2 Peter 2 · Verse 9

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:
2 Peter 2:9, King James Version

2 Peter 2:9 in other translations

BSBif all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
WEBthen the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
ASVthe Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;
YLTThe Lord hath known to rescue pious ones out of temptation, and unrighteous ones to a day of judgment, being punished, to keep,
DARBYthe Lord knows how to deliver thegodly out of trial, and to keep the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished;
BBEThe Lord is able to keep the upright safe in the time of testing, and to keep evil-doers under punishment till the day of judging;
WebsterThe Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished:

What does 2 Peter 2:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. knoweth how--He is at no loss for means, even when men see no escape. out of--not actually from. temptations--trials. to be punished--Greek, "being punished": as the fallen angels (2Pe 2:4), actually under sentence, and awaiting its final execution. Sin is already its own penalty; hell will be its full development.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. The Lord knoweth, etc. That is, the cases referred to show that God is able to deliver his people when tempted, and understands the best way in which it should be done. He sees a way to do it when we cannot, though it is often a way which we should not have thought of. He can send all angel to take his tempted people by the hand; he can interpose and destroy the power of the tempter; he can raise up earthly friends; he can deliver his people completely and for ever from temptation, by their removal to heaven.

And to reserve the unjust. As he does the rebel angels, 2Pet 2:4. The case of the angels shows that God can keep wicked men, as if under bonds, reserved for their final trial at his bar. Though they seem to go at large, yet they are under his control, and are kept by him with reference to their ultimate arraignment.

(e) "how to deliver" Ps 34:15-18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly - The preservation and deliverance of Lot gave the apostle occasion to remark, that God knew as well to save as to destroy; and that his goodness led him as forcibly to save righteous Lot, as his justice did to destroy the rebellious in the instances already adduced. And the design of the apostle in producing these examples is to show to the people to whom he was writing that, although God would destroy those false teachers, yet he would powerfully save his faithful servants from their contagion and from their destruction. We should carefully observe, 1. That the godly man is not to be preserved from temptation. 2. That he will be preserved in temptation. 3. That he will be delivered out of it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Peter 2:1-9

Though the way of error is a hurtful way, many are always ready to walk therein. Let us take care we give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme the holy name whereby we are called, or to speak evil of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These seducers used feigned words, they deceived the hearts of their followers. Such are condemned already, and the wrath of God abides…

Read the full comment on 2 Peter 2:1-9 →

2 Peter 2:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἶδενoiden[then] knows
κύριοςkurios[the] LordG2962
εὐσεβεῖςeusebeis[the] devoutG2152
ἐκekout ofG1537
πειρασμοῦpeirasmoutemptationG3986
ῥύεσθαι,rhuesthaito deliver,G4506
ἀδίκουςadikous[the] unrighteousG94
δὲdethenG1161
εἰςeisuntoG1519
ἡμέρανhēmeran[the] dayG2250
κρίσεωςkriseōsof judgmentG2920
κολαζομένουςkolazomenousbeing punishedG2849
τηρεῖν,tēreinto keep,G5083

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Peter 2:9

  • Psalms 34:15-19

    The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. …

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

  • Revelation 3:10

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

  • 2 Timothy 3:12

    Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

  • Jude 1:14-15

    And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

  • 2 Peter 3:7

    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 Corinthians 5:10-11

    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

  • Job 5:19

    He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

  • Proverbs 16:4

    The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

  • 2 Peter 2:4

    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;

  • 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;

  • Psalms 4:3

    But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
knoweth.
Job 5:19; Ps 34:15-19; 1Co 10:13
the godly.
Ps 4:3; 12:1; 32:6; 2Ti 3:12; Tit 2:14
and.
4; Job 21:30; Pr 16:4; Jude 1:14,15
unto.
3:7; Ro 2:5; 2Co 5:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Peter 2:8

    (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

  • 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:

  • 2 Peter 2:10

    But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Read all of 2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sabe el Señor librar de tentación á los píos, y reservar á los injustos para ser atormentados en el día del juicio;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– le Seigneur sait délivrer de la tentation les hommes pieux, et réserver les injustes pour le jour du jugement, pour être punis,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Herr weiß die Gottseligen aus der Versuchung zu retten, die Ungerechten aber aufzubewahren auf den Tag des Gerichts, um bestraft zu werden;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Novit Dominus pios de tentatione eripere: iniquos vero in diem judicii reservare cruciandos.