2 Peter 2:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. | In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep. | And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedOut of greed, the false teachers will exploit believers with made-up words. But their judgment has long been active, and their destruction is not asleep. God's judgment is on its way. 2 Peter 2:22 Peter 2:3
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 involvedThe believers whom the false teachers would exploit, and the false teachers. 2 Peter 2:3
Peter names the false teachers' motive and their sure end. Verses 4-10 prove that God judges. 2 Peter 2:32 Peter 2:42 Peter 2:9
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 eventsTheir judgment was set "of a long time"; it is not delayed. 2 Peter 2:3
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 assures believers that false teachers will not escape, however long it seems. 2 Peter 2:32 Peter 2:9
In the whole of ScripturePaul said, "we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God" (2 Corinthians 2:17), and "neither at any time used we flattering words ... nor a cloke of covetousness" (1 Thessalonians 2:5). False teachers "by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:18) and teach "for filthy lucre's sake" (Titus 1:11). 2 Corinthians 2:171 Thessalonians 2:5Romans 16:18Titus 1:11
For readersGreed for money is a mark of false teaching. God's judgment on it is certain. 2 Peter 2:3Titus 1:11
- covetousnessπλεονεξία
The word means greed, covetousness. The lexicon lists Luke 12:15 and Colossians 3:5 among its uses. Strong's G4124
- feignedπλαστός
The word means made-up, fabricated. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G4112
- make merchandiseἐμπορεύομαι
The word means to trade in, to exploit. The lexicon lists James 4:13 as its other New Testament use. Strong's G1710
- slumberethνυστάζω
The word means to doze, to slumber. The lexicon lists Matthew 25:5 as its other New Testament use. Strong's G3573
Takeaway
Out of greed, false teachers will exploit you with invented words, but their judgment is not idle. 2 Peter 2:3Romans 16:18
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. … |
| 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 … |
| covetousness | πλεονεξίᾳ | pleonexia | G4124 | greedinessπλεονεξία (pleonexia) πλεονεξία, -ας, ἡ (πλεονέκτης), [in LXX for בֶּצַע ;] the character and conduct of a πλεονέκτης. 1. advantage. 2. desire for advantage, grasping, aggression, cupidity, covetousness: Luk.12:15, Rom.1:29, 2Co.9:5, Eph.4:19 (see ICC, in l) Eph.5:3, Col.3:5, 1Th.2:5, 2Pe.2:3 2:14; pl. (see Bl., § 32, 6), Mrk.7:22.† SYN.: φιλαργυρία, avarice (see Tr., Syn., § xxiv) (AS) |
| with fabricated | πλαστοῖς | plastois | G4112 | made-upπλαστός (plastos) πλαστός, -ή, -όν (πλάσσω), 1. formed, moulded (Hes., Plat., al.). 2. Metaphorical, made up, fabricated, feigned (Hdt., Xen., al.): 2Pe.2:3.† (AS) |
| words | λόγοις | logois | G3056 | wordλόγος (logos) λόγος, -ου, ὁ (λέγω) [in LXX chiefly for דָּבָר, also for מִלָּה ,אֵמֶר, etc. ;] I. Of that by which the inward thought is expressed, Lat. oratio, sermo, vox, verbum. 1. a word, not in the grammatical sense of a mere name (ἔπος, ὄνομα, ῥῆμα), but a word as embodying a conception or idea: Mat.8:8, Luk.7:7, 1Co.14:9, 19 Heb.12:19, al. … |
| you | ὑμᾶς | humas | G4771 | youσέ (se) 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; … |
| they will exploit, | ἐμπορεύσονται, | emporeusontai | G1710 | to traffic inἐμπορεύομαι (emporeuomai) ἐμ-πορεύομαι depon. (ἔμπορος), [in LXX chiefly for סָחַר ;] 1. to travel, esp. for business. 2. to traffc, trade: Jas.4:13. 3. C. accusative of thing(s) (a) to traffic in; (b) to import: (Hos.12:1, for יָבַל hoph.). 4. C. accusative of person(s), to make a gain of: 2Pe.2:3.† (AS) |
| for whom | οἷς | hois | G3739 | whichὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. … |
| judgment | κρίμα | krima | G2917 | judgmentκρίμα (krima) κρίμα (B1., § 27, 2), -τος, τό (κρίνω), [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁפָּט ;] the issue of a judicial process, hence, 1. judgment, the decision passed on the faults of others: Mat.7:2; in forensic sense, with genitive pun., Luk.24:20; esp. of the judgment of God, Rom.2:2 5:16 11:33 (ICC, in l), 2Pe.2:3, Ju 4; κ. λαμβάνεσθαι, Mat.23:13 (Rec., R, mg.), Mrk.12:40, Luk.20:47, Rom.13:2, Jas.3:1; ἔχειν, 1Ti.5:12; βαστάζειν, Gal.5:10; ἐσθίειν ἑαυτῷ, 1Co.11:29; εἰς κ. συνέρχεσθαι, 1Co.11:34; εἶναι ἐν τ αὐτῷ κ., Luk.23:40; with genitive obj., Rom.3:8, 1Ti.3:6, Rev.17:1; of God's judgment through Christ, … |
| of long ago | ἔκπαλαι | ekpalai | G1597 | of oldἔκπαλαι (ekpalai) ἔκ-παλαι adv. (of a class of compound adverbs common in late Gk.; see Mayor on 2 Pe, l.with), for a long time, from of old: 2Pe.2:3 3:5.† (AS) |
| not | οὐκ | ouk | G3756 | noοὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. … |
| is idle | ἀργεῖ | argei | G0691 | be idleἀργέω (argeō) ἀργέω, -ῶ (ἀργός), [in LXX: Est.4:24, Ecc.12:3 (בָּטֵל), I Est.2:30, Sir.33:27), 2Ma.5:25 * ;] to be idle; τὸ κρίμα . . . ἀ., lingers (cf. MGr. ἀργά, late: MM, see word): 2Pe.2:3.† (AS) |
| 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. … |
| destruction | ἀπώλεια | apōleia | G0684 | destructionἀπώλεια (apōleia) ἀπώλεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀπόλλυμι), [in LXX (Cremer, 797) for אָבַד, אֵיד, etc. ;] destruction, waste, loss, perishing (in π., of money, see MM, see word): Mat.26:8, Mrk.14:4, Act.8:20, Rom.9:22, 1Ti.6:9, 2Pe.2:1; in special sense of the loss of eternal life, perdition, the antithesis of σωτηρία: Mat.7:13, Jhn.17:12, Php.1:28 3:19, 2Th.2:3, Heb.10:39, 2Pe.2:3 3:7 3:16, Rev.17:8, 11 (DB, iii, 744).† (AS) |
| of them | αὐτῶν | autōn | 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; … |
| not | οὐ | ou | G3756 | noοὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. … |
| slumbers. | νυστάζει.¶ | nustazei | G3573 | to dozeνυστάζω (nustazō) νυστάζω (cf. νεύω), [in LXX for נוּם, etc ;] to nod in sleep, fall asleep: Mat.25:5. Metaphorical, of negligence or delay, ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν οὐ νυστάζει (cf. Psa.121:4, Isa.5:27) : 2Pe.2:3.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.