2 Peter 2:9
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: | if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. | the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis draws the conclusion from the examples in 2:4-8. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations," as he did Noah and Lot, "and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2 Peter 2:42 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:72 Peter 2:9
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 involved"The godly" and "the unjust." 2 Peter 2:9
Verses 4-8 are one long "if" sentence. This verse is the "then": God rescues and God judges. 2 Peter 2:42 Peter 2:82 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 godly are rescued in their trials now; the unjust are held "unto the day of judgment." 2 Peter 2:9
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 comforts believers facing false teachers: God will both protect them and deal with the teachers. 2 Peter 2:12 Peter 2:92 Peter overview
In the whole of Scripture"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalms 34:19). "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Peter says the present heavens and earth are "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment" (3:7). Psalms 34:191 Corinthians 10:132 Peter 3:7
For readersGod knows how to rescue his people and how to judge the wicked. Both are certain. 2 Peter 2:9Psalms 34:19
- godlyεὐσεβής
The word means devout, pious. The lexicon lists Acts 10:2 among its uses. Strong's G2152
- temptationsπειρασμός
The word means a testing, trial, temptation. Strong's G3986H
- deliverῥύομαι
The word means to rescue. It is the same verb used of Lot in 2:7. Strong's G45062 Peter 2:7
- unjustἄδικος
The word means unrighteous, unjust. Strong's G0094
- reserveτηρέω
The word means to keep, to guard. Strong's G5083H
Takeaway
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous for judgment. 2 Peter 2:9Psalms 34:19
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [then] knows | οἶδεν | oiden | G6063 | to knowοἶδα (oida) 1. to know , εὖ οἶδα I know well; εὖ ἴσθι be assured : often with accusative rei, νοήματα οἶδε, μήδεα οἶδε he is versed in counsels, (Homer); with neut. Adjs., πεπνυμένα, φίλα, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς (Homer); also with genitive, τόξων εὖ εἰδώς cunning in the use of the bow; οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς (Odyssey by Homer): —; χάριν εἰδέναι τινί to acknowledge a debt to another, thank him , (Iliad by Homer), etc.:—;the Imperat. in protestations, ἴστω Ζεὺς αὐτός be Zeus my witness , (Iliad by Homer); doric ἴττω Ζεύς, ἴττω (Aristophanes Comicus): —; εἰδώς absolute one who knows , εἰδυίηι πάντ᾽ ἀγορεύω (Iliad by Hom … |
| [the] Lord | κύριος | kurios | G2962G | lord: Godκύριος (kurios) κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; 1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Ma … |
| [the] devout | εὐσεβεῖς | eusebeis | G2152 | piousεὐσεβής (eusebēs) εὐσεβής, -ές (εὖ, σέβομαι), [in LXX: Pro.12:12, Isa.24:16 26:7 (צַדִּיק), Mic.7:2 (חָסִיד), Isa.32:8 (נָדִיב), and frequently in Sirach and 4Maccabees ;] pious, godly, devout: Act.10:2, 7, 2Pe.2:9.† SYN.: θεοσεβής, θρῆσκος (see Tr., Syn., § xlviii; DB, ii, 221 f.; Cremer, 524 f., 858) (AS) |
| out of | ἐκ | ek | G1537 | out fromἐκ (ek) ἐκ (ἐξ), prep. with genitive, from out of, from (see Addendum, p. 492). This entry is included here, but in the print version the entry is found on p. 492. ἐκ, before a vowel ἐξ, prep. with genitive, of motion outwards, separation from (opposite to εἰς; = Lat. e, ex), from out of, from among, from. I. Of Place, … |
| temptation | πειρασμοῦ | peirasmou | G3986H | temptation/testing: temptationπειρασμός (peirasmos) πειρασμός, -οῦ, ὁ (πειράζω), [in LXX for מַסָּה, עִנְיָן ;] 1. = πεῖρα, an experiment Diosc.). 2. a trial, of ethical purpose and effect, whether good or evil (see Hort on Jas.1:13) (a) in good or neutral sense: Gal.4:14, Jas.1:12, 1Pe.4:12; esp. of afflictions sent by God (Deu.7:19, Sir.21:1-28, al.): 2Pe.2:9, Rev.3:10; pl., Luk.22:28, Act.20:19, Jas.1:2, 1Pe.1:6; (b) of trial regarded as leading to sin, temptation: Luk.8:13, 1Co.10:13, 1Ti.6:9; of the temptation of Jesus by the devil, Luk.4:13; εἰσφέρειν (ἔρχεσθαι, εἰσέρχ-) εἰς π., Mat.6:13 26:41, Mrk.14:38, Luk.11:4 22:40, 46; … |
| to deliver, | ῥύεσθαι, | rhuesthai | G4506 | to rescueῥύομαι (rhuomai) ῥύομαι [in LXX chiefly for נָצַל hi., also for גָּאַל, פָּלַט pi., etc. ;] to draw to oneself, hence, to rescue, deliver: with accusative of person(s), Mat.27:43, 2Pe.2:7; id. before ἀπό, Mat.6:13, Luk.11:4 (Rec., R, mg.), 2Ti.4:18; before ἐκ, Rom.7:24, 2Co.1:10, Col.1:13, 1Th.1:10, 2Ti.3:11, 2Pe.2:9; absol., ὁ ῥυύμενος, the deliverer, Rom.11:26. Passive: before ἀπό, Rom.15:31, 2Th.3:2; before ἐκ, Luk.1:74, 2Ti.4:17.† (AS) |
| [the] unrighteous | ἀδίκους | adikous | G0094 | unjustἄδικος (adikos) ἄδικος, -ον (δίκη), [in LXX for שׁקר, עול, etc. ;] 1. unjust: Rom.3:5, Heb.6:10. 2. unrighteous, wicked: Luk.16:11 18:11, Act.24:15, 1Co.6:1,9 1Pe.3:18; opposite to δίκαιος, Mat.5:45; to εὐσεβής, 2Pe.2:9; to πιστός, Luk.16:10 (Cremer, 200). † (AS) |
| then | δὲ | de | G1161 | thenδέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; … |
| unto | εἰς | eis | G1519 | towardεἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; … |
| [the] day | ἡμέραν | hēmeran | G2250 | dayἡμέρα (hēmera) ἡμέρα, -ας, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly (very freq.) for יוֹם ;] day; 1. as distinct from night: genitive ἡμέρας, by day (WM, §30, 11), Rev.21:25; ἡ. κ. νυκτός (ν. κ. ̔ἡ.), Act.9:24, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8, Rev.4:8 (BL, §36, 13); ἡμέρας μέσης, at mid-day, Act.26:13; accusative durat., τ. ἡμέρας, Luk.21:37; ὅλην τὴν ἡ., Rom.8:36; ἐν ἡμέρα, Jhn.11:9, Rom.13:13; ἡμέρας ὁδός, a day's journey, Luk.2:44; ἡ. γίνεται, Lk 4:42 22:66; κλίνει, Luk.9:12, al.; metaphorically, Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:4, 5 8, 2Pe.1:19. … |
| of judgment | κρίσεως | kriseōs | G2920 | judgmentκρίσις (krisis) κρίσις, -εως, ἡ (κρίνω), [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁפָּט, also for רִיב, etc. ;] 1. a seperating, selection (Arist., al.) 2. a decision, judgment (cl.): Jhn.8:16, 1Ti.5:24, 2Pe.2:11, Ju 9; κ. κρίνειν, Jhn.7:24; in forensic sense, Act.8:33 (LXX) (see Page, in l); esp. of the Divine judgment, Jhn.3:19 5:24, 27 5:29-30 12:31 16:8, 11, 2Th.1:5, Heb.10:27, Jas.2:13 5:12, 2Pe.2:4, Rev.18:10; pl., Rev.16:7 19:2; of the last judgment, Mat.10:15 11:22, 24 12:36, 41-42 Luk.10:14 11:31-32, Heb.9:27, 2Pe.2:9 3:7, 1Jn.4:17, Ju 6 15; τῆς γεέννης, Mat.23:33. … |
| being punished | κολαζομένους | kolazomenous | G2849 | to punishκολάζω (kolazō) κολάζω (κόλος, docked), [in LXX: Dan.6:12 (13) (no Heb.), I Est.8:24, Wis.3:4 (and freq.), 1Ma.7:7, al. ;] 1. to curtail, dock, prune. 2. to check, restrain. 3. to chastise, correct, punish: pass., 2Pe.2:9; mid., cause to be punished (3Ma.7:3): Act.4:21.† (AS) |
| to keep, | τηρεῖν, | tērein | G5083H | to keep: observeτηρέω (tēreō) τηρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc. ;] 1. to watch over, guard, keep, preserve: Mat.27:36, Act.16:23, al.; ἑαυτόν, 2Co.11:9, 1Ti.5:22, Jas.1:27, Ju 21; before εἰς, Jhn.12:7, Act.25:21, 1Pe.1:4, 2Pe.2:4 2:9 3:7, Ju 6; ἐν, Jhn.17:11-12, Ju 21; ἐκ, Jhn.17:15, Rev.3:10; τ. πίστιν, 2Ti.4:7, Rev.14:12; τ. ἑνότητα τ. πνεύματος, Eph.4:3. … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.