King James Version
What Does 2 Peter 3:8 Mean?
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
Context
6
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
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.
8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10
But 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.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(8) *Second Answer* to the sceptical argument: Time is the condition of man’s thought and action, but not of God’s. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor His ways as our ways; what seems delay to us is none to Him.
**But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing.**—Although these scoffers are willingly ignorant of what refutes their error, do not you be ignorant of what will lead you to the truth.
**One day is with the Lord as a thousand years.**—This half of the saying is quite original, and has no equivalent in Psalm 90:4. The second half is only partially parallel to “a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday, when it is past.” Consequently, we cannot be sure that the Apostle had this passage from the Psalms in his mind, though it is probable enough that he had. That God Can punish in one day the sins of a thousand years is a thought which is neither in the text nor in the context. What is insisted on is simply this—that distinctions of long and short time are nothing in the sight of God; delay is a purely human conception. Justin Martyr, about A.D. 145 (*Trypho, *lxxxi.), gives “the day of the Lord is as a thousand years” as a quotation, and in this form it is closer to 2Peter 3:8 than to Psalm 90:4. As another possible reference to our Epistle follows in the next chapter, it may be regarded as not improbable that Justin knew the Epistle. (See above, second Note on 2Peter 2:1.) But the saying may have been a favourite one, especially with those who held Millenarian views. In the *Epistle of Barnabas* (xv. 4) we read,” For a day means with Him a thousand years, and He Himself witnesseth, saying, Behold, to-day shall be as a thousand years,” where for “to-day” the *Codex Sinaiticus* reads “the day of the Lord.” Irenæus has “The day of the Lord is as a thousand years” twice—(V. xxiii. 2; xxviii. 3); Hippolytus has it once (*Comm. on Daniel, *Lagarde, p. 153); Methodius once (in Photius’ *Bibliotheca, *cod. 235). In no case, however, is the context at all similar to the verses before us.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of 2 Peter. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
2 Peter 3:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to 2 Peter 3:8
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge