2 Peter 3:8–9
What looks like delay is God's patience, so that all may change their minds
Study it word by word8But do not let this one thing escape you, beloved, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9The Lord is not slow about the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to a change of mind.
In its context
6through which the world of that time, flooded with water, perished.
7But the present heavens and earth by the same word have been stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
…
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements, burning, will be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it will be laid bare.
11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
Its words in the original
- ἛνHen· one
One.
- λανθανέτωlanthanetō· escape notice
Go unnoticed, remain hidden.
- ἀγαπητοίagapētoi· beloved
Beloved, dear.
- ἡμέραhēmera· day
Day. "In the days of" someone: in their time.
- κυρίῳkyriōi· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- χίλιαchilia· thousand
A thousand.
- ἔτηetē· year
Year.
- βραδύνειbradynei· delay
Be slow, delay.
- ἐπαγγελίαςepangelias· promise
Promise.
- βραδύτηταbradytēta· slowness
Slowness, delay.
- ἡγοῦνταιhēgountai· lead, consider
Lead, go in front, rule; "leader", "ruler". Also think, consider, regard.
- μακροθυμεῖmakrothymei· be patient
Be patient, put up with something without getting angry, wait patiently.
- βουλόμενόςboulomenos· want, intend
Want firmly, resolve, intend.
- ἀπολέσθαιapolesthai· destroy, perish
Destroy, cause to perish; in the middle voice, perish, be lost.
- μετάνοιανmetanoian· change of mind
Change of mind: turning around one's way of thinking and of living to return to God. It is usually translated "repentance".
- χωρῆσαιchōrēsai· make room, go
Go, make one's way; also have room for, hold.