2 Peter 3:12
New International Version
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

New Living Translation
looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

English Standard Version
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Berean Standard Bible
as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

Berean Literal Bible
expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens will be dissolved, being set on fire, and the elements are melting, burning with heat.

King James Bible
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

New King James Version
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

New American Standard Bible
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

NASB 1995
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

NASB 1977
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

Legacy Standard Bible
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

Amplified Bible
[while you earnestly] look for and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the [material] elements will melt with intense heat!

Christian Standard Bible
as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat.

American Standard Version
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Contemporary English Version
You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat.

English Revised Version
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
as you look forward to the day of God and eagerly wait for it to come. When that day comes, heaven will be on fire and will be destroyed. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and melt.

Good News Translation
as you wait for the Day of God and do your best to make it come soon--the Day when the heavens will burn up and be destroyed, and the heavenly bodies will be melted by the heat.

International Standard Version
as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved and the elements will melt with fire.

Majority Standard Bible
as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

NET Bible
while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!

New Heart English Bible
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Webster's Bible Translation
Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Weymouth New Testament
eagerly looking forward to the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens, all ablaze, will be destroyed, and the elements will melt in the fierce heat?

World English Bible
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
waiting for and hurrying the coming of the Day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with burning heat?

Berean Literal Bible
expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens will be dissolved, being set on fire, and the elements are melting, burning with heat.

Young's Literal Translation
waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;

Smith's Literal Translation
Expecting and seeking earnestly the presence of the day of God, during which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements going to be burned are melted away?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat?

Catholic Public Domain Version
waiting for, and hurrying toward, the advent of the day of the Lord, by which the burning heavens shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt from the heat of the fire.

New American Bible
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.

New Revised Standard Version
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Looking for and longing for the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being tested with fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
While you expect and eagerly desire the coming of The Day of God in which the Heavens, being tested by fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements, when set on fire, shall melt.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, because of which coming the heavens shall dissolve in fire, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

Godbey New Testament
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements being scorched up are melted?

Haweis New Testament
expecting and hastening towards the coming of God?s day, at which the heavens on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements in flames be melted as wax?

Mace New Testament
expecting, and vehemently desiring the day of the Lord would come, when the heavens all on fire shall be dissolv'd, and the elements shall melt with intense heat.

Weymouth New Testament
eagerly looking forward to the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens, all ablaze, will be destroyed, and the elements will melt in the fierce heat?

Worrell New Testament
looking for, and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved; and the elements, being intensely hot, shall melt!

Worsley New Testament
expecting and hastening on the coming of the day of God, whereby the heavens being set on fire shall be dissolved, and the burning elements shall be melted.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the Lord
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.…

Cross References
Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.

Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Isaiah 65:17
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Revelation 20:11
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

Isaiah 66:22
“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.

Hebrews 1:10-12
And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. / They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. / You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

Revelation 6:14
The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

Psalm 102:25-26
In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. / They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

Joel 2:30-31
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. / The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

Romans 8:19-22
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ...

1 Corinthians 7:31
and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.


Treasury of Scripture

Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Looking.

1 Corinthians 1:7
So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

hasting unto the coming.

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

1 Corinthians 1:8
Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

the heavens.

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Psalm 50:3
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

Isaiah 34:4
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

melt.

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Isaiah 2:1-22
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem…

Isaiah 64:1-12
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, …

Jump to Previous
Ablaze Burning Cause Changed Desiring Destroyed Destruction Dissolved Eagerly Earnestly Earth Elements End Fervent Fierce Fire Forward Great Hastening Hasting Heat Heavens Intense Kindled Looking Melt Reason Speed Substance Waiting Wherein
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Ablaze Burning Cause Changed Desiring Destroyed Destruction Dissolved Eagerly Earnestly Earth Elements End Fervent Fierce Fire Forward Great Hastening Hasting Heat Heavens Intense Kindled Looking Melt Reason Speed Substance Waiting Wherein
2 Peter 3
1. He assures them of the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment;
8. warning the godly, for the long patience of God, to hasten their repentance.
10. He describes also the manner how the world shall be destroyed;
11. exhorting them to all holiness of life;
16. and again to think the patience of God to tend to their salvation, as Paul wrote to them in his epistles.














as you anticipate
The Greek word for "anticipate" is "prosdokō," which conveys a sense of eager expectation and longing. In the context of 2 Peter, this anticipation is not passive but active, involving a deep yearning for the fulfillment of God's promises. Historically, early Christians lived with a vibrant hope for Christ's return, which shaped their daily lives and decisions. This anticipation is a call for believers to live with a forward-looking faith, constantly aware of the eternal perspective.

and hasten
The term "hasten" comes from the Greek "speudō," meaning to speed up or urge on. This suggests that believers have a role in the unfolding of God's plan. While God's timing is sovereign, our prayers, evangelism, and holy living can align with His purposes, potentially accelerating the coming of the day of God. This reflects a dynamic relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, encouraging Christians to actively participate in God's redemptive work.

the coming of the day of God
"The day of God" refers to the culmination of history when God's kingdom is fully realized. This eschatological event is characterized by judgment and renewal. In the Jewish apocalyptic tradition, "the day of the Lord" was a time of both terror and hope, a theme Peter echoes here. For believers, this day is not one of fear but of fulfillment, as it marks the ultimate victory of God over evil and the establishment of His eternal reign.

when the heavens will be destroyed by fire
The imagery of fire is prevalent in biblical prophecy, symbolizing purification and judgment. The Greek word "kauseō" for "destroyed" implies a complete transformation rather than annihilation. This aligns with the biblical theme of renewal, where the old is purged to make way for the new. Archaeological findings of ancient cities destroyed by fire provide a vivid picture of this transformative process, underscoring the seriousness of God's judgment and the hope of a new creation.

and the elements will melt in the heat
The "elements" (Greek "stoicheia") likely refer to the fundamental components of the physical world. The melting of these elements signifies a profound cosmic change, echoing the prophetic visions of a new heaven and a new earth found in Isaiah and Revelation. This transformation is not merely destructive but purifying, preparing the way for God's perfect and eternal kingdom. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of the current world and the enduring promise of God's future restoration.

(12) Hasting unto.--There is no "unto" in the Greek. The margin is probably right, hasting the coming--i.e., hastening Christ's coming by holy lives, by helping to make the Gospel known to all nations (Matthew 24:14), so as to "accomplish the number of the elect," and by praying "Thy kingdom come." (Comp. 2Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:20.) The thought is singularly parallel to St. Peter's speech in Solomon's Porch (Acts 3:19-21, where see Notes); and as the thought is striking and unusual--perhaps nowhere else in the New Testament distinctly--this coincidence may fairly be admitted as a note of genuineness.

The coming of the day of God.--A phrase which occurs here only. It is doubly remarkable: (1) "coming," in the special sense indicated by the particular word used in the Greek, is elsewhere used of Christ Himself, not of the day; (2) "the day of God" is a very unusual expression.

Wherein.--Rather, by reason of which, either "the day" or "the coming" being meant.

Shall melt.--"Melt" is here correct, being quite a different word from that rendered "melt" in 2Peter 3:10, which is the same as that here translated "be dissolved." In the so-called Second Epistle of Clement (chap. 16) we have a somewhat similar passage--"The day of judgment cometh even now as a burning oven (Malachi 4:1), and [the powers] of the heavens shall melt, and all the earth as lead melting on the fire." . . .

Verse 12. - Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God. The preposition "unto" is inserted without authority. The second participle σπεύδοντας is followed directly by the accusative, and is evidently transitive. In the Septuagint Version of Isaiah 16:5, σπεύδων δικαιοσύνην represents the "hasting righteousness" of our translation (comp. Pindar, 'Isthm.,' 5:22, where σπεύδειν ἀρετάν means "to pursue virtue"). Here the translation "hastening" is most appropriate. The Father hath put the times and seasons in his own power; but as the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, so now he is "long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish;" and in his gracious mercy waits for the repentance of his chosen. St. Peter seems to represent Christians as "hastening the coming [literally, 'presence'] of the day of God" by working out their own salvation, and helping to spread the knowledge of the gospel (Matthew 24:14), and so rendering the long-suffering patience of God no longer necessary. The words imply also the duty of praying for that coming, as we do in the second petition of the Lord's Prayer, and in the Funeral Service, "Beseeching thee, that it may please thee, of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom." Compare St. Peter's speech in Acts 3, where he says, "Repent ye therefore... that so (ὅπως ἄν) there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ" (verses 19, 20, Revised Version). This remarkable coincidence of thought furnishes an argument of considerable weight in favour of the genuineness of this Epistle. Another possible rendering of the word is "earnestly desiring," which is adopted in the text of the Revised Version, and is preferred by some commentators. Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved. The Greek for "wherein" is δἰ,' ἥν, on account of which, i.e., on account of the day of God, or, what comes to much the same meaning, on account of the coming, the presence, of that day. Old things must pass away because of the coming of the day of God; the old order must give place to new. And the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The apostle repeats the striking words which he had already used in verse 10, with a different verb. The Greek word for "shall melt" here is not λυθήσεται, as in verse 10, but a stronger word τήκεται, are being melted, or wasted away. The tense is the prophetic present, implying a certain fulfillment. There is probably a reference to Isaiah 34:4, where the Septuagint rendering is Καὶ τακήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
as you anticipate
προσδοκῶντας (prosdokōntas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4328: To expect, wait for, await, think, anticipate. From pros and dokeuo; to anticipate; by implication, to await.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

hasten
σπεύδοντας (speudontas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4692: To hasten, urge on, desire earnestly. Probably strengthened from pous; to 'speed', i.e. Urge on; by implication, to await eagerly.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

coming
παρουσίαν (parousian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3952: From the present participle of pareimi; a being near, i.e. Advent; physically, aspect.

of the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

day
ἡμέρας (hēmeras)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

of God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

when
ἣν (hēn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

[the] heavens
οὐρανοὶ (ouranoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

will be dissolved
λυθήσονται (lythēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3089: A primary verb; to 'loosen'.

by fire
πυρούμενοι (pyroumenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4448: From pur; to kindle, i.e. to be ignited, glow, be refined, or to be inflamed.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[the] elements
στοιχεῖα (stoicheia)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4747: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of stoicheo; something orderly in arrangement, i.e. a serial constituent, proposition.

will melt
τήκεται (tēketai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5080: To make liquid; pass: I melt (away). Apparently a primary verb; to liquefy.

in the heat.
καυσούμενα (kausoumena)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2741: To burn with great heat. From kausis; to set on fire.


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NT Letters: 2 Peter 3:12 Looking for and earnestly desiring the coming (2 Pet. 2P iiP ii Pet)
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