2 Peter 3:13
in 2 Peter 3But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
KJV
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
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This verse in 2 Peter 3
Commentary
13 notes on this verseNevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. "According to his promise." For He promised the faithful, saying: "I will come and take you, etc. (Jn. 14:33) "In my Father's house there are many mansions." …
This site's exposition
we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth
Believers look for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells, katoikei, at home. Some read the fire as ending the old creation and others as purifying it, with Ecclesiastes 1:4 and Romans 8:21.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
In which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt in fervent heat but [we look for] new heavens and the new earth, has this as its purport, that with a great noise, as in the twinkling of an eye, …
The Medieval Church4 voices
It is not just we, says Peter, but the whole creation around us also, which will be changed for the better. For the creation will share in our glory just as it has been subjected to destruction and corruption because of us. Either way it …
Yet there will be new heavens and a new earth. He did not say different heavens and a different earth, but the old and ancient ones to be changed for the better, according to what David says: In the beginning, you founded the earth, Lord, …
And we await His promises, in which righteousness dwells. Righteousness dwells in the future age, because then to each of the faithful a crown of righteousness will be rendered according to the measure of their struggle, which in this life cannot in any way be …
The Lord will establish a new heaven and a new earth, "new" not in essence and substance; for if someone builds a new house, this does not already mean that he builds it from material that did not exist before. No, God once created matter …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We look for new heavens and a new earth - Raised as it were out of the ashes of the old; we look for an entire new state of things. Wherein dwelleth righteousness - Only righteous spirits.
Nevertheless we, according to his promise,....
To quicken and excite us to a serious minding and firm adhering to what God has revealed to us by the prophets and apostles, we are told that there will be scoffers, men who will make a mock of sin, and of salvation from it. God's way of saving sinners by Jesus Christ is what men will scoff at, and that in the last days, under the gospel.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Nevertheless we, according to his promise - The allusion here seems to be, beyond a doubt, to two passages in Isaiah, in which a promise of this kind is found.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
As the flood was the baptism of the earth, eventuating in a renovated earth, partially delivered from "the curse," so the baptism with fire shall purify the earth so as to be the renovated abode of regenerated man, wholly freed from the curse. his promise-- (Isa 65:17;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
We, according to his promise, look for new heavens - The promise to which it is supposed the apostle alludes, is found Isa 65:17: Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind; and Isa 66:22: For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed, etc. Now, although these may be interpreted of the glory of the Gospel dispensation, yet, if St. Peter refer to them, they must have a more extended meaning. It does appear, from these promises, that the apostle says here, and what is said Rev 21:27; Rev 22:14, Rev 22:15, that the present earth, though destined to be burned up, will not be destroyed, but be renewed and refined, purged from all moral and natural imperfection, and made the endless abode of blessed spirits. But this state is certainly to be expected after the day of judgment; for on this the apostle is very express, who says the conflagration and renovation are to take place at the judgment of the great day; see 2Pe 3:7, 2Pe 3:8, 2Pe 3:10, 2Pe 3:12. That such an event may take place is very possible; and, from the terms used by St. Peter, is very probable. And, indeed, it is more reasonable and philosophical to conclude that the earth shall be refined and restored, than finally destroyed. But this has nothing to do with what some call the millennium state; as this shall take place when time, with the present state and order of things, shall be no more.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καινοὺς | kainous | New | G2537 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| οὐρανοὺς | ouranous | heavens | G3772 → | 272 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γῆν | gen | earth | G1093 → | 248 times |
| καινὴν | kainen | a new | G2537 → | |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπάγγελμα | epangelma | promise | G1862 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| προσδοκῶμεν, | prosdokomen | we are awaiting, | G4328 → | 16 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| οἷς | hois | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δικαιοσύνη | dikaiosune | righteousness | G1343 → | 92 times |
| κατοικεῖ.¶ | katoikei | dwells. | G2730 → |
καινοὺςNew
kainousG2537 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
οὐρανοὺςheavens
ouranousG3772 →272 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γῆνearth
genG1093 →248 times
καινὴνa new
kainenG2537 →
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἐπάγγελμαpromise
epangelmaG1862 →
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
προσδοκῶμεν,we are awaiting,
prosdokomenG4328 →16 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
οἷςwhich
hoisG3739 →1405 times
δικαιοσύνηrighteousness
dikaiosuneG1343 →92 times
κατοικεῖ.¶dwells.
katoikeiG2730 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
it leads to
- 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 65:17–19
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 21:5
And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
- 2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid…
- Isaiah 66:22
Through
Isaiah 65:17For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:1–5
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.
- Isaiah 43:18
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.
- Revelation 21:1–5
Through
Revelation 21:27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
it leads to
- Revelation 22:14–15
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
- Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Revelation 22:14–15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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About 2 Peter
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on 2 Peter; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Peter.