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Job 5:19
He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

Psalm 34:15-19
The eyes of the LORDare upon the righteous, and his earsare open unto their cry…

1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but Godis faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bearit.

the godly.

Psalm 4:3
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Psalm 12:1
To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Psalm 32:6
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

and.

2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but castthem down to hell, and deliveredthem into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Job 21:30
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Proverbs 16:4
The LORD hath made allthings for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

unto.

2 Peter 3:7
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Romans 2:5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

2 Corinthians 5:10,11
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the thingsdone inhis body, according to that he hath done, whetherit be good or bad…

then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials
This highlights God's omniscience and omnipotence in delivering the righteous. The term "godly" refers to those who live in reverence and obedience to God, akin to Noah and Lot, who were preserved amidst widespread judgment. This assurance is echoed in other scriptures, such asPsalm 34:19 and1 Corinthians 10:13, which affirm God's faithfulness in providing a way out of trials for His people.

and to hold the unrighteous for punishment
This phrase underscores God's justice and the certainty of divine retribution. The "unrighteous" are those who reject God's ways, similar to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. This concept is consistent with biblical teachings found inRomans 1:18 andRevelation 20:12, where God's judgment is portrayed as inevitable for those who persist in wickedness.

on the day of judgment.
The "day of judgment" refers to the eschatological event when God will execute final justice. This is a recurring theme in both Old and New Testaments, seen in passages likeDaniel 12:2 andMatthew 25:31-46. It serves as a warning and a call to repentance, emphasizing the ultimate accountability before God. The phrase assures believers of the eventual vindication and the establishment of God's righteous order.

Peter has just rehearsed three historical events—fallen angels cast into gloomy pits (2 Peter 2:4), the flood where only Noah’s family was spared (v. 5), and the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot rescued (vv. 6-8). Each scene shows the same pattern: God judges wickedness while preserving the righteous. Jude 7,Genesis 6-8,Genesis 19, andLuke 17:26-30 echo the same truth. By saying “if all this is so,” Peter is really saying, “Since these examples are fact, what follows is absolutely certain.” The track record of Scripture proves God is consistent; His past actions guarantee His future dealings.

Nothing catches God off guard.Psalm 1:6 affirms, “For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”Hebrews 4:13 adds, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” His knowledge is not abstract; it is personal, intentional, and tied to His covenant love. Because He “knows,” He is perfectly qualified to act at the right moment with flawless precision.

The rescue is certain, but the means vary:

• sudden deliverance, as when “the LORD shut him in” the ark (Genesis 7:16)

• sustaining grace inside the trial, as with Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:22)

• final deliverance through death into glory (Philippians 1:23)

Psalm 34:19 promises, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”1 Corinthians 10:13 assures that God provides “a way of escape,” and2 Timothy 4:18 echoes, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.” The same God who tailored rescue for Noah and Lot custom-fits deliverance for every believer today.

While the godly experience rescue, the unrighteous are “held”—kept under God’s control until the appointed “day of judgment.”Romans 2:5 warns of “wrath stored up” for that day.Hebrews 9:27 states, “Man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment.”Revelation 20:11-15 pictures the Great White Throne where the unrepentant are judged “according to their deeds.”Matthew 25:46 concludes soberly, “And they will go away into eternal punishment.” The delay is mercy (2 Peter 3:9), but the outcome is sure; justice will be done.

2 Peter 2:9 declares two parallel, ironclad certainties: God unfailingly rescues those who belong to Him and unfailingly reserves judgment for those who reject Him. Past examples prove the pattern, God’s perfect knowledge guides the timing, and His unchanging character guarantees the result. For believers, this is an anchor of hope in every trial; for unbelievers, a sober call to repentance before the inevitable day arrives.

To be punished.--Rather,being punished,orunder punishment. They are already suffering punishment while waiting for their final doom. The error in our version is parallel to that inActs 2:47, where "such as should be saved" stands instead of "those who were being saved." The participle is present, not future.

The same double moral--that God will save the righteous and punish the ungodly--is drawn from the same historical instance by Clement of Rome (Epistle to the Corinthians,xi.): "For his hospitality and godliness Lot was saved from Sodom, when all the country round was judged by fire and brimstone; the Master having thus foreshown that He forsaketh not them who set their hope on Him, but appointeth unto punishment and torment them who swerve aside." possible, but not a certain, reference to our Epistle. (See Note below on2Peter 3:4.) . . .