2 Peter 2:7

2 Peter 2:7

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

1. “And delivered just Lot…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. delivered [Strong: 4506 rhoumai rhoo'-om-ahee middle voice of an obsolete verb, akin to 4482 (through the idea of a current; compare 4511); to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue:--deliver(-er).]  

c. just [Strong: 1342 dikaios dik'-ah-yos from 1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):--just, meet, right(-eous).]  [Thayer: righteous, observing divine laws, in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God.]

d. Lot [Strong: 3091 Lot lote of Hebrew origin (3876); Lot, a patriarch:--Lot.]

1). Twice in two verses, 2 Peter 2:7 & 2 Peter 2:8, the Bible calls Lot righteous. More than once I have questioned this classification of Lot as being righteous (The word for “just” in this verse and “righteous”, in the next verse are the same Greek word). Especially looking at the fact he offered his daughters to the homosexual mob to protect the strangers, who in reality were angels.

a). Genesis 19:4-8 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

2). Actually these two verses (2 Peter 2:7, 8), explain in part what happened to Lot and what caused him to get to such a point. The first part of the explanation is in the next portion of 2 Peter 2:7. What must be taken into account is Lot and his family lived in Sodom for probably between twenty or twenty two years. Lot separated from Abram not long after they came up from Egypt after the famine.

a). Genesis 13:5-13 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

3). As the Scripture shows, even at this point Sodom had a reputation for being wicked, and Lot knew this. Why he chose to go there in spite of this knowledge indicates to me bad reasoning. This was a bad choice and probably the first of many that eventually brought Lot and his family to ruin. Lot, his wife and two daughters were miraculously rescued by the same two angels who destroyed the cities, but because of disobedience to the angel’s commands, his wife was consumed in the destruction. After retreating to a cave, his daughters got Lot drunk and committed incest with him. The following notes will reveal I believe part of the explanation for what happened to Lot’s family.

2. “…vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:”

a. vexed [Strong: 2669 kataponeo kat-ap-on-eh'-o from 2596 and a derivative of 4192; to labor down, i.e. wear with toil (figuratively, harass):--oppress, vex.] [Thayer: to tire down with toil, exhaust with labor; hence, to afflict or oppress with evils; to make trouble for; to treat roughly:]

b. filthy [Strong: 766 aselgeia as-elg'-i-a from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices):--filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness.]  [Vine: "wantonness, licentiousness, lasciviousness," is translated "filthy

c. conversation [Strong: 391 anastrophe an-as-trof-ay' from 390; behavior:--conversation.] [Thayer: manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment.]

d. wicked [Strong: 113 athesmos ath'-es-mos from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 5087 (in the sense of enacting); lawless, i.e. (by implication) criminal:--wicked.] [Zodhiates: athesmos; a-without; thesmos-a law  Lawless, not in conformity to acceptable custom. The homosexuals of Sodom and Gommorah are called athesmoi, KJV “wicked”.]

1). Notice the Greek definitions. Lot and no doubt his family were oppressed, afflicted and worn down by the behavior of the inhabitants of Sodom, their neighbors. Their behavior was sometimes brutal, with no restraint they behaved in an insatiable desire for perverse sexual pleasure. It was the constant witnessing of these actions that wore Lot down and probable led him to make decisions otherwise he never would have made. This is also what is occurring in our culture.