2 Peter 3:10
What does 2 Peter 3:10 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 3:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 3:10 means
The day of the Lord will arrive unexpectedly, like a thief breaking into the night. Its coming will be unmistakable and total: the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elemental structures will be dissolved by intense heat, and the earth with all its works will be burned up. Nothing built on sin will endure. This is not merely personal judgment but cosmic upheaval—God’s decisive intervention to end the present order. The imagery conveys both terror for the ungodly and relief for the righteous, as all that opposes God is exposed and removed. The certainty of this end should sober our pursuits and fix our hope on what cannot be consumed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; and in that day the heavens will be rolled up with a great noise, and the substance of the earth will be changed by violent heat, and the world and everything in it will be burned up.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and it will come--the day of the Lord--as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, and the elements with burning heat be dissolved, and earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence and the elements shall be melted with heat and the earth and the works which are in it shall be burnt up.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But the day of [the] Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and [the] elements, burning with heat, shall be dissolved, and [the] earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.
Context
After explaining God’s patience (v9), Peter asserts the certainty and suddenness of the day (v10). The catastrophic language answers any thought that history will simply continue as before. This sets up the practical question in verse 11: in light of such dissolution, what kind of lives should believers lead? Verses 11–12 will call for holy living and eager expectation, while verse 13 will present the positive promise of a new heavens and new earth.
v.9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
v.10This passage
v.11Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
- 2 Peter 3:7
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.
- Luke 12:39
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.
- Revelation 20:11
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
- 2 Corinthians 1:14
as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
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