The Greek word ékpalai, represented by G1597, is an adverb derived from ἐκ and πάλαι, meaning long ago, for a long while. Though it only appears 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible, it is used to convey a sense of ancient origin and long-established reality.
The two uses of G1597 establish significant bookends of time. In 2 Peter 3:5, it is translated as "of old" to describe the primeval creation of the heavens and the earth by the word of God. In contrast, 2 Peter 2:3 uses the phrase "of a long time" to describe the pre-ordained judgment for false teachers, emphasizing that their condemnation is not a recent development and is certain to come.
Several related words provide context for the use of G1597:
- G691 argéō (to delay): This word appears in 2 Peter 2:3, stating that the judgment which has been determined for a long time does not linger.
- G3573 nystázō (to fall asleep; figuratively, to delay): Used alongside argéō, this word emphasizes that the "damnation slumbereth not" 2 Peter 2:3.
- G4921 synistáō (to set together... to constitute): In the creation narrative, this word is used to describe the earth standing out of the water, an event that happened "of old" 2 Peter 3:5.
- G2990 lanthánō (to lie hid... be ignorant of): This verb is used to show that people are willingly ignorant of the fact that the heavens were created of old 2 Peter 3:5.
The theological weight of G1597 is tied to the concepts of divine timing and certainty.
- Antiquity of God's Word: The term is used to assert that the heavens and earth were formed "of old" by God's word 2 Peter 3:5. This points to the foundational, long-standing power and reality of God's creative acts, a truth that some are willfully ignorant of.
- Certainty of Divine Judgment: In its second usage, the word establishes that judgment for the ungodly is not an afterthought. It has been set for "a long time," and its arrival is sure, as it does not linger or slumber 2 Peter 2:3.
In summary, G1597 is a concise term that carries significant meaning about God's relationship with time. It simultaneously looks back to the distant past of creation and underscores the long-standing, unwavering nature of divine judgment. The word affirms that God's plans, whether for creation or for justice, are established and sure.
TRV