"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
— 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
2 Peter 3:9 is the "not willing that any should perish" verse, Peter's answer to people asking why Jesus has not returned yet. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in 2 Peter 3, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about patience, Bible verses about God's faithfulness, and Bible verses about repentance.
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The verse
The King James reads: "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."
"Slow" (KJV "slack") is bradyno (G1019), to delay, and "slowness" is bradytes (G1022). "Patient" (KJV "longsuffering") is makrothymeo (G3114), to be long-tempered. "Wanting" (KJV "willing") is boulomai (G1014). "Perish" is apollymi (G622), to be lost or destroyed, and "repentance" is metanoia (G3341), a change of mind and direction.
Where it sits in 2 Peter 3
Peter warns that "in the last days scoffers will come," asking, "Where is this 'coming' he promised?" (2 Peter 3:3-4). He answers them in steps.
First, God's timing is not ours: "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Peter 3:8). Then verse 9 gives the reason for the wait. Verse 10 adds that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief," and verse 15 sums it up: "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation."
What the verse is saying
What looks like delay is patience. God is holding the door open so more people can turn to him. Paul says the same about God's heart: he "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
The verse is both comfort and urgency. It reassures believers that God keeps his promises, and it invites everyone to use the time well. God's patience is the same quality the Bible asks his people to show: "Love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Questions people ask
What does 2 Peter 3:9 say?
In the NIV it says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
What does "not willing that any should perish" mean?
It is the KJV wording. It means God does not want anyone to be lost; he wants people to turn to him, and his patience gives them time to do it.
What promise is 2 Peter 3:9 talking about?
The promise of Christ's return. Scoffers were asking, "Where is this 'coming' he promised?" (2 Peter 3:4), and Peter explains why it has not happened yet.
What comes before 2 Peter 3:9?
Verse 8 says, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." God does not measure time the way people do.
What verses go with 2 Peter 3:9?
John 3:16 (God so loved the world), Lamentations 3:22-23 (his compassions never fail), and Romans 12:12 (patient in affliction) are close companions.
