2 Peter 3:7 kjv

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2 Peter 3:7 nkjv

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2 Peter 3:7 niv

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:7 esv

But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:7 nlt

And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

2 Peter 3 verses

2 Peter 3 7 Meaning

This verse declares that the present heavens and earth, unlike the world of Noah's time that was destroyed by water, are divinely preserved. They are reserved for a future judgment and ultimate destruction by fire, specifically targeting ungodly individuals. It underscores God's active control over creation and history, affirming that the current cosmic order is not eternal but poised for a cataclysmic transformation ordained by His very word.

2 Peter 3 7 Context

This verse is embedded in 2 Peter Chapter 3, which directly addresses scoffers who questioned the Lord's promised return. Peter counters their argument of uniformitarianism (the idea that "all things continue as they were from the beginning") by reminding them of God's past intervention, specifically the judgment of the world by water during Noah's flood. Just as God's word brought about creation and then the flood, His same powerful word is poised to bring about the final cosmic judgment. The historical context reflects a nascent stage of theological challenges where Christian believers were facing ridicule for the delay of Christ's parousia. Peter reassures them that the delay is due to God's patience, desiring all to come to repentance, not a sign of His forgetfulness or inability. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic description of the Day of the Lord in verses 10-12, emphasizing God's sovereign control over time, creation, and judgment.

2 Peter 3 7 Word analysis

• But by the same word:

  • But: Signals a strong contrast to the previous verses, which spoke of the destruction by water. This highlights a shift from water to fire as the method of divine judgment.
  • the same word (τῷ αὐτῷ λόγῳ, tō autō logō): Emphasizes divine consistency. It refers back to God's creative word (Gen 1) that formed the heavens and earth and also orchestrated the flood (2 Pet 3:5-6). It asserts that God's power and decree, as manifested through His spoken command, remain unchanged and effective through history, governing creation and its ultimate end. This directly counters the scoffers' claim of uniformity; divine word implies divine intervention.

• the heavens and earth that now exist:

  • heavens and earth (οἱ νῦν οὐρανοὶ καὶ ἡ γῆ, hoi nyn ouranoi kai hē gē): Refers to the current cosmos, the entirety of the created order as it presently stands, distinguishing it from the pre-flood world. Peter views the material world as mutable, subject to divine decree, unlike the fixed, uniform system implied by the scoffers.

• are stored up for fire:

  • are stored up (τεθησαυρισμένοι, tethēsaurismenoi): A perfect passive participle of thēsauros, meaning 'to treasure, lay up, store away.' This implies a deliberate, divine act of reservation. It's not a natural process but a planned outcome. The current world is purposefully being kept, like a valuable treasure, but for a devastating purpose—fire. This communicates certainty and predestined intent.
  • for fire (πυρί, pyri): The destined agent of destruction. This stands in stark contrast to water in the flood, signifying a different, yet equally potent, method of divine judgment. It invokes imagery of refining, purifying, and utterly consuming power often associated with God's presence and judgment in the Old Testament.

• being kept until the day of judgment:

  • being kept (τηρούμενοι, tēroumenoi): A present passive participle of tēreō, meaning 'to guard, keep, preserve.' This signifies an ongoing state of divine guardianship or watchfulness over the current creation. It reassures that the end is assured and its timing is firmly within God's control, irrespective of apparent delays.
  • until (εἰς, eis): Denotes the ultimate purpose or culmination point.
  • the day of judgment (κρίσεως, kriseōs): Refers to a specific, decisive future event, the definitive period of God's righteous determination of humanity's destiny. This is the culmination of cosmic and human history, where justice will be perfectly administered.

• and destruction of ungodly men:

  • and destruction (καὶ ἀπωλείας, kai apōleias): Signifies ruin, perdition, utter loss, not necessarily annihilation but an undoing or removal from God's presence and purpose. It speaks of the full consequence for rebellion against God.
  • of ungodly men (ἀσεβῶν ἀνθρώπων, asebōn anthrōpōn): Explicitly states the recipients of this ultimate fiery judgment. Asebeia (ungodliness) refers to irreverence, active impiety, lack of devotion, and rebellion against God's standards. These are individuals who willfully choose to disregard God, His laws, and His will. The judgment is not arbitrary but targeted.

2 Peter 3 7 Bonus section

The passive voice throughout ("are stored up," "being kept") strongly highlights God's agency, minimizing human influence on these cosmic events and emphasizing divine control. The progression from water (flood) to fire (final judgment) is a significant biblical motif, signifying a escalating, ultimate purification. The "ungodly men" here implicitly contrasts with the "righteous" whom God protects, just as Noah was protected from the flood (2 Pet 2:5-9). This verse also acts as a bridge to the ultimate promise of "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Pet 3:13), suggesting that this destruction by fire is a necessary purging preceding a renewed, righteous cosmos.

2 Peter 3 7 Commentary

This verse powerfully establishes God's unchanging sovereignty over creation and its end, directly addressing those who scoff at His future judgment. Just as God's mighty word created the world (Gen 1) and later orchestrated its purification by water during the Flood, that same dependable word now holds the present heavens and earth in reserved custody. This "storage" is not for preservation as an eternal home, but specifically for a climactic purging by fire. The concept of "being kept" emphasizes a deliberate, divine holding pattern, affirming that the timing is entirely in God's hands and His plan is unswerving. The final "day of judgment and destruction" signifies the definitive close of the present cosmic order, leading to a just and comprehensive reckoning. Importantly, the destructive fire is not an arbitrary act but precisely targeted for "ungodly men" – those whose lives are characterized by a disregard for God and His righteous standards, fulfilling a necessary outcome of divine justice against all impiety.