2 Peter 3:6
in 2 Peter 3through which the world of that time perished in the flood.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
KJV
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
⋯
This verse in 2 Peter 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Whereby - Δι ̓ ὧν Di' hōn. Through which, or by means of which. The pronoun here is in the plural number, and there has been much difference of opinion as to what it refers.
This site's exposition
But they deliberately overlook the fact
on 2 Peter 3:5-7
They deliberately overlook the fact that the word which formed the earth out of water and by water also flooded the world of that time. By that same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, tethesaurismenoi, stored up.
This site's exposition
perished in the flood
The world of Noah's day shows that creation has changed before. John Wesley names the flood's sources, the windows of heaven opened and the fountains of the deep broken up. Albert Barnes notes that the word through which is plural, and readers differ on what it refers to.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For they willingly do not know that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water by the word of God: by which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and …
The Medieval Church2 voices
At that time the world perished, being flooded by water. At that time, referring to the heavens and the earth which he had previously mentioned. For through these things the world that had existed was destroyed. For the higher parts of the world were in …
The world perished through heaven and earth. The earth released water from its depths, and the floodgates of heaven poured water down upon the earth. "Perished" should be understood not of the entire world, but only of the living creatures, which constitute, as it were, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Through which - Heaven and earth, the windows of heaven being opened, and the fountains of the great deep broken up. The world that then was - The whole antediluvian race.
He breaks up the fountain of the great deep, and throws open the windows (that is, the clouds) of heaven ( Gen. vii. 11 ), till the whole earth is overflowed with water, and not a spot can be found upon the highest mountains but what is fifteen cubits under water, Gen. vii.
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Whereby the world that then was,....
Is not here a change and a most awful change! And then it is to be observed that all this was done by the word of God; it was by his powerful word that the world was made at first, and made in so commodious and beautiful a frame and order, Heb. xi.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ὧν | hon | [means of] those [waters] | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τότε | tote | at that time | G5119 → | |
| κόσμος | kosmos | world | G2889 → | 185 times |
| ὕδατι | hudati | with water | G5204 → | 76 times |
| κατακλυσθεὶς | kataklustheis | having been deluged | G2626 → | |
| ἀπώλετο. | apoleto | perished. | G622 → |
δι᾽through
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ὧν[means of] those [waters]
honG3739 →1405 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
τότεat that time
toteG5119 →
κόσμοςworld
kosmosG2889 →185 times
ὕδατιwith water
hudatiG5204 →76 times
κατακλυσθεὶςhaving been deluged
kataklustheisG2626 →
ἀπώλετο.perished.
apoletoG622 →
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
2 Peter 2:5if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes…
- Jude 1:14–15
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
- Luke 17:26–27
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:
- Matthew 24:37–39
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
- 1 Peter 3:19–20
in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
- Hebrews 11:7
Through
Job 12:15If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in…
- 1 Kings 17:1
Through
Luke 17:27People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
it leads to
- Luke 12:19–20
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1–3
Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
- Luke 12:19–20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About 2 Peter

This page draws on 9 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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; 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.
