2 Peter 3:17
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. | Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. | Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedSince they know these things in advance, believers must be on guard. They should not be carried away by the error of lawless people and lose their own firm footing. Knowing ahead is meant to protect them. 2 Peter 3:162 Peter 3:17
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 "beloved," who have been warned in advance. 2 Peter 3:17
Peter sums up the letter's warnings (chapters 2-3) before his final charge (3:18). 2 Peter 3:172 Peter 3:182 Peter overview
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 verse gives no date of its own. Peter writes near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
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's whole letter has prepared believers to recognize error; now he tells them to use what they know. 2 Peter 3:172 Peter overview
In the whole of Scripture"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit" (Colossians 2:8). "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14). 1 Corinthians 10:12Colossians 2:8Hebrews 3:14
For readersBeing warned is not enough; believers must stay on guard. 2 Peter 3:171 Corinthians 10:12
- know these things beforeπρογινώσκω
The word means to know beforehand. The lexicon lists Romans 8:29 and 1 Peter 1:20 among its uses. Strong's G4267
- bewareφυλάσσω
The word means to guard, to be on guard. Strong's G5442I
- led awayσυναπάγω
The word means to be carried away together. The lexicon lists Galatians 2:13 among its uses. Strong's G4879
- stedfastnessστηριγμός
The word means firmness, stability. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G4740
Takeaway
Knowing this beforehand, beware of being led away by the error of the wicked and losing your stability. 2 Peter 3:171 Corinthians 10:12
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| you yourselves | ὑμεῖς | humeis | 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; … |
| therefore, | οὖν, | oun | G3767 | therefore/thenοὖν (oun) οὖν, particle expressing consequence or simple sequence (never standing first in a sentence), wherefore, therefore, then: Mat.3:10, Luk.3:9, Jhn.8:38, Act.1:21, Rom.5:9, al.; in exhortations, Mat.3:8, Luk.11:35, Act.3:19, Rom.6:12, al.; in questions, Mat.13:28, Mrk.15:12, Jhn.8:[5], Rom.6:1, al.; continuing a narrative or resuming it after a digression, Mat.1:17, Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:22 2:18 (and very frequently in this Gospel), Act.26:22, al.; ἄρα οὖν (see: ἄρα); ἐπεὶ οὖν, Heb.2:14; οὖν with ptcp. (= ἐπεὶ οὖν), Act.2:30, Rom.5:1, al.; ἐὰν οὖν (where οὖν rather in sense belongs to the apodosis), … |
| beloved, | ἀγαπητοί, | agapētoi | G0027 | belovedἀγαπητός (agapētos) ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν (ἀγαπάω), [in LXX chiefly for יָתִיד, יָדִיד ;] beloved (see M, Pr., 221); (a) by God: of Christ, Mat.3:17; of men, Rom.1:7; (b) by Christians, of one another: 1Co.4:14; frequently as form of address, ib. 10:14; opposite to ἐχθρός, Rom.11:28 (see AR, Eph., 229; Cremer, 17; MM, VGT, see word). (AS) |
| knowing [this] beforehand | προγινώσκοντες | proginōskontes | G4267 | to know/chooseπρογινώσκω (proginōskō) προ-γινώσκω [in LXX: Wis.6:13 8:8 18:6 * ;] to know beforehand, foreknow: 2Pe.3:17; with accusative of person(s), Act.26:5; of the Divine foreknowledge, Rom.8:29 11:2, 1Pe.1:20.† (AS) |
| do beware | φυλάσσεσθε | phulassesthe | G5442I | to keep/guard: observeφυλάσσω (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; … |
| that | ἵνα | ina | G2443 | in order that/toἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); … |
| not | μὴ | mē | G3361 | notμή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. … |
| lawless | ἀθέσμων | athesmōn | G0113 | lawlessἄθεσμος (athesmos) ἄθεσμος, -ον (θεσμός, law, custom), [in LXX: 3Ma.5:12 6:26 * ;] lawless, esp. of those who violate the law of nature and conscience (cf. MM, VGT, see word): 2Pe.2:7 3:17.† SYN.: ἀθέμιτος, ἄνομος, κακός, πονηρός, φαῦλος (see Tr., Syn., §lxxiv; DCG, ii, 821b). (AS) |
| error | πλάνῃ | planē | G4106 | errorπλάνη (planē) πλάνη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX: Pro.14:8 (מִרְמָה), Wis.1:12, al ;] a wandering. Metaphorical, a going astray, an error (in NT always with respect to morals or religion): Mat.27:64, Rom.1:27, Eph.4:14, 1Th.2:3, 2Th.2:11, Jas.5:20, 2Pe.2:18 3:17 3:1-18; 1Jn.4:6, Ju 11.† (AS) |
| having been led away | συναπαχθέντες | sunapachthentes | G4879 | to lead away withσυναπάγω (sunapagō) συν-απ-άγω [in LXX: Exo.14:6 (לָקַח) * ;] to lead away with or together (Ex, l.with). Pass., metaphorically (as συμπεριφέρομαι, see LS, see word), to be carried away with: with dative, Gal.2:13, 2Pe.3:17; of accommodating oneself to (EV, condescend to) things or persons (on the meaning, see ICC, in I.; Field, Notes, 163), Rom.12:16.† (AS) |
| you may fall from | ἐκπέσητε | ekpesēte | G1601 | to fall outἐκπίπτω (ekpiptō) ἐκ-πίπτω [in LXX: Isa.40:8 28:1, 4 (הֶבֶל), Job.14:2 (מָלַל, see RV. mg), Job.15:30 (סוּר), Job.15:33 (שָׁלַךְ hi.), etc. ;] to fall out of, fall from, fall off: before ἐκ τ. χειρῶν, Act.12:7; absol., Act.27:32; of the withering of flowers (as LXX, ll with), Jas.1:11, 1Pe.1:24" (LXX) ; of navigators falling off from a straight course, Act.27:17, 26 27:29 Metaphorical, with genitive of thing(s): Gal.5:4, 2Pe.3:17; absol., fall from its place, fail, perish: Rom.9:6.† (AS) |
| [your] own | ἰδίου | idiou | G2398 | one's own/privateἴδιος (idios) ἴδιος, -α, -ον (in Attic usually -ος, -ον), [in LXX chiefly for of person(s) suff., also for לָהֶם, etc.; (τὰ ἴ.) בֵּיתוֹ ;] 1. one's own; (a) of that which is private and personal (in cl. opposite to κοινός, δημόσιος; cf. infr. 3); … |
| steadfastness, | στηριγμοῦ, | stērigmou | G4740 | securityστηριγμός (stērigmos) στηριγμός, -οῦ, ὁ (στηρίζω), [in Sm.: Isa.3:1 * ;] 1. a setting firmly, supporting. 2. fixedness, firmness, steadfastness: 2Pe.3:17.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.