2 Peter 2:7

¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

And {G2532} delivered {G4506} just {G1342} Lot {G3091}, vexed {G2669} with {G5259} the filthy {G766} conversation {G391} of {G1722} the wicked {G113}:

but he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people;

and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless

and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked

Commentary

Context

Second Peter chapter 2 serves as a stark warning against false teachers and their destructive doctrines. Peter illustrates God's certainty in judgment by recalling historical examples of divine retribution, such as the fallen angels (2 Peter 2:4) and the ungodly world of Noah's time (2 Peter 2:5). This verse, 2 Peter 2:7, continues this pattern by detailing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but with a crucial distinction: God's deliverance of "just Lot." This example powerfully demonstrates that while God punishes the wicked, He also preserves the righteous, even amidst overwhelming corruption.

Key Themes

  • God's Discernment and Deliverance: The verse highlights God's ability to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked. Despite Lot's flawed choices in settling among the corrupt, God recognized his inner righteousness and provided a means of escape from the impending judgment. This underscores the Lord's consistent pattern of delivering the godly.
  • The Burden of Unrighteousness: Lot is described as "vexed," indicating deep emotional and moral distress caused by the pervasive depravity of Sodom. This illustrates the spiritual and psychological toll that living amidst rampant sin can take on a righteous soul. It wasn't just the actions of the wicked, but their very "conversation" (way of life) that tormented him.
  • Divine Justice and Mercy: The account of Lot's deliverance, contrasted with the destruction of Sodom (2 Peter 2:6), showcases both God's unwavering justice against sin and His merciful preservation of those who are upright in His sight.

Linguistic Insights

  • "just Lot" (δίκαιον Λὼτ - dikaion Lōt): The Greek word dikaios means "righteous" or "just." This is a significant descriptor, as it's Peter's divine assessment of Lot, emphasizing that despite his human weaknesses and the compromise of living in Sodom, God considered him righteous. This perspective is vital for understanding why Lot was delivered.
  • "vexed" (καταπονούμενον - kataponoumenon): This powerful word means to be greatly distressed, worn down, oppressed, or tormented. It conveys the profound suffering Lot experienced internally due to the moral decay surrounding him, not merely annoyance but a deep spiritual anguish.
  • "filthy conversation" (ἀσελγείᾳ - aselgeia): The term aselgeia is stronger than mere "conversation" in the modern sense. It refers to licentiousness, wantonness, unrestrained indecency, and moral abandonment. It denotes a flagrant disregard for decency and a shameless pursuit of vice. The "wicked" (ἀθέσμων - athesmon) are those who are lawless, without moral principle, living outside God's established order.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Peter 2:7 offers profound encouragement and a sober warning. It reminds us that living in a morally corrupt world can be deeply distressing, even for the righteous. Like Lot, we may feel "vexed" by the pervasive "filthy conversation" and lawlessness around us. However, this verse assures us that God sees our inner struggle and our desire for righteousness. It reinforces the truth that God is faithful to deliver His own from ultimate judgment, even when they are surrounded by wickedness. It calls us to maintain our moral integrity and trust in God's power to preserve us, much as He did for Lot in the dramatic escape from Sodom.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 19:16 (8 votes)

    And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

  • Genesis 19:29 (7 votes)

    And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

  • Jeremiah 23:9 (3 votes)

    ¶ Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.

  • 2 Peter 3:17 (3 votes)

    Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 (3 votes)

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

  • Jeremiah 9:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

  • Jeremiah 9:6 (3 votes)

    Thine habitation [is] in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.