2 Peter 2:8
What does 2 Peter 2:8 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 2:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 2:8 means
Peter pauses to interpret Lot’s experience: living daily among the lawless, he saw and heard their deeds and it wore on his soul. His righteousness was not a veneer; the surrounding evil pained him continually. This portrait encourages believers who feel inwardly oppressed by the moral climate around them. God recognizes that grief and counts it as part of righteousness. The Lord’s rescue of such a person is not accidental but attentive. He knows those who are his, even when they dwell in places that batter conscience and faith.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):
KJV
King James Version · 1611(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949(Because the soul of that upright man living among them was pained from day to day by seeing and hearing their crimes):
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for in seeing and hearing, the righteous man, dwelling among them, day by day the righteous soul with unlawful works was harassing.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For in sight and hearing he was just, dwelling among them who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890(for the righteous man through seeing and hearing, dwelling among them, tormented [his] righteous soul day after day with [their] lawless works,)
Context
This parenthetical explanation clarifies why Lot is called righteous and prepares the conclusion in verse 9. By highlighting Lot’s inward vexation, Peter shows that God distinguishes between the wicked and those who resist wickedness at heart. With the examples complete, verse 9 states the overarching principle: God expertly rescues the godly from testing and holds the unrighteous for judgment. From there, verses 10–16 will apply that principle to the character and fate of the false teachers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 119:158
I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word.
- Proverbs 28:12
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
- Ezekiel 9:6
slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.
- Proverbs 25:26
Asa troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So isa righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
- Ezekiel 9:4
And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
- Psalms 119:139
My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.
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