2 Peter 3:6

KJV

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

KJV (with Strong's)

Whereby {G1223}{G3739} the world {G2889} that then was {G5119}, being overflowed {G2626} with water {G5204}, perished {G622}:

Complete Jewish Bible

and that by means of these things the world of that time was flooded with water and destroyed.

Berean Standard Bible

through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

American Standard Version

by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Peter 3:6, the Apostle Peter powerfully counters the skepticism of scoffers by recalling the historical reality of the Genesis Flood. This verse serves as a critical link in his argument, demonstrating that God has previously intervened in human history with cataclysmic judgment, thereby establishing a divine precedent for the certain future judgment and the eventual new heavens and new earth. It underscores God's unwavering control over creation and His righteous commitment to fulfilling His prophetic word, providing a stark reminder that the world's current stability is not an argument against, but rather a testament to, God's patient yet resolute purpose.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Peter’s final exhortations to believers, specifically addressing the rise of false teachers and scoffers who deny the certainty of Christ's second coming and the future judgment. In [2 Peter 3:3-4](/2_peter/3-3-4 "2 Peter 3:3-4 - Scoffers Will Come"), Peter introduces these mockers who question God's intervention, claiming "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Verse 5 then directly refutes this by reminding readers that the heavens and earth were formed by God's word, and verse 6 immediately follows, highlighting the Flood as undeniable evidence of God's past, decisive intervention and judgment through water. This historical event sets the stage for the future judgment by fire described in [2 Peter 3:7](/2_peter/3-7 "2 Peter 3:7 - Judgment by Fire"), establishing a clear pattern of divine action.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Peter's audience, primarily Jewish Christians and God-fearing Gentiles, would have been deeply familiar with the Genesis Flood narrative as a foundational event in their sacred history. The Flood, recounted in [Genesis 6-9](/genesis/6 "Genesis 6 - The Flood Narrative"), was not merely a story but a historical marker of God's righteous judgment against pervasive human wickedness and His preservation of a righteous remnant. In the Greco-Roman world, various philosophical schools, such as Epicureanism, promoted a view of a stable, unchanging cosmos, often denying divine intervention or future judgment. The scoffers Peter addresses likely drew from such philosophies, perhaps combining them with a distorted understanding of Christian eschatology. By invoking the Flood, Peter grounds his argument in a shared, divinely revealed history that directly contradicts the uniformitarian worldview of the scoffers, asserting God's active and decisive role in the world.
* **Key Themes:** [2 Peter 3:6](/2_peter/3-6 "2 Peter 3:6 - The World Perished by Water") contributes significantly to several key themes within the epistle. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Judgment**, demonstrating God's historical precedent of intervening in human affairs with cataclysmic power when sin reaches its full measure. The "world that then was" refers to the pre-Flood human civilization, which was deemed so corrupt that it warranted destruction, emphasizing God's holiness and justice, and that He does not overlook sin indefinitely. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Certainty of God's Word**. Just as God's word brought creation into being ([2 Peter 3:5](/2_peter/3-5 "2 Peter 3:5 - Creation by God's Word")) and then brought the Flood to pass ([Genesis 7:21-23](/genesis/7-21-23 "Genesis 7:21-23 - The Flood's Devastation")), so too will His word bring about the promised future judgment. The Flood stands as a powerful testament to the reliability and power of God's warnings and prophecies. Lastly, it serves as a direct **Warning Against Scoffing**. By recalling the Flood, Peter directly refutes the scoffers' argument that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." The Noahic Flood was a dramatic, undeniable interruption of the status quo, demonstrating that God is not bound by human expectations and will indeed act according to His righteous will, proving that the world can and will be divinely altered again.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **world (Greek, _kósmos'_):** From G2889, this term primarily signifies "orderly arrangement" or "decoration," but by implication, it refers to the "world" in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally). In this context, _kósmos_ refers to the entire inhabited earth and its human civilization that existed before the Flood, emphasizing not just the physical globe but the moral order (or disorder) that prompted God's judgment.
* **overflowed (Greek, _kataklýzō'_):** From G2626, this verb means "to dash (wash) down" or "to deluge." It is the root of the English word "cataclysm." This word vividly describes the overwhelming, destructive, and all-encompassing nature of the Flood, indicating a complete inundation that covered the entire world of that era, not merely a localized event.
* **perished (Greek, _apóllymi'_):** From G622, this verb means "to destroy fully," or reflexively, "to perish" or "lose." It signifies utter destruction, ruin, and loss of life. In 2 Peter 3:6, it underscores the completeness of the judgment upon the pre-Flood world, with the notable exception of Noah and his family, who were preserved in the ark.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Whereby the world that then was":** This phrase connects the current verse to the preceding one, where Peter speaks of the heavens and earth being formed by God's word and sustained by water. "Whereby" (δι’ ὧν, _di' hōn_) refers back to "the word of God" and "water" from [2 Peter 3:5](/2_peter/3-5 "2 Peter 3:5 - Creation and Sustenance by God's Word"). It asserts that it was by means of God's powerful word and the very element of water that the pre-Flood world, the _kósmos_ of that era, experienced its fate. The temporal marker "that then was" clearly distinguishes this past world from the present one, emphasizing a specific historical period and its inhabitants.
* **"being overflowed with water":** This clause describes the method and extent of the judgment. The Greek word for "overflowed" (_kataklýzō_) conveys a sense of a devastating deluge, a complete and overwhelming inundation. This directly alludes to the Genesis Flood, where water was the instrument of God's judgment, covering all the high mountains under the whole heaven and destroying all life on the land. It highlights the thoroughness of God's judgment and the inability of humanity to escape His decree.
* **"perished":** This final, stark word declares the ultimate outcome of the divine judgment. The pre-Flood world, in its entirety, was utterly destroyed. "Perished" (_apóllymi_) signifies complete ruin and loss of existence for the ungodly inhabitants and the world as it then was. This serves as a powerful testament to the severity of God's wrath against sin and the certainty of His promised judgments, providing a historical precedent for the future destruction of the current heavens and earth by fire.

#### Literary Devices
Peter employs several effective literary devices in this verse. The primary device is **Allusion**, specifically to the Genesis Flood narrative. By referencing "the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished," Peter evokes the entire biblical account of Noah's Flood without needing to retell it, relying on his audience's familiarity with this foundational event. This allusion serves as a powerful **Argument from History** or **Precedent**, demonstrating that God has indeed intervened catastrophically in the past, directly refuting the scoffers' claim of an unchanging cosmos. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** at play: the scoffers' denial of future judgment is starkly contrasted with the undeniable historical reality of past judgment. This contrast highlights their willful ignorance and strengthens Peter's warning about the certainty of God's future actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Peter 3:6 profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation and history, revealing a God who is not passive or distant but actively involved in the affairs of humanity, exercising both patience and righteous judgment. The Flood stands as an enduring testament to God's intolerance for pervasive wickedness and His commitment to upholding His moral order. It demonstrates that while God is patient, His patience has a limit, and His warnings are always followed by certain fulfillment. This historical judgment by water foreshadows the ultimate, fiery judgment to come, emphasizing the consistent character of a holy God who will ultimately bring all things to account, ensuring justice and establishing a new, righteous order.

* [Genesis 7:21-23](/genesis/7-21-23 "Genesis 7:21-23 - The Extent of the Flood's Destruction") - Details the comprehensive destruction of life on earth by the Flood, confirming the "perished" aspect of 2 Peter 3:6.
* [Luke 17:26-27](/luke/17-26-27 "Luke 17:26-27 - The Days of Noah as a Parallel to the Son of Man's Coming") - Jesus Himself uses the days of Noah and the Flood as a direct parallel to the sudden and unexpected coming of the Son of Man, reinforcing the theme of sudden judgment.
* [Hebrews 11:7](/hebrews/11-7 "Hebrews 11:7 - Noah's Faith and the Condemnation of the World") - Highlights Noah's faith in God's warning about the Flood, through which he "condemned the world," illustrating the principle of faith in the face of impending judgment.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The historical reality of the Flood, as presented in 2 Peter 3:6, serves as a sobering and vital reminder for believers today. In an age where skepticism abounds and many question the reality of divine judgment or the urgency of repentance, this verse calls us to take God's word seriously. It demonstrates that God is not merely a benevolent creator but also a righteous judge who has and will intervene decisively in human history. This should stir within us a profound sense of awe for God's power and holiness, prompting us to live lives marked by genuine repentance, watchful anticipation, and faithful obedience. It encourages us not to be swayed by the prevailing cultural currents that deny accountability or scoff at the promise of Christ's return, but rather to anchor our hope in the unchanging character and certain promises of God, knowing that His patience is a call to salvation, not an excuse for complacency.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the historical reality of the Flood challenge any tendency in my own life to doubt God's active involvement or future judgment?**
* **What specific areas of my life might reflect a "scoffing" attitude towards God's warnings, even subtly?**
* **Given God's past judgment by water and future judgment by fire, how should this understanding shape my priorities and daily decisions?**

### FAQ
**Was the Flood described in Genesis and referenced by Peter a local or global event?**

Answer: The biblical text, particularly [Genesis 7:19-20](/genesis/7-19-20 "Genesis 7:19-20 - The Global Extent of the Flood"), describes the Flood as covering "all the high hills that were under the whole heaven" and that "all flesh died that moved upon the earth." Peter's language in [2 Peter 3:6](/2_peter/3-6 "2 Peter 3:6 - The World Perished by Water") refers to "the world that then was" perishing, using _kósmos_ (G2889), which often denotes the inhabited world in its totality. The consistent biblical witness, including Jesus' own reference to the days of Noah in [Matthew 24:37-39](/matthew/24-37-39 "Matthew 24:37-39 - The Days of Noah and the Coming of the Son of Man"), points to a universal, cataclysmic event that affected the entire known world of that time, serving as a comprehensive judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The judgment of the Flood, as recalled in [2 Peter 3:6](/2_peter/3-6 "2 Peter 3:6 - The World Perished by Water"), serves as a profound prefigurement of Christ's work, particularly in themes of judgment, salvation, and new creation. Just as Noah and his family were preserved through water in the ark, so too believers are saved through Christ, who is our ark of salvation, symbolized by baptism (cf. [1 Peter 3:20-21](/1_peter/3-20-21 "1 Peter 3:20-21 - Baptism as an Appeal to God")). The Flood marked the end of an old, wicked world and the beginning of a new, cleansed earth; similarly, Christ's death and resurrection brought about the end of the old covenant era and inaugurated a new creation for those who believe (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). Ultimately, while the Flood was a judgment by water, the final judgment will be by fire, with Christ as the righteous Judge (cf. [John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Committed All Judgment to the Son")). Those who are "in Christ" will be preserved from this coming wrath, just as Noah was saved from the deluge, demonstrating that Christ is not only the means of our salvation from sin but also our ultimate refuge from divine judgment.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:38

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Matthew 24:39

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

2 Peter 2:5

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Luke 17:27

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Genesis 7:10

And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

Genesis 7:23

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained [alive], and they that [were] with him in the ark.

Genesis 9:15

And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.