What Does 2 Peter 2:21 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Knowing the way and continuing in it are separate acts: recognition does not make turning away impossible.
THE MEANING
You have come to know the way of alignment, and the set-apart commandment has been delivered to you. The verse names a real rupture: turning away after recognition is a deeper loss than never having recognized the way.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that recognizing the way guarantees you will remain aligned with it dissolves here; the verse says you can know it and still turn away.
THE ROOT
ἐπιγινώσκω
epiginōskō
GROWS FROM
γινώσκω
ginōskō
Know, recognize, perceive
Both “known” phrases draw on the γινώσκω family of knowing and recognition. The verse holds recognition and remaining on the way apart: knowing is real, but it does not prevent a later turn.
ALSO GROWS
gnōsis: knowledge
γνῶσις
It shares the knowing-family and shows that knowledge is present, while the verse focuses on what follows it.
epignōsis: recognition, knowledge
ἐπίγνωσις
This related form echoes the passage’s emphasis on having come to recognize the way.
ὑποστρέφω
hypostrephō
GROWS FROM
στρέφω
strephō
Turn, change direction
“turn from” in this verse is hypostrephō. The verb makes the rupture directional: after knowing the way, a person can turn away from the commandment. English can make “turn” sound like a change of opinion, while the Greek presents a change of course.
ALSO GROWS
epistrephō: turn, return
ἐπιστρέφω
This related verb shows the same turning movement, here directed toward return.
apostrephō: turn away
ἀποστρέφω
This branch makes the possibility of turning away explicit, matching the movement in the verse.
παραδίδωμι
paradidōmi
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
Give, put into another’s hands
“delivered” in this verse is paradidōmi. The commandment is not only something known; it has also been handed over. The verse describes turning away from what has already been placed in your keeping.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: give
δίδωμι
The basic verb shows the giving held inside the idea of something delivered.
paradosis: handing down, transmission
παράδοσις
This related word carries the sense of something passed on, like the commandment delivered to the reader.
THE PATTERN
Recognizing what is good deepens responsibility for the response that follows.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,THE THREAD
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.John’s “know” comes from the same γινώσκω (ginōskō) word family as the knowing in 2 Peter. John shows recognition opening to freedom; Peter shows that recognition does not make turning away impossible.
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