2 Peter 2

2 Peter · Chapter 2

2 Peter 2:6

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
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;if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to destruction. He made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly. Their ruin is a warning. 2 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:6

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 people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all "that after should live ungodly." 2 Peter 2:6

God turned Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes and made them an example. Verses 7-8 tell of Lot's rescue. 2 Peter 2:62 Peter 2:7

Sodom and Gomorrha were cities of the plain (Genesis 19:25). SodomGomorrahGenesis 19:25

GomorrahSodom

The eventsThis happened in the days of righteous Lot (2:7; Genesis 19:24). 2 Peter 2:62 Peter 2:7Genesis 19:24

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 uses a well-known judgment to warn the ungodly of his own day. 2 Peter 2:6

In the whole of Scripture"The LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire" (Genesis 19:24). Jude says they "are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 1:7). Jesus said, "as it was in the days of Lot ... Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed" (Luke 17:28, 30). Genesis 19:24Jude 1:7Luke 17:28Luke 17:30

For readersGod's past judgments are warnings for the present. 2 Peter 2:6Jude 1:7

  • SodomΣόδομα
    Greek · Sodoma · G4670

    The city of Sodom. The lexicon lists Matthew 10:15 and Romans 9:29 among its uses. Strong's G4670

  • ashesτεφρόω
    Greek · tephroō · G5077

    The word means to reduce to ashes. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G5077

  • overthrowκαταστροφή
    Greek · katastrophē · G2692

    The word means ruin, overthrow. Strong's G2692

  • ensampleὑπόδειγμα
    Greek · hupodeigma · G5262

    The word means an example, a pattern. Strong's G5262

Takeaway

God reduced Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes as an example to the ungodly. 2 Peter 2:6Jude 1:7

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.

Where

Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.

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] citiesπόλειςpoleisG4172
city

πόλις (polis) πόλις, -εως, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for עִיר ;] a city: Mat.2:23, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:29, Jhn.4:8, al. mult.; opposite to κῶμαι (κ. καὶ ἀγροί), Mat.9:35 10:11, Mrk.6:56, Luk.8:1 13:22; with nom. propr. in appos. (cl.), Act.11:5 16:14; with id. in genitive appos. (BL, §35, 5), Act.8:5, 2Pe.2:6; genitive, of the region, Luk.1:26 4:31, Jhn.4:5; of the inhabitants, Mat.10:5, 23 Luk.23:51, Act.19:35, 2Co.11:32; with genitive of person(s), of one's residence or native place, Mat.22:7, Luk.2:4, 11 4:29 10:11, Jhn.1:45, Act.16:20, Rev.16:9; of Jerusalem: ἡ ἁγία π., Mat.4:5 27:53, Rev.11: …

of SodomΣοδόμωνSodomōnG4670
Sodom

Σόδομα (Sodoma) Σόδομα, -ων, τά (Heb. סְדֹם), Sodom (Gen.13:10, 12, al.): Mat.10:15 11:23-24 Luk.10:12 17:29, Rom.9:29" (LXX), 2Pe.2:6, Ju 7, Rev.11:8.† (AS)

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. …

GomorrahΓομόρραςGomorrasG1116
Gomorrah

Γόμορρα (Gomorra) Γόμορρα, -ας, ἡ, and -ων, τά (Heb. עֲמֹרָה), Gomorrah, one of the cities of the plain (Gen.19): Mat.10:15, Rom.9:29" (LXX), 2Pe.2:6, Ju 7.† (AS)

having reduced to ashesτεφρώσαςtephrōsasG5077
to turn to ashes

τεφρόω (tephroō) τεφρόω, -ῶ (τέφρα, ashes; Wis.2:3, al.), to burn to ashes: 2Pe.2:6.† (AS)

to destructionκαταστροφῇkatastrophēaG2692
ruin

καταστροφή (katastrophē) κατα-στροφή, -ῆς, ἡ (καταστρέφω), [in LXX: Job.21:17, Pro.1:27 (אֵיד), al. ;] 1. overthrow: 2Pe.2:6 (WH, om.). 2. Metaphorical, subversion, upsetting (cf. καθαίρεσις, 2Co.13:10): 2Ti.2:14.† (AS)

He condemned [them]κατέκρινενkatekrinenG2632
to condemn

κατακρίνω (katakrinō) κατα-κρίνω [in LXX: Est.2:1 (גָּזַר ni.), Wis.4:16, Dan LXX TH Sus 1:53, 4:34, TH Sus 1:41,48,53* ;] to give judgment against, condemn: Rom.8:34; with accusative of person(s), Mrk.14:64, Jhn.8:10-11; disting. fr. κρίνειν, Rom.2:1, 1Co.11:32; before θανάτῳ (cl. -ου or -ον), Mat.20:18, Mrk.10:33; pass., Mat.27:3, Mrk.16:16, Rom.14:23, 1Co.11:32, 2Pe.2:6. Metaphorical, of condemning through a good example: Mat.12:41-42, Luk.11:31-32, Rom.8:3, Heb.11:7 † (AS)

an exampleὑπόδειγμαhupodeigmaG5262
example

ὑπόδειγμα (hupodeigma) ὑπό-δειγμα, -τος, τό (ὑποδείκνυμι), [in LXX: Eze.42:15, Sir.44:16, 2Ma.6:28 2Mac 6:31, 4Ma.17:23 * ;] used by later writers (Xen. onwards) for παράδειγμα (see Rutherford, NPhr., 62), (a) a figure, copy: Heb.8:5 9:23; (b) an example: for imitation, Jhn.13:15, Jas.5:10; for warning, Heb.4:11, 2Pe.2:6.† SYN.: ὁμοίωμα, τύπος, ὑποτύπωσις (see DB, iii. 696b) (AS)

of what is coming onμελλόντωνmellontōnG3195
to ensue

μέλλω (mellō) μέλλω, [in LXX: Job.3:8 (עָתִיד) 19:25 (אַחֲרוֹן); elsewhere for fut., and frequently in Wi, II, 4Mac ;] to be about to be or do; 1. with inf. (Bl., §62, 4; 68, 2; M, Pr., 114); (a) of intending or being about to do of one's own free will: with inf. praes., Mat.2:13, Luk.10:1, Act.3:3 5:35, Heb.8:5, 2Pe.1:12 (Field, Notes, 240), al.; with inf. aor. (Bl., §58, 3), Act.12:6, Rev.3:16; (b) of compulsion, necessity or certainty: with inf. praes., Mat.16:27, Luk.9:31, Jhn.6:71, Rom.4:24, al.; with inf. aor., Rom.8:18, Gal.3:23, Rev.3:2 12:4. …

ungodlyἀσεβέσινasebesinG0765
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 setτεθεικώς,tetheikōsG5087
to place

τίθημι (tithēmi) τίθημι, [in LXX for שִׁית ,נתן ,שׂוּם, etc. ;] 1. causative of κεῖμαι, (a) to place, lay, set: Luk.6:48, Rom.9:33, al.; of laying the dead to rest, Mrk.15:47, Luk.23:55, Jhn.11:34, Act.7:16, al.; before ἐπί, with genitive, Luk.8:16, Jhn.19:19, al.; id. with accusative, Mrk.4:21, 2Co.3:13, al.; ὑπό, Mat.5:15, al.; παρά, Act.4:35, 37. Mid., to have put or placed, to place for oneself: of putting in prison, Act.4:3, 5:18, 25, al.; of giving counsel, βουλήν, Act.27:12; of laying up in one's heart, Luk.1:66 21:14 ( 1Ki.21:12); …

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