2 Peter 3:13

But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The author addresses believers who are awaiting the day of God when the current heavens and earth will be destroyed by fire. This expectation frames the immediate call to moral readiness in the surrounding verses.

The words — καινὴν (kainēn) = new/renewed; οὐρανοὺς (ouranous) = heavens. The text pairs these terms to denote the created order that will replace the present one.

The thread — The phrase "new heaven and new earth" appears in Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, and Revelation 21:1 as a consistent prophetic and apocalyptic motif. These references anchor the promise in earlier revelation and later vision.

Why it lands — The text commands readers to fix their hope on a future reality where righteousness permanently resides. This expectation grounds the practical demand to live spotlessly before God's coming judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καινοὺςkainousNew δὲdehowever οὐρανοὺςouranousheavens καὶkaiand γῆνgēnearth καινὴνkainēna new κατὰkataaccording to τὸtothe ἐπάγγελμαepangelmapromise αὐτοῦautouof Him προσδοκῶμεν,prosdokōmenwe are awaiting,ἐνenin οἷςhoiswhich δικαιοσύνηdikaiosunērighteousness κατοικεῖ.¶katoikeidwells.

King James Version

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Cross-references

Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Isaiah 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.
Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Isaiah 60:21 Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.