2 Peter 2:20
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. | If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. | For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedSome escaped the world's pollution through knowing the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but became tangled in it again and were overcome. For them the last state is worse than the first. Going back is worse than never coming. 2 Peter 2:192 Peter 2:20
SpeakingSimon Peter, "a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ," who saw Christ's majesty on the holy mount. 2 Peter overview
To"Them that have obtained like precious faith"; traditionally the same believers as 1 Peter, in Asia Minor. 2 Peter overview
Also involvedThose who escaped the world's pollution and then went back to it. 2 Peter 2:20
Peter describes the result of following the false teachers (2:20-22). 2 Peter 2:182 Peter 2:202 Peter 2:21
The letter names no place. If the readers are those of 1 Peter, they were in Asia Minor; tradition places Peter in Rome at the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
The eventsThe verse gives no date of its own. Peter writes near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
WrittenTraditional: about AD 64-68, shortly before Peter's death. Scholarly: many hold a follower wrote it in Peter's name, perhaps AD 100-150; others accept that Peter wrote it near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
HerePeter warns how serious it is to turn back after knowing Christ. 2 Peter 2:202 Peter 2:21
In the whole of ScriptureJesus said of a man whose unclean spirit returns with seven others, "the last state of that man is worse than the first" (Luke 11:26). Hebrews warns, "if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:26). Luke 11:26Hebrews 10:26
For readersKnowing the truth and turning from it is dangerous. Believers should hold fast. 2 Peter 2:20Hebrews 10:26
Christians read this differently
Peter says these people "escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord," then went back (2:20-22). Some read this as people who were truly saved and then fell away. Others read it as people who knew the truth and cleaned up outwardly without being changed, which the dog and sow in 2:22 picture: their nature stayed the same. Both agree that turning back makes "the latter end ... worse." 2 Peter 2:202 Peter 2:212 Peter 2:22Hebrews 10:26
- pollutionsμίασμα
The word means defilement, pollution. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G3393
- knowledgeἐπίγνωσις
The word means acquaintance, discernment or recognition; the KJV renders it "knowledge." Strong's G1922
- entangledἐμπλέκω
The word means to entangle, involve. The lexicon lists 2 Timothy 2:4 as its other use. Strong's G1707
- worseχείρων
The word means worse. The lexicon lists Luke 11:26 among its uses. Strong's G5501
Takeaway
Those who escape the world through knowing Christ and then are entangled again end worse than they began. 2 Peter 2:20Luke 11:26
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If | εἰ | ei | G1487G | ifεἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; … |
| for | γὰρ | gar | G1063 | forγάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. … |
| having escaped | ἀποφυγόντες | apophugontes | G0668 | to escapeἀποφεύγω (apopheugō) ἀπο-φεύγω [in LXX: Sir.22:22 * ;] to flee from, escape: with accusative, 2Pe.2:18 2:20; with genitive, 2Pe.1:4.† (AS) |
| pollutions | μιάσματα | miasmata | G3393 | defilementμίασμα (miasma) μίασμα, -τος, τό (μιαίνω), chiefly in trag. and late writers; [in LXX: Lev.7:8, 18, (פִּגּוּל), Jer.32:34 (שִׁקּוּץ), Eze.33:31 (בֶּצַע), Jdth.9:2, 4 13:16, 1Ma.13:50 * ;] a stain, defilement: pl., 2Pe.2:20.† (AS) |
| world | κόσμου | kosmou | G2889 | worldκόσμος (kosmos) κόσμος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Gen.2:1, Deu.4:19 17:3, Isa.24:21 40:26 (צבא), Exo.33:5, 6 Jer.2:32 4:30, Eze.7:20 16:11 23:40 (עֲדִי), Isa.61:10 (כְּלִי), al., Wis.2:24 and freq., Sir.6:30, al ;] 1. order (Hom., Plat., al.). 2. ornament, adornment, esp. of women (Hom., al.): 1Pe.3:3. 3. Later, the world or universe, as an ordered system (Plat., al.): Act.17:24, Rom.4:13, 1Co.3:22, Php.2:15, Heb.4:3, al. 4. In late writers only, the world, i.e. the earth (= ἡ οἰκουμένη, cf. Mat.4:8 with Luk.4:5): Mat.4:8, Mrk.16:[15], Col.2:20, 1Ti.6:7, al.; hence by meton., … |
| through | ἐν | en | G1722 | in/on/amongἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af … |
| [the] knowledge | ἐπιγνώσει | epignōsei | G1922 | knowledgeἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis) ἐπί-γνωσις, -εως, ἡ (ἐπιγινώσκω, which see), [in LXX: 3Ki.7:14 (B. γν-), Pro.2:5, Hos.4:1, 6 6:6 (דַּעַת), Jdth.9:14, 2Ma.9:11 * ;] acquaintance, discernment, recognition (Plut., al.): Php.1:9, Col.3:10; with genitive of thing(s), Col.1:9 2:2, Phm 6; τ. ἀληθείας, 1Ti.2:4, 2Ti.2:25 3:7, Tit.1:1, Heb.10:26; τ. ἁμαρτίας, Rom.3:20; with genitive of person(s), of God: Eph.1:17, Col.1:10, 2Pe.1:2-3; of Christ: Eph.4:13, 2Pe.1:8 2:20; of God and Christ: 2Pe.1:2; κατ ̓ ἐ., Rom.10:2; ἔχειν ἐν ἐ., Rom.1:28 (see AR, Eph., 248 ff.; and for a somewhat different view, Thayer, see word; Lft. on Col, 1:9; Tr … |
| Lord | κυρίου | kuriou | G2962G | lord: Godκύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| Savior | σωτῆρος | sōtēros | G4990 | saviorσωτήρ (sōtēr) σωτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ (σώζω), [in LXX for יָשַׁע and cognate forms ;] saviour, deliverer, preserver, a frequently epithet of kings in the Ptolemaic and Rom. periods (Deiss., BS, 83; LAE, 368 f.; MM, xxiv), in NT, (a) of God (as LXX: Psa.24:5, Isa.12:2, al.): Luk.1:47, 1Ti.1:1 2:3 4:10, Tit.1:3 2:10 3:4, Ju 25; … |
| Jesus | Ἰησοῦ | Iēsou | G2424G | JesusἸησοῦς (Iēsous) Ἰησοῦς, -οῦ, dative, voc. -οῦ, accusative, -οῦν (Heb. יֵשׁוּעַ ,יְהֹשֻׁעַ ,יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), 1. JESUS: Mat.1:21, al.; ὁ Ἰ, ib. 3:13, al.; Ἰ. Χριστός, ib. 1:1, Mrk.1:1, al.; Χρ. Ἰ., Rom.2:26, al.; κύριος Ἰ., Act.28:31, al.; Ἰησοῦ, voc., Mrk.1:24, al. 2. Joshua: Act.7:45, Heb.4:8. 3. Jesus, son of Eliezer: Luk.3:28. 4. Jesus, surnamed Justus: Col.4:11. 5. see: βαραββᾶς. (AS) |
| Christ, | Χριστοῦ, | Christou | G5547 | ChristΧριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. … |
| in these | τούτοις | toutois | G3778 | this/he/she/itοὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; … |
| now | δὲ | de | G1161 | thenδέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; … |
| again | πάλιν | palin | G3825 | againπάλιν (palin) πάλιν, adv., [in LXX for שׁוּב, etc. ;] 1. of place, back, backwards (LS, see word). 2. Of time, again, once more: Mat.4:8, Mrk.2:13, Luk.23:20, Jhn.1:35 (and freq.), Act.17:32, Rom.11:23, Gal.1:9, Heb.1:6, al; pleonastically, π. ἀνακάμπτειν, Act.18:21; ὑποστρέφειν, Gal.1:17; εἰς τὸ π., 2Co.13:2; π. ἐκ τρίτου (Bl., §81, 4), Mat.26:44; ἐκ δευτέρου, Mat.26:42, Act.10:15; π. δεῦτερον, Jhn.4:54 21:16; π. ἄνωθεν ( Wis.19:6), Gal.4:9. 3. Rhetorically, again; (a) further, moreover: Mat.5:33, Luk.13:20, Jhn.12:39, al.; … |
| having been entangled | ἐμπλακέντες | emplakentes | G1707 | to entangle/involveἐμπλέκω (emplekō) ἐμ-πλέκω [in LXX: Pro.28:18 (נָפַל), 2Ma.15:17 * ;] to weave in, entwine; pass., metaphorically, to be involved, entangled in: 2Ti.2:4, 2Pe.2:20.† (AS) |
| they are subdued, | ἡττῶνται, | hēttōntai | G2274 | be lesserἡσσάομαι (hēssaomai) ἡττάω, -ῶ (ἡσσ-, 2Co.12:13, see: ἥσσων) [in LXX for חָתַת, etc. ;] pass., 1. to be inferior: before ὑπέρ, 2Co.12:13. 2. to be overcome: absol., 2Pe.2:20; with dative, 2Pe.2:19.† (AS) |
| has become | γέγονεν | gegonen | G1096 | to beγίνομαι (ginomai) γίνομαι, Ion. and κοινή for Att. γίγν- (M. Pr., 47; Bl., §6, 8 Mayser, 166 f.), [in LXX chiefly for היה ;] 1. of persons, things occurrences, to come into being, be born, arise, come on: Jhn.1:15 8:58, 1Co.15:37; a first appearance in public, Mrk.1:4, Jhn.1:6, al.; before ἐκ (of birth), Rom.1:3, Gal.4:4; διά, Jhn.1:3; βροντή, Jhn.12:29; σεισμός, Rev.6:12; γογγυσμός, Act.6:1; χαρά, Act.8:8, many other similar exx.; ἡμέρα, Luk.22:66, al.; ὀψέ, Mrk.11:19; πρωΐα, Mat.27:1; νύξ, Act.27:27. … |
| to them | αὐτοῖς | autois | G0846 | it/s/heαὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| last [state] | ἔσχατα | eschata | G2078 | last/leastἔσχατος (eschatos) ἔσχατος, -η, -ον [in LXX chiefly for אַחֲרִית אַחֲרוֹן ;] last, utmost, extreme; (a) of place: of the lowest or least honoured place, Luk.14:9-10; τ. ἔσχατον, with genitive part., Act.1:8 13:47; (b) of time: Mat.20:12, 14, Mrk.12:6, 22, opposite to πρῶτος, Mat.20:8, 1Co.15:45, Rev.2:19, al.; τὰ ἔ. καὶ T. πρῶτα, Mat.12:45, Luk.11:26, 2Pe.2:20; of the Eternal, ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔ., Rev.1:17 2:8 22:13; in phrases relating to the Messianic age and the consummation of the Kingdom of God: ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτου (-ων) τ. ἡμερῶν, Heb.1:2, 2Pe.3:3; τ. χρόνων, 1Pe.1:20; ἔ. ὥρα, 1Jn.2:18; ἐπ᾽ ἐ. χόνου, Ju 18; ἐν ἐ … |
| worse | χείρονα | cheirona | G5501 | worse thanχείρων (cheirōn) χείρων, -ον, compar. of κακός [in LXX: 1Ki.17:43 B, Wis.15:18 17:6, 3Ma.5:20 * ;] worse: Mat.9:16 12:45 27:64, Mrk.2:21, Luk.11:26, Jhn.5:14, 1Ti.5:8, Heb.10:29, 2Pe.2:20; εἰς (ἐπὶ) τὸ χεῖρον, Mrk.5:26, 2Ti.3:13.† (AS) |
| first. | πρώτων. | prōtōn | G4413G | firstπρῶτον (prōton) πρῶτον, πρῶτος, see: πρότερος A. Compar., πρότερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX for רִאשׁוֹן ,לִפָנִים, etc. ;] before, of time, place, rank, etc.; in NT always of Time, before, former: Eph.4:22. Adverbially, πρότερον, before, aforetime, formerly: Jhn.7:50, 2Co.1:15, Heb.4:6; opposite to ἔπειτα, Heb.7:27; τὸ π., Jhn.6:62 9:8, Gal.4:13, 1Ti.1:13; αἱ π. ἡμέραι, Heb.10:32; αἱ π. ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.1:14.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.