2 Peter 2:3 kjv

And 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.

2 Peter 2:3 nkjv

By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:3 niv

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

2 Peter 2:3 esv

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

2 Peter 2:3 nlt

In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

2 Peter 2 verses

2 Peter 2 3 Meaning

2 Peter 2:3 warns believers against false teachers whose primary motivation is covetousness, leading them to exploit followers through cunning and fabricated doctrines. This verse declares the absolute certainty and imminent arrival of God's predetermined judgment and destruction upon these deceivers. It assures that divine justice is not slow, inactive, or delayed, but is poised to strike.

2 Peter 2 3 Context

The second chapter of 2 Peter serves as a stark warning against false teachers who infiltrate the church, much like the false prophets of Old Testament Israel. Peter presents these individuals as a grave internal threat, distinct from the external persecution faced by believers mentioned in 1 Peter. Chapter 2 immediately follows Peter's exhortation to grow in godliness (2 Pet 1), setting a strong contrast between genuine faith and the corrupting influence of these deceivers.

The immediate verses (2 Peter 2:1-2) describe the nature of these false teachers: they secretly introduce destructive heresies, deny the Lord who bought them, bring swift destruction upon themselves, and their debauchery causes the way of truth to be blasphemed. Verse 3 directly continues this description, exposing their true motivation—greed—and elaborates on the certainty and characteristics of their impending divine judgment. Peter draws heavily on Old Testament precedents of judgment (like the angels who sinned, the Flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah in 2 Peter 2:4-9) to illustrate God's consistent justice against unrighteousness and to assure believers that these false teachers, despite their apparent temporary success, will not escape.

Historically and culturally, early Christianity faced the challenge of various syncretistic movements and Gnostic tendencies, which often merged pagan philosophical ideas with Christian doctrine, sometimes promoting antinomianism (a belief that salvation by grace frees believers from moral law) or ascetism, while exploiting their followers. Such groups often promised special knowledge or liberation but were often driven by pride, power, and especially financial gain. Peter’s warning here speaks directly to this widespread concern, reminding the original audience, who lived in a Hellenistic world where rhetoricians and charlatans were common, to discern truth from sophisticated deception, particularly when financial gain was involved.

2 Peter 2 3 Word analysis

• And (καί, kai): Connects this verse directly to the preceding description of false teachers. It emphasizes that this greed is a characteristic directly linked to their destructive heresies and blasphemous actions.
• in their greed (ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ, en pleonexia):
  • πλεονεξίᾳ (pleonexia): Means "covetousness," "avarice," "greed," an insatiable desire for more, especially material possessions. It highlights the core motivation of the false teachers, revealing their self-serving agenda. This isn't merely a character flaw but the driving force behind their deceptive practices. It signifies a profound lack of contentment and a hunger that leads to unethical means.
• these teachers (implied from context): Refers to the "false teachers" (ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι, pseudodidaskaloi) mentioned in 2 Peter 2:1. Though not explicitly repeated in this verse, the continuous narrative clearly identifies them as the subject.
• will exploit (ἐμπορεύσονται, emporuesontai):
  • ἐμπορεύσονται (emporuesontai): From emporeuomai, meaning "to traffic in," "to make merchandise of," "to trade," "to gain by selling." This powerful word shows that the false teachers view people not as souls to be shepherded, but as commodities or opportunities for personal profit. It implies a commercial, mercenary approach to ministry.
• you (ὑμᾶς, humas): The intended victims are the true believers, highlighting the predatory nature of the false teachers.
• with fabricated stories (πλαστοῖς λόγοις, plastois logois):
  • πλαστοῖς (plastois): From plastos, meaning "formed," "molded," "fictitious," "false," "fabricated." It suggests something that is deliberately manufactured or concocted, lacking any basis in truth.
  • λόγοις (logois): "Words," "teachings," "arguments," "discourse." These are not accidental errors but intentionally created narratives or doctrines designed to deceive. They are empty, artificial arguments designed to appear profound but only serve the teachers' selfish ends.
• Their condemnation (οἷς τὸ κρίμα, hois to krima):
  • κρίμα (krima): "Judgment," "sentence," "verdict." Refers to God's divine sentence or judicial decree against them. It is not a hypothetical possibility but a sure reality.
• has long been hanging over them (οὐκ ἀργεῖ πάλαι, ouk argei palai):
  • οὐκ ἀργεῖ (ouk argei): "Is not idle," "is not inactive," "is not sluggish." This is an emphatic negation. The judgment is not delayed or slow.
  • πάλαι (palai): "Long ago," "already." It implies that this judgment was ordained and determined by God's eternal decree from ancient times. It's a settled matter. The condemnation has been set in motion for a long time and is perpetually active.
• and their destruction (καὶ ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν, kai he apoleia auton):
  • ἀπώλεια (apoleia): "Ruin," "perdition," "utter loss," "damnation." This is the ultimate, irreparable fate of the false teachers—a complete and definitive downfall, implying eternal separation from God.
• will not be asleep (οὐ νυστάζει, ou nystazei):
  • οὐ νυστάζει (ou nystazei): "Will not slumber," "will not doze off." Another emphatic negative, signifying that God's justice is always awake, vigilant, and ready to act. It will not be caught unawares or delayed. It underscores the certainty, immediacy, and inevitability of the impending judgment.

Words-group analysis

• "And in their greed these teachers will exploit you": This phrase succinctly identifies the primary vice and its destructive consequence. Greed is the motivation; exploitation is the method. It emphasizes the financial motive behind their spiritual deception.
• "with fabricated stories": This reveals the instrument of their exploitation. Their teachings are not divine truth but humanly manufactured deceit, designed to ensnare and defraud. It suggests an intentional manufacturing of untruth for self-gain.
• "Their condemnation has long been hanging over them": This declares the predetermined and settled nature of God's judgment. It implies a verdict that was decided even before their manifestation, showing God's foreknowledge and unwavering justice. It is not an arbitrary or sudden decision, but a just consequence that has been actively poised over them.
• "and their destruction will not be asleep": This powerfully communicates the active, inevitable, and vigilant nature of the impending doom. It assures the readers that divine justice will not falter, forget, or be delayed in its execution. The end of these false teachers is guaranteed and swift.

2 Peter 2 3 Bonus section

The consistent use of negative constructions like "not idle" (οὐκ ἀργεῖ) and "not asleep" (οὐ νυστάζει) in reference to judgment creates an extremely strong rhetorical effect, emphasizing the absolute certainty and unfailing nature of God's justice. It directly counters any human perception that God is slow or unresponsive to injustice, as might be implied by the temporary prosperity of the wicked. This phraseology assures the believers that, despite appearances, God's judgment is not passively observing but actively awaiting its decisive moment.

Furthermore, this verse subtly contributes to the wider theme of divine justice pervasive throughout 2 Peter, laying the groundwork for the more extensive discussion of God's timing in judgment in chapter 3. The historical examples of divine judgment in the subsequent verses (angels, flood, Sodom) are concrete illustrations of the "condemnation" and "destruction" spoken of here, confirming that God's unwavering hand of justice has always dealt decisively with unrighteousness.

2 Peter 2 3 Commentary

2 Peter 2:3 provides a piercing diagnostic of false teachers and a solemn assurance of their destiny. Peter strips away their spiritual facade, revealing their true driving force: insatiable greed. This avarice compels them to turn the sacred realm of faith into a marketplace, seeing believers as mere resources to be commercially exploited. They do this not through accidental error, but by manufacturing deceitful narratives and twisted doctrines—"fabricated stories"—specifically designed to ensnare and defraud the unsuspecting. These are not merely mistakes, but deliberate constructs of untruth calculated for selfish gain.

The latter part of the verse turns from the description of the false teachers to the certainty of their divine recompense. Peter uses vivid, double-negative language to emphasize the absolute inevitability and promptness of their judgment. "Their condemnation has long been hanging over them" (literally, "is not idle from long ago") implies a verdict established in divine counsels, perpetually active, and waiting for the appointed moment of execution. This judgment is not recent or arbitrary; it has been prepared for such perversion for eternity. Furthermore, "their destruction will not be asleep" paints a picture of vigilant justice. Unlike a sleepy sentinel, God's judgment is keenly alert, never drowsy, never delayed, and always poised to execute its definitive sentence of utter ruin (perdition). This serves as both a comfort to the victimized and a stark warning to those who would engage in such spiritual deceit.

For example, when evaluating any religious teaching today, believers should ask: What is the motivation of the teacher? Is there evidence of financial gain at the expense of others, luxurious living, or high-pressure tactics for donations? Are the teachings verifiable with scripture, or do they rely on novel, sensational, or "secret" knowledge that manipulates or makes promises of wealth, health, or power without biblical grounding? True ministry prioritizes God's glory and the flock's welfare, not personal enrichment.