2 Peter 2:21
in 2 Peter 2It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
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.
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This verse in 2 Peter 2
Commentary
11 notes on this versePeter shows by this that these men were not liberating those who followed them from their deception but merely making that deception worse.
This site's exposition
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world
on 2 Peter 2:20-22
To escape through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be overcome again leaves a condition worse than it was at first. The proverbs of the dog and the sow, from Proverbs 26:11 and daily life, show a nature the washing never changed.
This site's exposition
way of righteousness
Leaving the known way is worse than never knowing it. Albert Barnes gives three reasons: the shame brought on the faith, the deeper fall into vice, and the heavier judgment. Andreas of Caesarea adds that such teachers only deepen their followers' error.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
To know the way of righteousness is to know Christ and the holy gospel. Peter is talking here about people who have been baptized after professing faith in Jesus but who have then turned away from him.
For if, after having fled from the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled and overcome, the latter end has become worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Blessed Peter says: 'It is better not to know the way of justice than, after knowing it, to turn back.' You will say: 'Many fall.' You ought not to fall with those who fall, but to stand with those who stand.
For this reason the apostle says that, given such a future for those who willingly return to evil, it would have been better for them not to have known the truth than, having known it, to fall into greater evil.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For it had been better for them,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For it had been better for them ... - Compare the notes at Mat 26:24. It would have been better for them, for: (1) Then they would not have dishonored the cause of religion as they have now done; (2) They would not have sunk so deep in profligacy as they now have; and, (3) They would not have incurred so aggravated a condemnation in the world of woe. If people are resolved on being wicked, they had better never pretend to be good.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the way of righteousness--"the way of truth" (2Pe 2:2). Christian doctrine, and "the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour." turn--back again; so the Greek. from the holy commandment--the Gospel which enjoins holiness; in opposition to their corruption.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
For it had been better for them not to have known - For the reasons assigned above; because they have sinned against more mercy, are capable of more sin, and are liable to greater punishment. The holy commandment - The whole religion of Christ is contained in this one commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbor as thyself.” He who obeys this great commandment, and this by the grace of Christ is possible to every man, is saved from sinning either against his God or against his neighbor. Nothing less than this does the religion of Christ require.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κρεῖττον | kreitton | Better | G2908 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἦν | en | it was being | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | for them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐπεγνωκέναι | epegnokenai | to have known | G1921 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὁδὸν | hodon | way | G3598 → | 101 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δικαιοσύνης | dikaiosunes | of righteousness | G1343 → | 92 times |
| ἢ | e | than | G2228 → | |
| ἐπιγνοῦσιν | epignousin | having known [it] | G1921 → | |
| ὑποστρέψαι | hupostrepsai | to have turned | G5290 → | |
| ἐκ | ek | from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παραδοθείσης | paradotheises | having been delivered | G3860 → | |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἁγίας | hagias | holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| ἐντολῆς. | entoles | commandment. | G1785 → |
κρεῖττονBetter
kreittonG2908 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἦνit was being
enG1510 →2333 times
αὐτοῖςfor them
autoisG846 →5565 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐπεγνωκέναιto have known
epegnokenaiG1921 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ὁδὸνway
hodonG3598 →101 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
δικαιοσύνηςof righteousness
dikaiosunesG1343 →92 times
ἢthan
ἐπιγνοῦσινhaving known [it]
epignousinG1921 →
ὑποστρέψαιto have turned
hupostrepsaiG5290 →
ἐκfrom
ekG1537 →911 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
παραδοθείσηςhaving been delivered
paradotheisesG3860 →
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἁγίαςholy
hagiasG40 →220 times
ἐντολῆς.commandment.
entolesG1785 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 4:17Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
it leads to
- John 9:41
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- John 15:22
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
- Luke 12:47–48
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
- Romans 1:32
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- John 9:41
Through
Luke 12:47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
it leads to
- James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
- John 15:22–24
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
- James 4:17
Through
Ezekiel 18:24But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 33:12–13
Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 33:12–13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
About 2 Peter
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Andreas of Caesarea, Catena on 2 Peter; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 7; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on 2 Peter; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Peter.