2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Context of 2 Peter 3:9

7And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. 8But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 11Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

2 Peter 3:9 word by word

οὐ βραδύνει κύριος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ὥς τινες βραδύτητα ἡγοῦνται· ἀλλὰ μακροθυμεῖ εἰς ὑμᾶς μὴ βουλόμενός τινας ἀπολέσθαι ἀλλὰ πάντας εἰς μετάνοιαν χωρῆσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• isβραδύνωbradunō · to delayG1019
• notοὐou · noG3756
• concerning his promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• some menτιςtis · oneG5100
• countἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• slacknessβραδύτηςbradutēs · slownessG1022
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• is longsufferingμακροθυμέωmakrothumeō · to have patienceG3114
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• us-wardἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• notμήmē · notG3361
• willing thatβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• should perishἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• should comeχωρέωchōreō · to make room forG5562
• repentanceμετάνοιαmetanoia · repentanceG3341

Cross-references for 2 Peter 3:9

• Isaiah 46:13For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel.
• Habakkuk 2:3This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
• Luke 18:7Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
• Hebrews 10:37“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.
• 2 Peter 3:15And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—
• Exodus 34:6The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
• Psalms 86:15But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
• Isaiah 30:18So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
• Romans 9:22In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction.
• 1 Timothy 1:16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
• 1 Peter 3:20those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
• Exodus 18:23If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
• Exodus 32:32But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!”
• Exodus 33:11Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
• Romans 2:4Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
• 1 Timothy 2:4who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Commentaries on 2 Peter 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The Lord is not slack - They probably in their mocking said, "Either God had made no such promise to judge the world, destroy the earth, and send ungodly men to perdition; or if he had, he had forgotten to fulfill it, or had not convenient time or leisure." To some such mocking the apostle seems to refer: and he immediately shows the reason why deserved punishment is not inflicted on a guilty world. But is long-suffering - It is not slackness, remissness…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise - That is, it should not be inferred because His promise seems to be long delayed that therefore it will fail. When people, after a considerable lapse of time, fail to fulfil their engagements, we infer that it is because they have changed their plans, or because they have forgotten their promises, or because they have no ability to perform them, or because there is a lack of principle which makes them fail…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 Had these scoffers considered the dreadful vengeance with which God swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at his threatening an equally terrible judgment. The heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire. This is as sure to come, as the truth and the power of God can make it. Christians are here taught and established in the truth of the coming of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-13Peter moves from condemning the false teachers to encouraging the believers. The false teachers doubted that Christ would return, so Peter needed to teach clearly about this truth. Christians must hold onto the message that the apostles taught about the day of judgment. They should live godly lives as they wait for that day.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. slack--slow, tardy, late; exceeding the due time, as though that time were already come. He 10:37, "will not tarry." his promise--which the scoffers cavil at. 2Pe 3:4, "Where is the promise?" It shall be surely fulfilled "according to His promise" (2Pe 3:13). some--the "scoffers." count--His promise to be the result of "slackness" (tardiness). long-suffering--waiting until the full number of those appointed to "salvation" (2Pe 3:15) shall be completed…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Peter 3:9

• God
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Asleep
• Death
• Dissolve
• Hard
• Promise
• Wrest
• Heavens, New (and Earth, New)
• Jude, the Epistle of
• Longsuffering
• Love

Commentaries on 2 Peter 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings