγινώσκω 
Epiginosko 
Usage: 37

it, to turn
ἐπιστρέφω 
Epistrepho 
Usage: 29

ἐκ ἐξ 
Ek 
of, from, out of, by, on, with,
Usage: 709

the
ἐντολή 
Entole 
Usage: 47

G40
ἅγιος 
Hagios 
Usage: 209

ἐντολή 
Entole 
Usage: 47

παραδίδωμι 
Paradidomi 
Usage: 75

Images 2 Peter 2:21

Context Readings

The Rise And Fall Of The False Teachers

20 After escaping the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, if they get entangled and overpowered again, the last state is worse for them than the first. 21 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. 22 They verify the truth of the proverb: "The dog turns back to what he has vomited, the sow when washed will wallow in the mire."


Cross References

Luke 12:47

The servant who knew his lord and master's orders and did not prepare for them, will receive many lashes;

Romans 7:12

So the Law at any rate is holy, the command is holy, just, and for our good.

Hebrews 6:4-6

For in the case of people who have been once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly Gift, who participated in the holy Spirit,

Matthew 11:23-24

And you, O Capharnahum! Exalted to heaven? No, you will sink to Hades! ??for if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Sodom, Sodom would have lasted to this day.

Matthew 21:32

For John showed you the way to be good and you would not believe him; the taxgatherers and harlots believed him, and even though you saw that, you would not change your mind afterwards and believe him.

John 9:41

Jesus replied, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty; but, as it is, you claim to have sight ??and so your sin remains."

John 15:22

They would not be guilty, if I had not come and spoken to them; but, as it is, they have no excuse for their sin ??23 he who hates me hates my Father also.

1 Thessalonians 4:2

You remember the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

James 4:17

[follows 2:26] Whoever, then, knows what is right to do and does not do it, that is a sin for him.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain