2 Peter 2

2 Peter · Chapter 2

2 Peter 2:5

1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.3And 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.4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.11Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.20For 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.21For 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.22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

God did not spare the ancient world either. He brought the flood on the world of the ungodly, but kept Noah safe, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others. Judgment and rescue came together. 2 Peter 2:42 Peter 2:5

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 ungodly world of Noah's day, and Noah, "the eighth person," who was saved. 2 Peter 2:5

This is the second example (2:4-6). It also shows God rescuing the righteous, a point Peter makes in 2:9. 2 Peter 2:52 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 eventsThe flood came in "the old world," Noah's time. 2 Peter 2:5

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 shows that God both judges the ungodly and preserves the righteous. 2 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:9

In the whole of ScriptureGod told Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me" (Genesis 7:1). "By faith Noah ... prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Hebrews 11:7). Jesus said, "as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man" (Luke 17:26). Peter returns to the flood in 3:6. Genesis 7:1Hebrews 11:7Luke 17:262 Peter 3:6

For readersGod can save a faithful few in the middle of widespread judgment. 2 Peter 2:5Hebrews 11:7

  • oldἀρχαῖος
    Greek · archaios · G0744

    The word means ancient, of old. Strong's G0744

  • NoahΝῶε
    Greek · Nōe · G3575

    The name Noah. The lexicon lists Matthew 24:37, Hebrews 11:7 and 1 Peter 3:20 among its uses. Strong's G3575

  • preacherκῆρυξ
    Greek · kērux · G2783

    The word means a herald, a preacher. The lexicon lists 1 Timothy 2:7 and 2 Timothy 1:11 among its uses. Strong's G2783

  • floodκατακλυσμός
    Greek · kataklusmos · G2627

    The word means a flood, deluge. The lexicon lists Matthew 24:38 and Luke 17:27 among its uses. Strong's G2627

  • ungodlyἀσεβής
    Greek · asebēs · G0765

    The word means ungodly, without reverence for God. Strong's G0765

Takeaway

God did not spare the ancient world but brought the flood, while keeping Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others. 2 Peter 2:5Genesis 7:1

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

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (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. …

[the] ancientἀρχαίουarchaiouG0744
ancient

ἀρχαῖος (archaios) ἀρχαῖος, -αία, -αῖον (ἀρχή), [in LXX chiefly for קֶדֶם ;] original, ancient: Mat.5:21, 33, Luk.9:8, 19, Act.15:7, 21 21:16, 2Co.5:17, 2Pe.2:5, Rev.12:9 20:2.† SYN.: παλαιός, old, without the reference to beginning and origin contained in ἀ. The distinction is observed in π. (MM, see word). ἀ. is the antithesis to καινός: παλ. to vέος (see Westc., He., 223; Cremer, 116) (AS)

worldκόσμουkosmouG2889
world

κόσμος (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., …

notοὐκoukG3756
no

οὐ (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. …

He spared,ἐφείσατο,epheisatoG5339
to spare

φείδομαι (pheidomai) φείδομαι [in LXX for חָמַל, חוּס, חָשַׂךְ, etc. ;] to spare: 2Co.13:2; with genitive of person(s), Act.20:29, Rom.8:32 11:21, 1Co.7:28, 2Co.1:23, 2Pe.2:4-5; with inf., to forbear, 2Co.12:6.† (AS)

butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

one of eightὄγδοονogdoonG3590
eighth

ὄγδοος (ogdoos) ὄγδοος, -η, -ον the eighth. Luk.1:59, Act.7:3" (LXX), Rev.17:11 21:20; one of eight, with seven others (usually, in this sense, with αὐτός added, but cf. Plat., Legg., iii, 695 with; Plut., Pelop., 13; 2Ma.5:27): 2Pe.2:5.† (AS)

NoahΝῶεNōeG3575
Noah

Νῶε (Nōe) Νῶε (as LXX, FlJ, who also gives Νώεος, Νῶχος), ὁ, indecl. (Heb. נֹחַ) Noah: Mat.24:37-38, Luk.3:36 17:26-27 Heb.11:7, 1Pe.3:20, 2Pe.2:5.† (AS)

of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηςdikaiosunēsG1343
righteousness

δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosunē) δικαιοσύνη, -ης, ἡ (δίκαιος), [in LXX chiefly for צֶדֶק, and cognates, Gen.15:6, al., rarely for חֶסֶד, Gen.19:19 ;] the character of ὁ δίκαιος (which see) 1. in broad sense, righteousness, conformity to the Divine will in purpose, thought and action: Mat.5:6, Jhn.16:8, Act.13:10, Rom.4:3; λόγος δικαιοσύνης, teaching of r., Heb.5:13; βασιλεὺς δ. (cf. FlJ, BJ, vi, 10, β. δίκαιος), Heb.7:2; ὅπλα δ., Rom.6:13; ὁδὸς δ., Mat.21:32; θώραξ τῆς δ., Eph.6:14; διὰκονοι δ., 2Co.11:15; ὁσιότης καὶ δ., Luk.1:75, cf. Eph.4:24; ἀγαθωσύνῃ καὶ δ., Eph.5:9; δ. κ. εἰρήνη κ. χαρά, Rom.14:17; δ. κ. ἁγιασμός, 1Co …

a heraldκήρυκαkērukaG2783
preacher

κῆρυξ (kērux) κῆρυξ (κήρ-, T), -υκος, ὁ [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan.3:4 (כָּרוֹז), Gen.41:43, Sir.20:15, 4Ma.6:4 * ;] a herald: 1Ti.2:7, 2Ti.1:11, 2Pe.2:5.† (AS)

preservedἐφύλαξενephulaxenG5442I
to keep/guard: observe

φυλάσσω (phulassō) φυλάσσω [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for שָׁמַר, also for נָצַר, etc. ;] to guard, watch; (a) to guard or watch: with cogn. accusative, φυλακάς, Luk.2:8; with accusative of person(s), Act.12:4 28:16; pass., Luk.8:29, Act.23:35; with accusative of thing(s), Act.22:20; …

[the] flood uponκατακλυσμὸνkataklusmonG2627
flood

κατακλυσμός (kataklusmos) κατα-κλυσμός, -οῦ, ὁ (κατακλύζω), [in LXX chiefly for מַבּוּל, Gen.6:17, al.; also for שֶׁטֶף, Psa.32:6, al. ;] a flood, deluge: Mat.24:38-39 Luk.17:27, 2Pe.2:5.† (AS)

[the] worldκόσμῳkosmōG2889
world

κόσμος (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., …

of [the] ungodlyἀσεβῶνasebōnG0765
ungodly

ἀσεβής (asebēs) ἀσεβής, -ές (σέβω, to reverence), [in LXX chiefly for רָשַׁע ;] un­godly, impious: Rom.4:5 5:6, 1Ti.1:9, 1Pe.4:18, 2Pe.2:5-6 3:7, Ju 4 15.† (AS)

having brought in,ἐπάξας,epaxasG1863
to bring upon

ἐπάγω (epagō) ἐπ-άγω [in LXX for בּוֹא hi., etc. (29 words in all) ;] to bring upon: with dative and accusative, 2Pe.2:5; ἑαυτοῖς ἐ. (for cl. mid., see Mayor, in l), 2Pe.2:1; ἐ. τὸ αἷμα (cf. Ge 209), Act.5:28.† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.