II Peter 2:17 · Bible study
2 Peter 2:17 Commentary: Wells Without Water, Darkness Reserved
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why do false teachers promise but not perform?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Peter uses desert and storm imagery to expose false teachers as empty and doomed.
- Key words: pēgai (springs/wells), anudroi (without water), homichlai (mists), lailaps (storm), zophos tou skotous (blackness of darkness), tetērētai (has been reserved).
- Main debate: The textual variant, some manuscripts read “clouds” (nephelai) while older ones read “mists” (homichlai). The judgment’s eternal duration is agreed across traditions.
- Theological theme: God’s justice against deceptive spiritual leaders; the certainty of judgment for those who mislead; the contrast between empty religion and true refreshment in Christ.
- Best use: A warning passage for pastors and teachers, and for all believers to test those who claim spiritual authority.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
WEB World English Bible 2000
These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
KJV King James Version 1769
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
These are wells without water, and clouds by a tempest driven, to whom the thick gloom of the darkness to the age hath been kept;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
These are springs without water, and mists driven by storm, to whom the gloom of darkness is reserved [for ever].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
These are fountains without water and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Estos son fuentes sin agua, y nubes traídas de torbellino de viento: para los cuales está guardada la oscuridad de las tinieblas para siempre.
Estes são fontes sem água, nuvens levadas pela tempestade; para os quais a escuridão das trevas está reservada para sempre.
Ces gens-là sont des fontaines sans eau, des nuées que chasse un tourbillon: l’ obscurité des ténèbres leur est réservée.
Das sind Brunnen ohne Wasser, und Wolken, vom Windwirbel umgetrieben, welchen behalten ist eine dunkle Finsternis in Ewigkeit.
Dezen zijn waterloze fonteinen, wolken van een draaiwind gedreven, denwelken de donkerheid der duisternis in der eeuwigheid bewaard wordt.
Costoro son fonti senz’acqua, e nuvole sospinte dal turbine; a loro è riserbata la caligine delle tenebre.
Ci są studniami bez wody, obłoki od wichru pędzone, którym chmura ciemności na wieki jest zachowana.
Это безводные источники, облака и мглы, гонимые бурею: им приготовлен мрак вечной тьмы.
這些 人是 無水 的井， 是 狂風 催逼 的霧氣，有墨黑的 幽暗 為他們 存留。
These are fountains without water, and mists before a driving storm; for whom the eternal night is kept in store.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Peter 2:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Peter uses two images from nature to expose the emptiness of false teachers. Adam Clarke notes that in the deserts of the East, nothing is more cheering than a well of water, and nothing more distressing than a well that holds none. These teachers promise spiritual refreshment but possess none. For the second image, the best manuscripts read “mists” (ὁμίχλαι) rather than “clouds,” driven by a storm (λαῖλαψ). Vincent’s Word Studies observes that the word for “storm” appears only in the Gospels’ accounts of the squall on the Sea of Galilee, a scene Peter knew firsthand. Instead of bringing rain, these mists vanish or become destructive. Calvin writes that false teachers “excelled in boasting” but were “dry and barren within.” The outcome is certain: the blackness of darkness (ζόφος τοῦ σκότους) has been reserved (τετήρηται) for them. The perfect tense of the verb indicates that the judgment stands ready, fixed in divine purpose. This is the fate of those who mislead God’s people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Peter uses vivid imagery from desert and sea to expose false teachers as empty of spiritual substance and certain of divine judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Textual reading of the second image (clouds vs. mists) | The term is uncertain due to manuscript variations; all agree the image conveys disappointment. | Whether Peter originally wrote “clouds” (connecting to Jude 12) or “mists” (giving a stronger picture of obscurity and confusion). |
| The referent of the storm (lailaps) | It denotes a fierce, unexpected squall, consistent with the Sea of Galilee storms Peter experienced. | Some commentators see it as a symbol of the teachers’ chaotic passions or demonic influence (Gill); others view it as the destructive result of their teaching (Calvin). |
| The duration of the reserved judgment | The judgment is eternal in the teaching of both Peter and the wider New Testament. | The phrase “for ever” (eis aiōna) is omitted in some manuscripts, leading to minor discussion about whether the original text emphasised unending duration or simply a future age; nearly all traditions conclude the darkness is unending. |
| The identity of the false teachers described here | They are professed spiritual leaders who promise much but deliver nothing, and face certain judgment. | Whether they are genuine believers who fell away (holding that salvation can be lost) or counterfeit teachers who never truly knew Christ (holding that they only appeared to be part of the community). Both views appeal to the surrounding context (vv. 20-21). |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the arid regions of the ancient Near East, a spring or well meant survival. Caravans and travelers planned their routes around known water sources. To reach a well and find it dry, as described in Job 6:15-20 and Jeremiah 14:3, was a bitter disappointment that could mean death. Peter draws on this visceral experience: false teachers present themselves as sources of living water, but they offer nothing (Clarke).
The second image, “mists driven by a storm,” carries similar force. The best Greek manuscripts read “mists” (ὁμίχλαι) rather than “clouds.” A mist obscures vision and promises rain but yields no relief. The word for “storm” (λαῖλαψ) is used in the Gospels for the sudden squalls that swept across the Sea of Galilee, storms Peter had weathered (Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23). Vincent notes that Peter likely recalled the Lord calming such a storm. These false teachers, like a violent wind, bring confusion and destruction, not refreshment.
The cultural backdrop intensifies Peter’s warning. Within the early Christian communities, itinerant teachers could gain influence through impressive speech (cf. v18). But the apostle, like the Hebrew prophets before him, denounces those who lead God’s people astray (Jer 23:1-2). The storm clouds that bring no rain echo Hosea 6:4: “Your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.” Peter’s own history, his denial, his restoration, may have shaped his urgent tone. He knows the cost of empty promises.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note two significant textual issues. First, the word for “clouds” (νεφέλαι) in the Textus Receptus is replaced by “mists” (ὁμίχλαι) in older manuscripts (א, A, B, C) and versions including the Vulgate and Coptic. Griesbach admitted this reading into his text, and most modern critical editions follow it. Second, the final phrase “for ever” (εἰς αἰῶνα) is absent from several key manuscripts and is omitted by Vincent and the Cambridge commentary. The shorter reading is likely original. The meaning of the verse is not substantially altered by either variant, both readings emphasize disappointment and reserved judgment.
Reception History
This verse has been cited throughout church history to warn against spiritual leaders who lack substance. Early Christian writers used the image of “wells without water” to contrast with Christ as the living water (John 4:14, 7:38). During the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant preachers applied the text to corrupt clergy who misled the flock. Matthew Henry and Calvin emphasized that the judgment of darkness is reserved, already determined, not merely threatened. The metaphor has also been used in hymnody, appearing in hymns that contrast false refuge with the true shelter in Christ. In modern evangelicalism, the verse serves as a caution against celebrity pastors and teachers who promise much but deliver little, reminding the church to weigh teaching against the gospel.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Promise of Substance, False teachers present themselves as springs of life and clouds bringing rain. They speak great swelling words (v18) and promise liberty (v19). The thirsty soul looks to them for refreshment.
- The Heartbreaking Reality, The springs have no water. The mists are driven past by a storm without giving rain. What seemed like a source of life is empty or even destructive. These teachers cannot satisfy spiritual hunger.
- The Certain End, God has reserved the blackness of darkness for them. The perfect tense “has been reserved” means the judgment is already settled. This is not a possibility but a certainty. The darkest place is prepared for those who deceive and destroy the flock.
Five-point outline
- Appearance without reality, Like wells that look deep but hold no water, false teachers have a form of godliness but no power (cf. 2 Tim 3:5). They claim to have insight but offer nothing.
- Motion without direction, The mists are driven by a storm, not moving under their own power. False teachers are tossed by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14), unstable and unreliable.
- Promises without fulfillment, They promise liberty but are themselves slaves of corruption (v19). Their teaching leads not to freedom but to deeper bondage.
- Disappointment to the spiritually thirsty, Those who seek God’s truth from these teachers find no water. Their hopes are dashed, and they may be led into error themselves.
- Judgment without appeal, The blackness of darkness is reserved. The double intensification (“gloom of darkness,” zophos tou skotous) communicates absolute hopelessness. God’s justice will not ignore those who mislead His people.
Illustration hooks
- A hiker in a dry region follows a map to a spring, only to find the basin caked with mud. The relief expected becomes a fresh burden.
- A farmer watches a promising cloud bank during a drought, but the wind shreds it apart before a single drop falls. The field remains parched.
- A storm at sea that begins as a distant squall and becomes a violent threat, Peter knew this from his fishing days. What looks harmless becomes ruinous.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if a teacher or preacher is a “dry well”? What signs should I look for?
- What should I do if I’ve been misled by someone who seemed to have spiritual answers but left me empty?
- Does God’s reserved judgment mean there is no chance for such people to repent? How does this passage fit with God’s patience (2 Pet 3:9)?
Leading a Discussion
Peter’s metaphors are stark and memorable. He compares false teachers to two natural phenomena that raise hope only to shatter it. As you read this passage together, consider how spiritual deception works and how we can remain grounded in the true water of life.
Discussion questions
- What picture comes to mind when you think of a well without water? What does this tell us about the false teachers’ impact on their followers?
- Why do you think Peter uses two images (well and cloud) instead of just one? What does each contribute to his warning?
- How does the contrast between promise and reality in these metaphors apply to other areas of life, not just false teachers but also our own words and witness?
- What does “the blackness of darkness” communicate about God’s view of those who lead His people astray? How does this shape our understanding of God’s justice?
- In verses 18-19, Peter says they promise liberty while enslaved. How does this connect to the empty well and driven cloud?
- Peter himself once made an empty promise of loyalty (Mark 14:29-31) and was restored. How does his own story affect the way he addresses false teachers here?
- What safeguards can your group put in place to ensure you are drawing from the true spring of Christ, not a dry imitation?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 6:14 | “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
| Job 6:17 | In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. |
| Jeremiah 14:3 | Their nobles send their little ones to the waters. They come to the cisterns, and find no water. They return with their vessels empty. They are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. |
| Hosea 6:4 | “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. |
| Matthew 8:12 | but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” |
| Matthew 22:13 | Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ |
| Matthew 25:30 | Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ |
| Ephesians 4:14 | that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws a vivid picture of false teachers as wells that promise water but hold none, and clouds that vanish before they can bring rain. Their judgment, he says, is an eternal separation from God's presence, a darkness reserved for those who mislead souls.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes uses the image of a dried-up well in the desert to capture the cruel disappointment false teachers bring: they promise spiritual refreshment but offer nothing. He compares them to clouds blown by a storm that never rain, only to deceive and destroy. The deepest darkness is kept forever for such people.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that these false teachers have only an outward show of usefulness, like a fountain that looks promising but gives no water, or clouds that drift but bring no rain. Worse, their influence is not just empty but actively harmful. For their temporary deceptions, an eternal, irreversible darkness is prepared for them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator traces the specific imagery of "wells without water" and "mists driven by a whirlwind" back to Jesus, James, Jeremiah, and Paul. Each image underlines the emptiness and instability of false teaching. The final phrase "mist of darkness" is better read as "blackness," and likely alludes to the gloom of Tartarus from classical literature.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible note uses two barren images to expose false teachers: they are wells that offer no water and clouds swept along by a storm, promising refreshment but delivering nothing. Their certain reward is eternal darkness, reserved for them permanently.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that false teachers look impressive on the outside, like large wells or clouds, but offer nothing genuine. They are dry wells, full of error and empty of grace and truth. Like clouds driven by a storm, they are unstable, ruled by their own passions and Satan's influence, heading for eternal darkness.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that early manuscripts read "mists" rather than "clouds," which is a scribe's correction borrowed from Jude. Mists convey darkness and horror, fitting the false teachers, whereas clouds can symbolize the saints. The point is that these teachers offer nothing but empty promises and spiritual gloom.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the stark contrast between false teachers and even the angels, who show restraint. These teachers, by contrast, act like brute beasts, driven by corrupt desires and speaking arrogantly against what they do not understand. Their certain destruction is made worse by their having known the way of righteousness and then turning from it.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a comparison to fountains and clouds that look as if they will provide water but never do. In the same way, the things he discusses make promises they cannot keep, offering hope but delivering nothing.