2 Peter 2:4 kjv

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

2 Peter 2:4 nkjv

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

2 Peter 2:4 niv

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

2 Peter 2:4 esv

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

2 Peter 2:4 nlt

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.

2 Peter 2 verses

MeaningThe verse establishes God's unwavering and severe judgment against angelic beings who rebelled and sinned, demonstrating that even those of high spiritual status are not exempt from His justice. These specific fallen angels were not shown mercy but were confined to Tartarus, a unique realm of darkest gloom, held securely until their final and ultimate judgment. This example serves as an irrefutable proof of God's resolve to punish unrighteousness.

Cross References

Context2 Peter chapter 2 serves as a critical warning against the influx of destructive false teachers and their heretical doctrines within the early church. Peter strategically employs a tripartite historical argument to highlight God's unchanging nature: He is inherently just, and therefore, will undeniably punish the wicked while preserving the righteous. Verse 4 begins this forceful argument by presenting the most severe example imaginable: the judgment of powerful sinning angels. This demonstrates God's impartial justice to His audience, particularly as a direct counter-argument to false teachers who likely promoted licentiousness under the guise of freedom, suggesting a God who would not rigorously judge sin. The examples in the subsequent verses (the Flood and the destruction of Sodom/Gomorrah) further cement this principle, reinforcing the certainty of divine retribution and underscoring that God's grace does not nullify accountability for willful rebellion.

Word analysis

• For if God: Peter introduces his core argument by referencing a known divine action, grounding his warning in God's immutable character. "God" (Greek: theos, θεός) underlines the supreme authority and unchallengeable righteousness of the one who judges.
• did not spare: (Greek: ouk epheisato, οὐκ ἐφείσατο). This phrase signifies an absolute, uncompromising judgment. The emphatic negative and aorist tense denote a decisive action in the past where no mercy, clemency, or leniency was extended. It indicates the totality of God's punitive act.
• angels: (Greek: angelous, ἀγγέλους). Refers to spirit beings created by God, distinct in nature and power from humanity. These are a specific group among the fallen angels, often linked to the events of Genesis 6 (the "sons of God") and paralleled in Jude 6 as those who "did not keep their proper domain."
• when they sinned: (Greek: hamartēasantōn, ἁμαρτησάντων). This aorist participle indicates a completed, definite act of rebellion or transgression at a specific point in time, implying that their fall was not merely a state but a conscious, irreversible decision that merited a specific, severe response.
• but cast them into hell: (Greek: tartarōsas, ταρταρώσας). This is a highly significant and unique verb, directly translating to "to cast into Tartarus." In Greek mythology, Tartarus was the deepest abyss of Hades, reserved for the Titans. Peter uniquely employs this term in the New Testament to signify a specific, deep, and inescapable prison designated for these particular rebellious angels. It distinguishes this confinement from Gehenna (ultimate punishment) or Hades (the general realm of the dead). Its use emphasizes the extreme depth and unique nature of their punitive imprisonment.
• and committed them to chains: (Greek: seirais, σειραῖς). These "chains" are not literal iron links but metaphorical representations of inescapable and total confinement. They denote an unbreakable bond and a secure, divinely-imposed custody from which there is no escape.
• of darkest gloom: (Greek: zophou, ζόφου). This describes an environment of thick, profound, and oppressive darkness, symbolic of despair, spiritual isolation, and complete removal from God's light, presence, and favor. It signifies the utterly devoid and hopeless nature of their prison.
• to be kept: (Greek: tēroumenous, τηρουμένους). The passive participle emphasizes that these angels are being guarded or held in custody by a greater power (God). This security ensures their confinement is absolute and their presence in this "prison" is purposeful, serving as a holding place.
• until the judgment: (Greek: eis krisin, εἰς κρίσιν). This phrase establishes the temporal limit of their current confinement, pointing to a predetermined, future final reckoning. Their present imprisonment is an interim phase, a secure holding awaiting a definitive and more severe final verdict and its execution.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For if God did not spare angels...": This initiates an a fortiori argument (from the stronger to the weaker). The logic is: if God showed no mercy to mighty angels who sinned, He certainly will not spare mere humans (like false teachers) who lead others astray and defy His truth. It underscores the impartial and unyielding nature of God's justice.
• "...when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of darkest gloom...": This vividly details the immediate and severe consequences of the angels' transgression. Their rebellion resulted in definitive exile from God's holy presence, consignment to a uniquely designated and deepest spiritual prison, and binding in an environment of complete spiritual and sensory darkness. The imagery conveys the utter comprehensiveness and inescapability of their judgment.
• "...to be kept until the judgment": This specifies the temporary yet absolutely certain nature of their custody. Their current state is one of secure detention, a precursor to their final and ultimate divine condemnation. This phrase reinforces the unwavering certainty of God's final justice and serves as a powerful reassurance to believers of His just governance and a severe warning to all who reject His authority.

Commentary2 Peter 2:4 powerfully underpins Peter's condemnation of false teachers by showcasing God's inflexible standard of justice. By first presenting the case of sinning angels—beings of immense power and spiritual proximity to God—Peter demonstrates that even the most exalted entities are subject to divine scrutiny and punishment for rebellion. Their unique confinement in "Tartarus," a place of deepest darkness and chains, signifies the precision and severity of God's response to their specific sin. This historical precedent reassures genuine believers of God's active involvement in human affairs, that He neither overlooks wickedness nor neglects to save the righteous. It serves as a stark, uncompromising warning: the doom of false teachers, just like these angels, is certain and severe, already decided in God's eternal counsels.

Bonus section

• The passage reveals the principle that God's justice is neither arbitrary nor hesitant; it is meticulously determined, effectively executed, and just in its timing. The confinement of these angels highlights that no one is above God's law or His judgment.
• Peter's choice of "Tartarus" illustrates the biblical authors' ability to utilize concepts familiar to their cultural context (even if originating from pagan mythology) to convey divine truth. This term uniquely conveys the horror and inescapable nature of the confinement intended for these specific angels within a divine framework.
• This verse subtly introduces a complex aspect of angelology: not all fallen angels are equally active; some are already in a state of secured confinement, awaiting ultimate judgment. This implies different degrees of sin and different forms of punishment within the demonic realm.