2 Peter 3:10
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. | But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. | But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up. The delay will end suddenly. 2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:10
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 whole creation: the heavens, the elements, the earth and the works that are therein. 2 Peter 3:10
After explaining the delay (3:8-9), Peter insists the day will come (3:10). Verses 11-13 apply it. 2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:102 Peter 3:11
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 eventsOn "the day of the Lord," at a time no one expects. 2 Peter 3:10
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 answers the scoffers directly: the day is certain, and it will be sudden. 2 Peter 3:42 Peter 3:10
In the whole of ScripturePaul wrote, "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Jesus said, "Behold, I come as a thief" (Revelation 16:15), and "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). John saw "the first heaven and the first earth were passed away" (Revelation 21:1). 1 Thessalonians 5:2Revelation 16:15Matthew 24:35Revelation 21:1
For readersThe day of the Lord will come without warning. Believers should live ready. 2 Peter 3:101 Thessalonians 5:2
- thiefκλέπτης
The word means a thief. The lexicon lists 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and Revelation 3:3 among its uses. Strong's G2812
- with a great noiseῥοιζηδόν
The word means with a rushing roar. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G4500
- elementsστοιχεῖον
The word means elements, basic parts. The lexicon lists Galatians 4:3 and Hebrews 5:12 among its uses. Strong's G4747
- fervent heatκαυσόω
The word means to burn with great heat. The lexicon lists 3:10 and 3:12 as its New Testament uses. Strong's G2741
- burned upεὑρίσκω
The Greek text behind this packet has a word meaning "will be found" or "exposed" here. The KJV follows manuscripts that read "shall be burned up." Strong's G2147
Takeaway
The day of the Lord will come like a thief; the heavens will pass away, the elements melt, and the earth's works be burned up. 2 Peter 3:101 Thessalonians 5:2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will come | ἥξει | hēxei | G2240 | to come/be presentἥκω (hēkō) ἥκω [in LXX chiefly for בּוֹא ;] pf. with present meaning (hence imperfect = plpf.), to have come, be present: Mat.24:50, Mrk.8:3 (late pf., ἧκα, see Swete, in l; WH, App., 169), Luk.12:46 15:27, Jhn.8:42, Heb.10:7, 9 10:37, I Jn 5:20, Rev.2:25 3:3, 9 15:4; before ἀπό, with genitive loc., Mat.8:11, Luk.13:29; ἐκ, Rom.11:26; id. before εἰς, Jhn.4:47; μακρόθεν, Mrk.8:3; ἐπί, with accusative, Rev.3:3. Metaphorical, of discipleship: Jhn.6:37; of time and events: absol., Mat.24:14, Jhn.2:4, 2Pe.3:10, Rev.18:8; before ἐπί with accusative of person(s), Mat.23:36, Luk.19:43 (cf. ἀν-, καθ-ήκω).† (AS) |
| however | 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.; … |
| day | ἡμέρα | hēmera | 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 [the] Lord | κυρίου | kuriou | 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 … |
| like | ὡς | hōs | G5613 | as/whenὡς (hōs) ὡς, adverbial form of the relative pron. ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. I. As relat. adv. of manner, as, like as, just as, even as; 1. with a demonstrative, like οὕτως, expressed or understood: οὕτως . . . ὡς, Mrk.4:26, 1Co.3:15, Eph.5:28, Jas.2:12, al.; ὡς . . . οὕτως, Act.8:32, 1Co.7:17, al.; elliptically (sc. οὕτως, οὕτω), with nom., Mat.6:29, al.; with accusative, Mat.19:19, Mrk.12:31, al.; with prep., Mat.26:55, Mrk.14:48, Luk.22:52, Jhn.7:10, al.; with verb., Jhn.15:6, 2Co.3:1, Eph.2:3, 1Th.5:6, al.; with ptcp. (the ptcp. however not having the special force wh. it has in cl.; see Bl., §73, 5; 74, 6), Mat. … |
| a thief | κλέπτης | kleptēs | G2812 | thiefκλέπτης (kleptēs) κλέπτης, -ου, ὁ [in LXX for גַּנָּב ;] a thief: Mat.6:19-20 24:43, Luk.12:33, 39, Jhn.10:1, 10 12:6, 1Co.6:10, 1Pe.4:15. Fig., ὡς κ. ἐν νυκτί, 1Th.5:2 5:4 (κλέπτας, WH, txt., R, mg.; see Lft., Notes, 73; but cf. also M, Th., l.with), 2Pe.3:10, Rev.3:3 16:15. Metaphorical, of false teachers, Jhn.10:8.† SYN.: λῃστής, a robber, a brigand who plunders, openly, with violence; κ. is a thief who steals in secret, by fraud and cunning (Tr., Syn., § xliv) (AS) |
| in | 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 … |
| [the] night | νυκτί, | nukti | G3571 | nightνύξ (nux) νύξ genitive νυκτός, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for לַיִל ;] night: Mat.12:40, Mrk.6:48, Jhn.13:30, al.; genitive temp. (of the time within which something happens; M, Pr., 73; B1., § 36, 13), νυκτός, by night, Mat.2:14, Jhn.3:2, 1Th.5:7, al.; ν. κ. ἡμέρας, Mrk.5:5, 1Th.2:9, al.; ἡμέρας κ. ν., Luk.18:7, Rev.4:8, al.; μέσης ν., Mat.25:6; dative, νυκτί, in ans. to the question, "when?" (rare in cl.; Hdt., Soph.), ταύτῃ τ. ν., Luk.12:20, al.; ἐκείνῃ Act.12:6; ἐπιούσῃ, Act.23:11; accusative durat. (Bl., § 34, 8; Kühner3, III, 314b), ν. κ. ἠμέραν, Luk.2:37 Act.20:31; τ. νύκτας, Luk.21:37; διὰ νυκτός (= c … |
| in | 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 … |
| which | ᾗ | hē | 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. … |
| heavens | οὐρανοὶ | ouranoi | G3772 | heavenοὐρανός (ouranos) οὐρανός, -οῦ, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for שָׁמַיִם (hence, often pl., οἱ οὐ., see infr.) ;] heaven; 1. of the vault or firmament of heaven, the sky and the aerial regions above the earth: opposite to ἡ γῆ, Heb.1:10, 2Pe.3:5, 10; ὁ οὐ. καὶ ἡ γῆ, i.e. the world, the universe, Mat.5:18, Mrk.13:31, Luk.10:21, Act.4:24, Rev.10:6, al.; ἀπ᾽ ἄκρων οὐ. ἕως ἄ. αὐτῶν (on the absence of art. aft. prep., see Bl, §46, 5), Mat.24:31; ὑπὸ τὸν οὐ., Act.2:5, Col.1:23; ὑψωθῆναι ἕως τοῦ οὐ., figuratively, Mat.11:23, Luk.10:15; σημεῖον ἐκ τοῦ οὐ., Mat.16:1, Mrk.8:11, al.; αἱ νεφέλαι, Mat.24:30, al.; τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ ο … |
| with a roar | ῥοιζηδὸν | rhoizēdon | G4500 | with a roarῥοιζηδόν (rhoizēdon) ῥοιζηδόν adv. (ῥοῖζος, the whistling of an arrow), with rushing sound (as of roaring flames): 2Pe.3:10.† (AS) |
| will pass away, | παρελεύσονται, | pareleusontai | G3928 | to pass byπαρέρχομαι (parerchomai) παρ-ἐρχομαι [in LXX chiefly for עָבַר ;] 1. to pass, pass by; (a) of persons: absol., Luk.18:37; with accusative of person(s), Mrk.6:48; with accusative lot., Act.16:8; before διά, with genitive, Mat.8:28; (b) of things : τ. ποτήριον, Mat.26:39 (ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ), Mat.26:42; of time, Mat.14:15, Mrk.14:35, Act.27:9, 1Pe.4:3. Metaphorical, (a) to pass away, perish: Mat.5:18 24:34-35 Mrk.13:30-31, Luk.16:17 21:32-33, 2Co.5:17, Jas.1:10, 2Pe.3:10; (b) to pass by, neglect, disregard: with accusative of thing(s), Luk.11:42 15:29. … |
| elements | στοιχεῖα | stoicheia | G4747 | principleστοιχεῖον (stoicheion) στοιχεῖον, -ου, τό [in LXX: Wis.7:17 19:18, 4Ma.12:13 * ;] prop., one of a row (στοῖχος) or series, hence, 1. the shadow-line of a dial (Aristoph.). 2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet (Anth., Plut., π.). 3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge (Arist., al.) Heb.5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Gal.4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, Gal.4:3, Col.2:8, 20 (but see infr.). 4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. with): 2Pe.3:10 3:12. 5. The heavenly bodies (Ding. Laert.). … |
| 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.; … |
| burning with heat | καυσούμενα | kausoumena | G2741 | to burnκαυσόω (kausoō) καυσόω, -ῶ (καῦσος, burning heat, fever), only in pass., 1. to burn with fever (Galen., al.). 2. In NT, to burn with great heat: 2Pe.3:10 3:12 (V. Mayor, in l).† (AS) |
| it will be dissolved, | λυθήσεται, | luthēsetai | G3089 | to looseλύω (luō) λύω [in LXX for פָּתַח, נָתַר hi., etc. ;] 1. to loose, unbind, release: of things, Mrk.1:7, Luk.3:16, al.; of beasts, Mat.21:2, Luk.13:15, al.; of persons, Jhn.11:44, Act.22:30; of Satan, Rev.20:3, 7; metaphorically, of the marriage tie, 1Co.7:27; of one diseased, Luk.13:16; of release from sin, Rev.1:5, WH, R, txt. (see: λούω). … |
| 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. … |
| [the] earth | γῆ | gē | G1093G | earth: planetγῆ (gē) γῆ, γῆς, ἡ, [in LXX for אֲדָמָה ,אֶרֶץ, etc. ;] 1. the earth, world: Luk.21:35, Act.1:8, Heb.11:13, Rev.3:10, al.; opposite to οὐρανός, Mat.5:18 11:25, Mrk.13:27, al. 2. land; (a) opposite to sea or water: Mrk.4:1, Luk.5:3, Jhn.6:21, al.; (b) as subject to cultivation: Mat.13:5, Mrk.4:8, Luk.13:7, Heb.6:7, al.; (with) the ground: Mat.10:29, Mrk.8:6, Luk.24:5, Jhn.8:6, al.; (d) a region, country: Luk.4:25, Rom.9:28, Jas.5:17; γῆ Ἰσραήλ, Mat.2:20, 21; Χαλδαίων, Act.7:4; ἡ Ἰουδαία γῆ, Jhn.3:22; with genitive of person(s), Act.7:3. (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. … |
| in | 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 … |
| it | αὐτῇ | autēa | 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; … |
| works | ἔργα | erga | G2041 | workἔργον (ergon) ἔργον, -ου, τό (originally Ϝέργον, work), [very frequently in LXX, chiefly for מַשֶׂה, מְלָאכָה, also for עֲבֹדָה, פֹּעַל, etc. ;] 1. work, task, employment: Mrk.13:34, Jhn.4:34 17:4, Act.13:2, Php.1:22 2:30, 1Th.5:13, al.; of an enterprise or undertaking (Deu.15:10, Wis.2:12), Act.5:38. … |
| will be exposed. | εὑρεθήσεται. | heurethēsetai | G2147 | to find/meetεὑρίσκω (ehuriskō) εὑρίσκω, [in LXX chiefly for מצא, also for נשׂג hi., etc. ;] to find, with or without previous search: absol., opposite to ζητέω, Mat.7:7, 8 Luk.11:9, 10; with accusative, Mat.2:8, Mrk.1:37, Act.13:22, 2Ti.1:17, al.; pass., οὐχ εὑ., of disappearance, Heb.11:5, Rev.16:20, al.; γῆ κ. τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ἔργα εὑρεθήσεται (for conjectures as to the meaning of this reading, see Mayor, ICC, in l.), 2Pe.3:10, WH, R, mg. Metaphorical, to find, find out by inquiry, learn, discover: Luk.19:48, Act.4:21; αἰτίαν, Jhn.18:38, Act.13:28, al.; pass., Mat.1:18, Luk.17:18, Rom.7:10, 1Co.4:2, Gal.2:17, 1Pe.1:7, Rev.5:4 … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.