For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

2 PETER 3:5KJV
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2 Peter 3:5 (KJV)

What does 2 Peter 3:5 mean?

2 Peter 3:5 says that some people deliberately ignore the fact that God created the heavens and the earth long ago, shaping the earth out of water and through water by His command. The verse points out that this willful ignorance overlooks how God’s word brought about the world’s beginning.

Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles, is writing to Christians who are facing scoffers—people who mock the idea of God’s promises and judgment. In this verse, Peter highlights that these scoffers choose to forget God’s power in creation, reminding his readers that God’s word is what formed the world and set everything in motion.

The Greek behind 2 Peter 3:5

  • "Willingly" (θέλω, thelō): This word means to choose or desire. Peter is stressing that the people he describes are not just mistaken—they are purposefully ignoring the truth about creation.
  • "Word" (λόγος, logos): This refers to God’s spoken command or decree. The verse emphasizes that it was God’s word, not random chance, that brought the heavens and earth into being.
  • "Out of" (ἐκ, ek) and "in" (διά, dia) water: These prepositions show that the earth was both formed from water and held together through water, pointing back to the creation story in Genesis and highlighting God’s control over the elements.

Why 2 Peter 3:5 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that forgetting God’s role in creation is just an accident; Peter says it’s a choice, which makes the warning more serious.
  • 2 Peter 3:5 connects the act of creation to God’s ongoing authority, setting up Peter’s argument that God can also bring about judgment and renewal.
  • The verse helps explain why some people doubt God’s promises—they ignore the evidence of His power seen in the world’s very beginning.

Where else these words appear

“old” Greek G1597 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

“of” Greek G2990 · used in 6 verses

  • Mark 7:24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
  • Luke 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
  • Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

“out” Greek G4921 · used in 15 verses

  • Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
  • 2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
  • 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

“water” Greek G5204 · used in 70 verses

  • Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
  • John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
  • Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.