2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

◄ 2 Peter 2:3 ►

New International Version
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

New Living Translation
In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

English Standard Version
And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Berean Standard Bible
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Berean Literal Bible
And through covetousness they will exploit you with fabricated words, for whom the judgment of long ago is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

King James Bible
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

New King James Version
By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

New American Standard Bible
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

NASB 1995
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

NASB 1977
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Legacy Standard Bible
And in their greed they will exploit you with false words, their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Amplified Bible
And in their greed they will exploit you with false arguments and twisted doctrine. Their sentence [of condemnation which God has decreed] from a time long ago is not idle [but is still in force], and their destruction and deepening misery is not asleep [but is on its way].

Christian Standard Bible
They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They will exploit you in their greed with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.

American Standard Version
And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

Contemporary English Version
They will be greedy and cheat you with smooth talk. But long ago God decided to punish them, and God doesn't sleep.

English Revised Version
And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In their greed they will use good-sounding arguments to exploit you. The verdict against them from long ago is still in force, and their destruction is not asleep.

Good News Translation
In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!

International Standard Version
In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed.

Majority Standard Bible
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

NET Bible
And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.

New Heart English Bible
In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old does not linger, and their destruction is not asleep.

Webster's Bible Translation
And through covetousness they will with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Weymouth New Testament
Thirsting for riches, they will trade on you with their canting talk. From of old their judgement has been working itself out, and their destruction has not been slumbering.

World English Bible
In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and in covetousness, with forged words, they will make merchandise of you, whose judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Berean Literal Bible
And through covetousness they will exploit you with fabricated words, for whom the judgment of long ago is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Young's Literal Translation
and in covetousness, with moulded words, of you they shall make merchandise, whose judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction doth not slumber.

Smith's Literal Translation
And by covetousness with feigned words shall trade in you: to whom judgment since a long while is not inactive, and their perdition sleeps not.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in avarice, they will negotiate about you with false words. Their judgment, in the near future, is not delayed, and their perdition does not sleep.

New American Bible
In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.

New Revised Standard Version
And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And through covetousness, they will exploit you with feigned words: whose judgment from the very beginning has not ceased and their damnation is always active.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And by greed and fictitious accounts they will make profit among you, these whose judgment from the first has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
and, with delusive words, they will, through covetousness, make gain of you: the condemnation, long ago denounced against these, delays not, and their destruction does not slumber.

Godbey New Testament
and in their covetousness they will sell you with their soft speeches: unto whom judgment from olden time tarries not, and their destruction does not slumber.

Haweis New Testament
And with plausible speeches will they avariciously make gain of you whose condemnation from of old lingereth not, and their perdition doth not slumber.

Mace New Testament
By their artful discourses they will make you the tools of their avarice; but their condemnation has been a long time advancing, and their ruin is far from lingring.

Weymouth New Testament
Thirsting for riches, they will trade on you with their canting talk. From of old their judgement has been working itself out, and their destruction has not been slumbering.

Worrell New Testament
and, in covetousness, will they, with feigned words, make merchandise of you; for whom the judgment from of old lingers not, and their destruction slumbers not.

Worsley New Testament
and by artful speeches they will make sale of you for gain. Whose judgement is long since hastening, and their destruction doth not slumber.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Deliverance from False Prophets
…2Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. 3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep. 4For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jude 1:4
For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

1 Timothy 6:5
and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.

Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

1 Thessalonians 2:5
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Ezekiel 13:19
You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.

Jeremiah 6:13
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Isaiah 56:11
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Treasury of Scripture

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.

through.

2 Peter 2:14,15
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: …

Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Jeremiah 6:13
For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

with.

2 Peter 1:16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Psalm 18:44
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

Psalm 66:3
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

make.

Deuteronomy 24:17
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:

John 2:16
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

whose.

2 Peter 2:1,9
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction…

Deuteronomy 32:35
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Isaiah 5:19
That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!

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2 Peter 2

1. Peter warns of false teachers, showing the impiety and punishment both of them and their followers;
7. from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom;
10. and more fully describes the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers.

Berean Study Bible

In their greed
The Greek word for "greed" here is "πλεονεξία" (pleonexia), which implies an insatiable desire for more, often at the expense of others. This term is frequently associated with idolatry in the New Testament, as it places material gain above spiritual truth. Historically, greed has been a driving force behind many false teachings, as individuals prioritize personal gain over the well-being of the community. This phrase warns believers to be vigilant against those who prioritize wealth and power over the gospel's integrity.

these false teachers
The term "false teachers" is derived from the Greek "ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι" (pseudodidaskaloi), indicating those who deliberately teach erroneous doctrines. In the early church, such individuals were a significant threat, as they often introduced heresies that could lead believers astray. The historical context of the early church was rife with various sects and teachings that deviated from apostolic doctrine, making discernment crucial for maintaining the purity of the faith.

will exploit you
The Greek word "ἐμπορεύσονται" (emporeusontai) is used here, which means to trade or to make merchandise of. This term suggests that false teachers view their followers as commodities to be used for personal gain. This exploitation is not just financial but can also be emotional and spiritual, as these teachers manipulate their followers for their own ends. The imagery here is of a marketplace, where the sacred is profaned by being treated as a mere transaction.

with deceptive words
The phrase "deceptive words" comes from the Greek "πλαστοῖς λόγοις" (plastois logois), meaning fabricated or false words. This highlights the cunning and craftiness of false teachers, who use eloquence and persuasive speech to mislead. The historical context of the Greco-Roman world was one where rhetoric was highly valued, and skilled orators could easily sway public opinion. Thus, believers are cautioned to be discerning and to test all teachings against the truth of Scripture.

The longstanding verdict against them
The phrase "longstanding verdict" refers to the divine judgment that has been decreed against false teachers. The Greek word "κρίμα" (krima) implies a legal decision or sentence. This underscores the certainty and inevitability of God's judgment against those who pervert the truth. Throughout biblical history, God has consistently judged those who lead His people astray, from the false prophets of Israel to the deceivers in the early church.

remains in force
This phrase emphasizes the unchanging nature of God's judgment. The Greek "οὐκ ἀργεῖ" (ouk argei) suggests that the verdict is active and effective, not dormant or delayed. This serves as a reminder that God's justice is not bound by human timelines and that His decrees are eternal and unalterable.

and their destruction does not sleep
The imagery here is vivid, with "destruction" (Greek "ἀπώλεια," apōleia) personified as ever-vigilant, never resting. This serves as a stark warning that the consequences of false teaching are both imminent and unavoidable. The phrase reassures believers that, despite appearances, God is aware of the injustices perpetrated by false teachers and will act in His perfect timing to bring about their downfall. This assurance of divine justice is meant to encourage believers to remain steadfast in the truth, knowing that God will ultimately vindicate His people.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) And through covetousness.--Better, In covetousness. This is the atmosphere in which they live. (See Notes on 2Peter 2:18 and 2Peter 1:1-2; 2Peter 1:4; 2Peter 1:13.) Wiclif and Rheims have "in." Simon Magus offering St. Peter money, which no doubt he was accustomed to take himself for his teaching, may illustrate this (Acts 8:18; comp. 1Timothy 6:5; Titus 1:10-11). These false teachers, like the Greek Sophists, taught for money. A bombastic mysticism, promising to reveal secrets about the unseen world and the future, was a very lucrative profession in the last days of Paganism, and it passed over to Christianity as an element in various heresies. (Comp. the Shepherd of Hermas, Sim. IX. xix. 3.) . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; rather, in covetousness. Covetousness was their besetting sin, the sphere in which they lived. St. Paul warned Titus against false teachers who taught "things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" (Titus 1:11; see also 1 Timothy 6:6 and Jude 1:16). Simon Magus, the first heresiarch, sought to trade in holy things; the like sin seems to have been characteristic of the false teachers of apostolic times. The word translated "feigned" (πλαστοῖς) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament; the words of these men were not the expression of their real thoughts and feelings; they were invented, craftily contrived to deceive men, and that for the sake of money. The last words of the clause will admit another sense: "shall gain you," i.e., "shall gain you over to their party;" and this view derives some support from the use of the verb ἐμπορεύεσθαι in the Septuagint Version of Proverbs 3:14. But the verb is often used in classical writers in the sense of making a profit out of people or things, and this meaning seems most suitable here. The false teachers will work hard, as the Pharisees did, to make proselytes; but their real motive is, not the salvation of souls, but their own selfish gain. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not; literally, for whom the sentence of a long time idleth not. The sentence of judgment is for them, for their condemnation; in the foreknowledge of God it has been pronounced long ago, and ever since it has been drawing near; it doth not tarry (comp. Jude 1:4 and 1 Peter 4:17). The word rendered "of a long time" (ἔκπαλαι) occurs only here and 2 Peter 3:5. And their damnation slumbereth not; destruction: it is the word which has been used already twice in verse 1. The verb means literally "to nod," then "to slumber;" it is found elsewhere in the New Testament only in the parable of the virgins (Matthew 25:5).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

In
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

their greed,
πλεονεξίᾳ (pleonexia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4124: Covetousness, avarice, aggression, desire for advantage. From pleonektes; avarice, i.e. fraudulency, extortion.

[these false teachers] will exploit
ἐμπορεύσονται (emporeusontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1710: From en and poreuomai; to travel in, i.e. to trade.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

with tales
λόγοις (logois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

they have concocted.
πλαστοῖς (plastois)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4112: Formed, molded; fig: feigned, made up, counterfeit. From plasso; moulded, i.e. artificial or fictitious.

The
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

longstanding
ἔκπαλαι (ekpalai)
Adverb
Strong's 1597: From of old, long since. From ek and palai; long ago, for a long while.

verdict
κρίμα (krima)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2917: From krino; a decision ('crime').

against them
οἷς (hois)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

remains in force,
ἀργεῖ (argei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 691: To linger, delay, be idle. From argos; to be idle, i.e. to delay.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

destruction
ἀπώλεια (apōleia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 684: Destruction, ruin, loss, perishing; eternal ruin. From a presumed derivative of apollumi; ruin or loss.

{does} not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

sleep.
νυστάζει (nystazei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3573: To nod in sleep, be drowsy, slumber. From a presumed derivative of neuo; to nod, i.e. to fall asleep; figuratively, to delay.

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NT Letters: 2 Peter 2:3 In covetousness they will exploit you (2 Pet. 2P iiP ii Pet)