2 Peter 3:7 And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

◄ 2 Peter 3:7 ►

New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Berean Literal Bible
But by the same word now the heavens and the earth exist, having been stored up for fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

NASB 1995
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

NASB 1977
But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Legacy Standard Bible
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Amplified Bible
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.

Christian Standard Bible
By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

American Standard Version
but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Contemporary English Version
But God has commanded the present heavens and earth to remain until the day of judgment. Then they will be set on fire, and ungodly people will be destroyed.

English Revised Version
but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
By God's word, the present heaven and earth are designated to be burned. They are being kept until the day ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.

Good News Translation
But the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same command of God, in order to be destroyed by fire. They are being kept for the day when godless people will be judged and destroyed.

International Standard Version
Now by that same word, the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire and are being kept for the day when ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.

Majority Standard Bible
And by His word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

NET Bible
But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

New Heart English Bible
But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Weymouth New Testament
But the present heavens and the present earth are, by the command of the same God, kept stored up, reserved for fire in preparation for a day of judgement and of destruction for the ungodly.

World English Bible
But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and by the same word, the present heavens and earth, having been stored up for fire, are being preserved until [the] day of judgment and destruction of impious men.

Berean Literal Bible
But by the same word now the heavens and the earth exist, having been stored up for fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Young's Literal Translation
and the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.

Smith's Literal Translation
And now the heavens and the earth, by the same word are stored up, being kept for fire to the day of judgment and of the perdition of irreligious men.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
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 the ungodly men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the heavens and the earth that exist now were restored by the same Word, being reserved unto fire on the day of judgment, and unto the perdition of impious men.

New American Bible
The present heavens and earth have been reserved by the same word for fire, kept for the day of judgment and of destruction of the godless.

New Revised Standard Version
But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But the present heavens and earth are sustained by his word, and are reserved for fire on the day of judgment which is the day of destruction of ungodly men.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the Heavens and The Earth which are now, by his word are stored up as for fire and are kept for the day of judgment and of the destruction of wicked people.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
But the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.

Godbey New Testament
but now the heavens and the earth have been kept according to the same word, being reserved for fire in the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly people.

Haweis New Testament
but the present heavens and earth by the same word are treasured up, reserved for fire at the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Mace New Testament
but the heavens and the earth now existing are kept in store by his Logos, reserv'd for the conflagration of doomsday, when the impious shall be involv'd in perdition.

Weymouth New Testament
But the present heavens and the present earth are, by the command of the same God, kept stored up, reserved for fire in preparation for a day of judgement and of destruction for the ungodly.

Worrell New Testament
but the present heavens and the earth, by the same word, have been stored up for fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Worsley New Testament
But the heavens and the earth, that now are, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire on the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Coming Judgment
…6through which the world of that time perished in the flood. 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Revelation 20:11-15
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. / And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. ...

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

Hebrews 12:26-29
At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” / The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. / Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. ...

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, ...

Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. / While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

1 Corinthians 3:13
his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.

Jude 1:6-7
And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day. / In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

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 13:40-42
As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. / The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Isaiah 66:15-16
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. / For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by 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.”

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.

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

Psalm 50:3
Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.

Treasury of Scripture

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

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.

Psalm 102:26
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

against.

2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Matthew 10:15
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Matthew 11:22,24
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you…

and perdition.

Romans 2:5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Philippians 1:28
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

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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.

Berean Study Bible

And by that same word
The phrase "by that same word" refers to the divine command or decree of God. In the Greek, "word" is "logos," which signifies not just a spoken word but the embodiment of reason and order. This echoes the creation narrative in Genesis, where God spoke the world into existence. The same authoritative word that created the universe now sustains it and will ultimately bring about its transformation. This highlights the consistency and power of God's word throughout history, underscoring the belief that God's promises and warnings are reliable and will come to pass.

the present heavens and earth
This phrase emphasizes the current state of creation, distinguishing it from the "new heavens and a new earth" promised in Revelation 21:1. The "heavens and earth" encompass all of creation, indicating that the entire cosmos is under God's sovereign control. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of the universe as a structured, ordered creation, which God actively maintains. The present state is temporary, awaiting God's future intervention.

are reserved for fire
The term "reserved" suggests a deliberate and purposeful action by God, indicating that the current world is being held for a specific future event. The use of "fire" symbolizes purification and judgment. In biblical times, fire was often associated with divine judgment and cleansing, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) and the refining of metals. This imagery conveys the idea that God will purify creation, removing sin and corruption, in preparation for the new creation.

being kept for the day of judgment
"Being kept" implies ongoing divine oversight and preservation. The "day of judgment" is a future, appointed time when God will execute justice. This concept is rooted in Jewish eschatology, where a final day of reckoning is anticipated. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and the accountability of all creation to Him. For believers, this is a call to live righteously, knowing that their actions will be evaluated.

and destruction of ungodly men
The "destruction" here is not merely physical annihilation but a complete and final separation from God's presence. "Ungodly men" refers to those who live in opposition to God's will, rejecting His authority and moral order. This phrase underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine justice. It serves as a warning to those who persist in ungodliness and an encouragement to believers to remain steadfast in faith, trusting in God's righteous judgment.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) By the same word.--Or, as some first-rate authorities read, by His word. The sense in either case is that the universe is preserved for judgment by the same power that created it. "His word" here does not mean any single utterance of God or passage of Scripture, such as Isaiah 66:15; Daniel 7:9-10; Malachi 4:1. Just as "the world that then was" was destroyed by water, so the present world is being treasured up to be destroyed by fire. Comp. Romans 2:5. Christ Himself, in a discourse which St. Peter heard (Mark 13:3), had made the Flood a type of the Judgment (Matthew 24:37-39). (See below on 2Peter 3:10.) "Unto fire," or "for fire," should perhaps be taken with "kept in store" rather than with "reserved." . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - But the heavens and the earth, which are now; rather, the heavens which are now, and the earth. The "now" does not refer, as some think, to any change wrought by the Flood, but distinguishes the present heavens and earth from the new heavens and new earth, which Christians are to look for (verse 13). By the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire. Several of the better manuscripts have "by his Word," which, on the whole, seems to give the best meaning. The reading in the text may, indeed, be understood in a similar sense, "by the same Word of God;" otherwise it would mean that the original word of creation determined also the duration of the world and the means of its destruction. The words rendered, "are kept in store," are, literally, "have been treasured (τεθησαυρισμένοι εἰσίν)" (comp. Romans 2:5). It seems better to take the dative πυρί ("with fire," or "for fire") with this verb rather than with the following, as in the Authorized Version. If we take the first meaning of the dative, the sense will be that the world has been stored with fire, i.e., that it contains, stored up in its inner depths, the fire which is destined ultimately to destroy it. But the other view seems on the whole more probable; the heavens and the earth are stored up for fire or unto fire, i.e., with the purpose in the counsels of God of their ultimate destruction by fire. This is the clearest prophecy in Holy Scripture of the final conflagration of the universe; but comp. Isaiah 66:15; Daniel 7:10; Malachi 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Such a doctrine formed part of the physical theories of the Stoics; it is also found in the 'Book of Enoch.' Against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The participle "reserved" (τηρούμενοι) is best taken with this clause: "Reserved against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

by that
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

same
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

word,
λόγῳ (logō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

the present
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

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.

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

earth
γῆ (gē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

are
εἰσὶν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

reserved
τεθησαυρισμένοι (tethēsaurismenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2343: To store up, treasure up, save, lay up. From thesauros; to amass or reserve.

for fire,
πυρὶ (pyri)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4442: Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.

kept
τηρούμενοι (tēroumenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

[the] day
ἡμέραν (hēmeran)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

of judgment
κρίσεως (kriseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2920: Decision; by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice.

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

destruction
ἀπωλείας (apōleias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 684: Destruction, ruin, loss, perishing; eternal ruin. From a presumed derivative of apollumi; ruin or loss.

of ungodly
ἀσεβῶν (asebōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 765: Impious, ungodly, wicked. Irreverent, i.e. impious or wicked.

men.
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

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NT Letters: 2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens that now (2 Pet. 2P iiP ii Pet)