2 Peter 3:9 kjv

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.

2 Peter 3:9 nkjv

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 niv

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 esv

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 nlt

The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

2 Peter 3 verses

2 Peter 3 9 Meaning

This verse addresses the apparent delay in the Lord's promised return and the coming of the Day of Judgment. It clarifies that this perceived delay is not a sign of God's indifference or inability, nor is it a procrastination regarding His unbreakable promise. Instead, it is a deliberate act of divine patience and forbearance, motivated by His boundless love and mercy. The ultimate purpose of this longsuffering is to extend the opportunity for all humanity to turn from sin and come to a saving repentance, thereby escaping eternal perishing. It underscores God's deep desire for the salvation of every individual, showcasing His active benevolence in delaying judgment to offer more time for conversion.

2 Peter 3 9 Context

The immediate context of 2 Peter chapter 3 is Peter's address to the skepticism and outright mockery concerning the Lord's return and the ultimate judgment. False teachers and scoffers (2 Pet 3:3-4) were questioning the promised Parousia (Christ's second coming), suggesting that since "all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation," the promise was never real. Peter refutes this by reminding them of God's past intervention, specifically the Genesis flood (2 Pet 3:5-7), as a precursor to future fiery judgment. He then corrects their human perception of time in relation to God's eternal perspective (2 Pet 3:8, "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"). Verse 9 then serves as the crucial explanation for the reason for the delay—it's not indifference or forgetfulness, but divine patience, providing extended opportunity for repentance before the inevitable Day of the Lord arrives. This verse serves as a foundational theological statement to assure believers of God's faithfulness and clarify the divine purpose behind what seems to human eyes like an extended waiting period.

2 Peter 3 9 Word analysis

• The Lord: (Greek: ho Kyrios - ὁ Κύριος) Refers to God, specifically the returning Christ, identified as sovereign and authoritative. This highlights the one to whom the promise belongs and who is ultimately in control of time and judgment.
• is not slow: (Greek: ou bradunei - οὐ βραδύνει) A direct refutation of the scoffers' claim of delay or slackness. It implies not a lack of speed, but a purposeful, timely execution. It contrasts human impatience and disbelief with divine intentionality. The action is not procrastinating or neglecting.
• about His promise: (Greek: tēs epangelias autou - τῆς ἐπαγγελίας αὐτοῦ) The "promise" here primarily refers to the Parousia, Christ's return, the ushering in of the Day of the Lord, and the new heavens and new earth, as established in the preceding verses (2 Pet 3:4, 10, 13). It underscores that this is a divine, guaranteed commitment, not an uncertain event.
• as some count slowness: (Greek: hōs tines bradytēta hēgountai - ὥς τινες βραδύτητα ἡγοῦνται) Directly addresses the human, limited perspective that interprets God's deliberate timing as genuine slowness or neglect. This phrase refers specifically to the scoffers and their misguided perception.
• but is longsuffering: (Greek: alla makrothumei - ἀλλὰ μακροθυμεῖ) This is the crucial turning point. "Longsuffering" (makrothymia) signifies immense patience, forbearance, and slowness to anger or punish. It denotes a deliberate withholding of judgment out of compassion, extending time for a specific, merciful purpose. This divine attribute is foundational to understanding the apparent "delay."
• toward us: (Greek: eis hēmas - εἰς ἡμᾶς) This indicates the recipients and beneficiaries of God's patience. "Us" encompasses all humanity, not exclusively believers. It suggests that the window of grace is extended for everyone to hear and respond to the call of the Gospel.
• not willing: (Greek: mē boulomenos - μὴ βουλόμενός) Expresses God's earnest desire and disposition. It points to His perfect, compassionate will. While not denying God's sovereignty, it emphasizes His preceptive will or sincere wish, rather than a deterministic decree regarding individual salvation outcomes. God truly does not desire anyone's damnation.
• that any should perish: (Greek: tinas apolesthai - τινας ἀπολέσθαι) "Any" (tinas) means any one, without distinction. "Perish" (apolesthai) signifies ultimate destruction, eternal ruin, separation from God. It refers to spiritual death and eternal damnation. This clarifies the dire consequence that God's patience seeks to avert.
• but that all should come to repentance: (Greek: alla pantas eis metanoian chōrēsai - ἀλλὰ πάντας εἰς μετάνοιαν χωρῆσαι) "All" (pantas) signifies the universal scope of God's gracious intent. He desires that every person finds the path to salvation. "Come to repentance" (eis metanoian chōrēsai) implies a journey, an active turning away from sin and toward God, involving a change of mind, heart, and direction. This is the necessary human response that God desires, enabling avoidance of perishing.

2 Peter 3 9 Bonus section

• Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: This verse showcases God's compassionate desired will (His preceptive will) for all to repent, without negating human freedom or responsibility to choose or reject this offer of repentance. It speaks to the broad scope of His saving invitation.
• Purpose of Time: The time between Christ's ascension and His return is not merely a waiting period but a crucial epoch for mission and evangelism. God's patience enables the Gospel to be proclaimed widely, gathering a full harvest for His kingdom.
• Foundation for Hope: For believers, this verse offers reassurance. The certainty of judgment implies that evil will not prevail indefinitely, while God's patience assures them that their loved ones and others still have opportunity to come to faith before the final day.

2 Peter 3 9 Commentary

Second Peter 3:9 provides a profound insight into the very heart of God's character, particularly His patience and merciful desire for human salvation. Against the backdrop of skepticism regarding Christ's promised return, Peter reveals that the seeming "slowness" is neither a defect in God's faithfulness nor a delay, but an intentional display of divine makrothymia—longsuffering. God is not bound by human temporal limitations, and His timeline serves His gracious purposes (as also indicated in 2 Pet 3:8).

The core motivation for this patience is God's unwavering desire that "none should perish, but that all should come to repentance." This clearly expresses God's earnest, compassionate will for universal salvation, not that every person will de facto repent, but that He provides the opportunity and time for all to do so. His long-suffering is active grace, a window extended to allow more people to turn from sin to Him through Christ. It reflects His love and goodness, which compel Him to delay ultimate judgment, thereby demonstrating His holiness and justice not merely as retribution, but as being intertwined with His desire for reconciliation. This understanding urges believers to embrace the urgency of evangelism, leveraging the gift of time God has given to proclaim the message of repentance to a world given extended opportunity.