What Does 2 Peter 3:9 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
What looks like delay is slow-to-heat restraint, holding open the way for turning.
THE MEANING
When the promise seems delayed, this verse names the interval as longsuffering toward you. It holds loss as unwanted and turning as open to all.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the lie that delay proves abandonment: here, the interval is patient restraint that keeps room for a turn.
THE ROOT
μακροθυμεῖ
makrothymei
GROWS FROM
μακροθυμέω (makrothymeō), from μακρός (makros, long) + θυμός (thymos, heat or anger)
To remain long-tempered, with heat or anger slow to rise
The KJV’s “slack” and “longsuffering” do different work: one names delay, while the other pictures anger taking a long time to rise. The verse reframes what looks like delay as restraint that keeps the opening to turn available.
ALSO GROWS
makrothymia: Long-tempered patience
μακροθυμία
The noun form shows that this restraint is a quality held over time, not mere inactivity.
makrothymos: Patient, slow to anger
μακρόθυμος
This adjective carries the same image of heat that does not flare quickly.
thymos: Anger, heat
θυμός
The compound’s second element makes the image vivid: the heat is present, but slow to rise.
μετάνοια
metanoia
GROWS FROM
μετανοέω (metanoeō), the verb-family behind μετάνοια (metanoia)
Turning, a reorientation of thought and direction
The verse ends with turning, not with a demand to repay the time of waiting. “Repentance” names a change in direction, so the open interval is oriented toward a turn that remains possible for all.
ALSO GROWS
metanoeō: To turn or change direction
μετανοέω
The verb form makes the turning a movement, not only a feeling of regret.
nous: Mind, perception
νοῦς
This element points to the inner perception involved in a changed direction.
ἀπολέσθαι
apolesthai
GROWS FROM
ὄλλυμι (ollumi), in the family of ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi)
To destroy, lose, or bring to ruin
The word translated “perish” belongs to a family of loss and ruin. Set opposite turning, it places loss at one end and an open change of direction at the other.
ALSO GROWS
apollymi: To perish, destroy, or lose
ἀπόλλυμι
This verb family carries the loss named as unwanted in the verse.
apōleia: Loss, ruin, destruction
ἀπώλεια
The related noun makes the consequence of perishing visible as loss.
THE PATTERN
The Lord’s restraint keeps the way to turning open because the desired end is life rather than loss.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?THE THREAD
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;The same word-family for longsuffering appears here, and this verse calls the Lord’s longsuffering “salvation.” The Greek noun σωτηρία (sōtēria, deliverance) sharpens the link: the patient interval itself is part of deliverance, keeping room for turning.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.
A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us