2 Peter 3:9
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. | The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. | The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think. He is patient toward us, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting all to come to repentance. The delay is mercy. 2 Peter 3:82 Peter 3:9
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"Us-ward," the readers, and all whom God wants to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Peter gives the true reason for the delay. Verse 10 says the day will still come. 2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:10
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 eventsThis describes the present time of waiting before the day of the Lord (3:10). 2 Peter 3:92 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 turns the scoffers' complaint around: the delay shows God's patience, giving time to repent. 2 Peter 3:42 Peter 3:92 Peter overview
In the whole of ScriptureGod "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4). "Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come" (Habakkuk 2:3). Peter repeats, "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" (3:15). 1 Timothy 2:4Romans 2:4Habakkuk 2:32 Peter 3:15
For readersEvery day the Lord waits is a day for people to repent. 2 Peter 3:9Romans 2:4
Christians read this differently
Peter says God is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish." Some read "any" and "all" as everyone, matching 1 Timothy 2:4, "Who will have all men to be saved." Others read them within "us-ward," God's people still to be brought to repentance. Both agree that God's patience is the reason the day has not yet come, and that "the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" (3:15). 2 Peter 3:91 Timothy 2:42 Peter 3:15
- slackβραδύνω
The word means to delay, to be slow. Strong's G1019
- longsufferingμακροθυμέω
The word means to be patient, to bear long. The lexicon lists 1 Corinthians 13:4 and James 5:7-8 among its uses. Strong's G3114
- willingβούλομαι
The word means to will, to intend, to plan. Strong's G1014
- perishἀπολλύω
The word means to destroy; in this form, to perish. Strong's G0622
- repentanceμετάνοια
The word means repentance, a change of mind. Strong's G3341
Takeaway
The Lord is not slow about his promise but patient, not wanting anyone to perish but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:91 Timothy 2:4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not | οὐ | ou | G3756 | noοὐ (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. … |
| does delay | βραδύνει | bradunei | G1019 | to delayβραδύνω (bradunō) βραδύνω (βραδύς), [in LXX: Gen.43:10 (מההּ hith.), Deu.7:10, Isa.46:13 (אחר pi.), Si 32 (35):18 * ;] 1. trans., to retard (Soph., Is, l.with). 2. More frequently intrans., to be slow, to tarry: 1Ti.3:15, 2Pe.3:9. † (AS) |
| 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 … |
| promise, | ἐπαγγελίας, | epangelias | G1860 | promiseἐπαγγελία (epangelia) ἐπ-αγγελία, -ας, ἡ (ἐπαγγέλλω), [in LXX: Psa.56:8 (סֵפֶר), etc. ;] 1. a summons (as Attic law-term, Dem., al.). 2. a promise (Dem., Arist., al.): Act.23:21; esp. in NT of the divine promises, Act.7:17, Rom.4:14, 16 Rom.9:4, Gal.3:17-18, 21 4:23, Heb.8:6 11:9, 17, 2Pe.3:9; with inf., Heb.4:1; γίνεται, etc., with dative of person(s), Act.2:39, Rom.4:13, Gal.3:16; before πρός, Act.13:32 26:6; έπαγγέλεσθαι τὴν ἐ., 1Jn.2:25; ἔχειν ἐπαγγελίας, Heb.7:6, 2Co.7:1; εἷναι νἐ έπαγγελίᾳ, Eph.6:2; ἡ γῆ τῆς ἐ., Heb.11:9; τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐ., Rom.9:8, Gal.4:28; τ. πνεῦμα τῆς ἐ. τ. ἅγιον, Eph.1:13; αἱ διαθῆκαι τ … |
| as | ὥς | 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. … |
| some | τινες | tines | G5100 | oneτις (tis) τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. I. As subst., 1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. 2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. II. II. As adj., … |
| slowness | βραδύτητα | bradutēta | G1022 | slownessβραδύτης (bradutēs) 1. slowness , (Iliad by Homer), attic 2. of the mind, (Plato Philosophus) (ML) |
| esteem; | ἡγοῦνται· | hēgountai | G2233 | to governἡγέομαι (hēgeomai) ἡγέομαι, -οῦμαι depon. mid., [in LXX (chiefly Pres. ptcp.) for נָגִיד, רֹאשׁ, שַׂר, etc. ;] 1. to lead; (a) to guide, go before; (b) to rule, be leader: present ptcp., ἡγούενος, a ruler, leader (MM, Exp., xiv), Mat.2:6 (LXX), Luk.22:26, Act.7:10 14:12 15:22, Heb.13:7, 17 13:24. … |
| but | ἀλλὰ | alla | G0235 | butἀλλά (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); … |
| is patient | μακροθυμεῖ | makrothumei | G3114 | to have patienceμακροθυμέω (makrothumeō) μακροθυμέω, -ῶ (μακρό-θυμος, long-tempered; see: -ία), [in LXX: Ecc.8:12 א2, Pro.19:11 (אָרַךְ, אַף אָרַךְ), Job.7:16, Sir.2:4, al. ;] 1. actively = καρτερέω, to persevere (Plut., 2, 593 F). 2. Passively, to be patient, long-suffering: absol., 1Co.13:4, Heb.6:15, Jas.5:8; before ἕως, with genitive, Jas.5:7; ἐπί, with dative, ib. (Sir.2:4); πρός, with accusative, 1Th.5:14; ἐπί, with dative, Mat.18:26, 29, Luk.18:7; εἰς, 2Pe.3:9.† SYN.: ὑπομένω, q.v (AS) |
| toward | 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.; … |
| you | ὑμᾶς | humas | 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; … |
| 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. … |
| willing | βουλόμενός | boulomenos | G1014 | to planβούλομαι (boulomai) βούλομαι, [in LXX for חפץ, אבה, יעץ, etc. ;] to will, wish, desire, purpose, be minded, implying more strongly than θέλω (which see), the deliberate exercise of volition (see Hort on Jas.1:18): with inf. (M, Pr., 205; Bl., §69, 4), Mrk.15:15, Act.5:28, 33 12:4 15:37 17:20 18:15, 27 19:30 22:30 23:28 27:43 28:18, 2Co.1:15, 1Ti.6:9, Heb.6:17, II Jhn.12, 3Jo.10, Ju 5; with accusative, 2Co.1:17; with accusative and inf., Php.1:12, 1Ti.2:8 5:14, Tit.3:8, 2Pe.3:9; of the will making choice between alternatives, Mat.1:19 11:27, Luk.10:22, Act.25:20, 1Co.12:11, Jas.3:4 4:4; εἰ βούλει (cl., a courteo … |
| [for] any | τινας | tinas | G5100 | oneτις (tis) τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. I. As subst., 1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. 2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. II. II. As adj., … |
| to perish | ἀπολέσθαι | apolesthai | G0622 | to destroyἀπολλύω (apolluō) ἀπ-όλλυμι and ἀπολλύω [in LXX for אָבַד, etc. (38 words in all)]. 1. Act., 1 to destroy utterly, destroy, kill: Mk 124, 922, al.; τ. ψνχήν, Mat.10:28, al.; 2 to lose utterly: Mat.10:42, al.; metaphorically, of failing to save, Jhn.6:39 18:9. 2. Mid., 1 to perish; (a) of things: Mat.5:29, Jhn.6:12, Heb.1:11 (LXX, al.; … |
| but | ἀλλὰ | alla | G0235 | butἀλλά (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); … |
| all | πάντας | pantas | G3956 | allπᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. … |
| to | 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.; … |
| repentance | μετάνοιαν | metanoian | G3341 | repentanceμετάνοια (metanoia) μετάνοια, -οίας, ἡ (μετανοέω), [in LXX: Pro.14:15, Wis.11:23 12:10, 19, Sir.44:16 * ;] after-thought, change of mind, repentance: Heb.12:17; of repentance from sin, Mat.3:8, 11 Luk.3:8 15:7 24:47, Act.26:20, 2Co.7:9-10; βάπτισμα (which see) μετανοίας, Mrk.1:4, Luk.3:3, Act.13:24 19:4; ἡ εἰς θεὸν Act.20:21; μ. ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, Heb.6:1; εἰς μ. καλεῖν, Luk.5:32; id. ἄγειν, Rom.2:4; ἀνακαινίζειν, Heb.6:6; εἰς μ. χωρῆσαι, 2Pe.3:9; μ. δοῦναι, Act.5:31 11:18, 2Ti.2:25.† (AS) |
| to come. | χωρῆσαι. | chōrēsai | G5562 | to make room forχωρέω (chōreō) χωρέω, -ῶ [in LXX: Gen.13:6 (נָשָׂא), 3Ki.7:26 7:38 (כּוּל hi.), 2Ch.4:5 (חָזַק hi.), Wis.7:23-24, al. ;] I. Intrans., 1. to make room, give way, retire, pass: before εἰς, Mat.15:17; metaphorically (EV, come), εἰς μετάνοιαν, 2Pe.3:9. 2. to go forward, advance, progress (Plat., Polyb., al.) ὁ λόγος ὁ ἐμὸς οὐ χωρεῖ. ἐν ὑμῖν, Jhn.8:37 (R, txt., hath not free course; R, mg., hath no place, for WH. cf. Field, Notes, 94 f.). … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.