2 Peter 2:21 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.

2 Peter 2:21 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.

2 Peter 2:21 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.

2 Peter 2:21 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.

2 Peter 2:21 nlt

It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

2 Peter 2 verses

2 Peter 2 21 Meaning

2 Peter 2:21 states that it is a far more serious matter to abandon the path of God's righteousness after having fully understood it than to have never known it at all. The verse highlights the increased accountability and judgment for those who are exposed to and comprehend divine truth, but then deliberately choose to turn away from the holy commandments of God that were clearly given to them. It emphasizes the severe consequences of informed apostasy over simple ignorance.

2 Peter 2 21 Context

This verse is situated within a crucial passage (2 Pet 2:17-22) where Peter intensifies his warning against false teachers and their deceptive influence. In the preceding verses, Peter exposes these teachers as inherently corrupt, speaking pompous words of emptiness, luring unstable souls with promises of freedom while themselves being slaves of corruption. Verse 20 introduces the concept that these individuals had "escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" but subsequently become "again entangled in them and overcome." Verse 21 then directly follows, explaining why their current state is worse. It implies a significant understanding and exposure to the gospel that was later renounced. The broader context of 2 Peter emphasizes the certainty of Christ's return and the judgment that accompanies it, contrasting genuine faith with deceptive heresies. Peter is calling believers to spiritual vigilance, recognizing the nature of these false teachers, whose lives demonstrate that they are not true followers but ultimately revert to their fallen nature, as exemplified by the vivid proverbs in verse 22.

2 Peter 2 21 Word analysis

• For (Greek: γάρ - gar): A conjunction introducing a causal explanation, connecting this verse to the preceding one, providing the reason for the gravity of the situation described in 2 Pet 2:20.
• it would have been better for them: Indicates a comparison of two unfavorable outcomes, asserting that one is less terrible than the other. This strong expression emphasizes the profound culpability associated with the path chosen.
• not to have known (Greek: μὴ ἐπεγνωκέναι - mē epegnōkenai): Uses epiginōskō, which implies a full, intimate, or accurate knowledge beyond mere intellectual acquaintance. It suggests recognition and deep understanding, implying an acknowledgement that should have led to obedience. The perfect tense emphasizes a knowledge that was acquired and continues to have a bearing.
• the way of righteousness (Greek: τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς δικαιοσύνης - tēn hodon tēs dikaiosynēs): "Way" (hodos) is a common biblical metaphor for a course of life or conduct, particularly the path of spiritual truth and moral living according to God's will. "Righteousness" (dikaiosynē) signifies conformity to God's holy character and His just standards, embodying ethical conduct and salvation. This phrase describes the entire system of Christian truth and ethics that God has revealed for righteous living.
• than having known it: Reemphasizes that they did possess this profound understanding, setting the stage for their heightened culpability.
• to turn from (Greek: ὑποστρέψαι ἐκ - hypostrepsai ek): Implies a deliberate and conscious act of returning or reverting from a previously adopted course. It indicates a turning away or desertion of the truth, signifying an intentional repudiation rather than a stumble.
• the holy commandment (Greek: τῆς ἁγίας ἐντολῆς - tēs hagias entolēs): "Holy" (hagios) signifies belonging to God, sacred, set apart. "Commandment" (entolē) refers to a divine precept, injunction, or the sum of Christian teaching. This refers to the revealed will and moral precepts of God given through Christ and the apostles, underscoring its divine origin and moral purity.
• delivered to them (Greek: τῇ παραδοθείσῃ αὐτοῖς - tē paradotheisē autois): "Delivered" (paradidōmi) denotes handing over, entrusting, or transmitting. It emphasizes that the truth was formally communicated and entrusted to them, implying direct reception and clear communication of God's expectations.

2 Peter 2 21 Bonus section

The context of 2 Peter 2:21-22 paints a vivid picture of what Peter considers to be a state worse than ignorance. The metaphors of the "dog returning to his own vomit" and the "sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire" illustrate that the issue is not about a temporary lapse by a genuine believer. Instead, it speaks to an unregenerate nature that, despite outward cleansing or exposure to truth, never undergoes true transformation and ultimately reverts to its base desires. This profound spiritual reality differentiates between someone who momentarily struggles with sin (which is common for all believers) and someone who consciously repudiates the truth they once knew, demonstrating their lack of genuine saving faith from the outset. Their association with "the way of righteousness" was not rooted in a changed heart, thus their "turning away" exposes their true, unchanging character.

2 Peter 2 21 Commentary

2 Peter 2:21 offers a severe pronouncement concerning those who abandon the path of truth after gaining significant knowledge of it. Peter is not addressing casual spiritual wanderings or struggles common to genuine believers. Instead, he speaks of those who "knew the way of righteousness"—a deep, comprehensive understanding of God's revealed truth and His standards for a holy life, which they had indeed "escaped" some worldly pollutions through. Yet, they later made a deliberate choice "to turn from the holy commandment" which had been clearly "delivered to them." This suggests a conscious, willful rejection of divine instruction, a repudiation of truth they once assented to or even publicly embraced. Their culpability is amplified because their error is not rooted in ignorance but in defiance of known truth. Such an act demonstrates that their initial "knowledge" was superficial, failing to produce genuine transformation of the heart. The gravity of their situation lies in the fact that having been exposed to God's purifying truth and perhaps having even benefited outwardly from it, their reversion to old ways demonstrates an inherent corrupted nature that remains unchanged. Their end state is declared worse, signaling a greater measure of judgment for their informed rejection compared to those who lived in ignorance.