2 Peter 2:17

These are welles without water, cloudes that are caried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkenesse is reserued for euer. 2 Peter 2:17 (KJV)

The quotation above is not found in the King James Version of 2 Peter 2:17; the actual KJV wording of that verse differs. Nevertheless, the imagery of “wells without water,” “clouds carried with a tempest,” and “mist of darkness reserved forever” has been used by the apostle Peter in the surrounding context to describe the character and destiny of false teachers.

Peter wrote his second epistle to confront teachers who were introducing destructive heresies and denying the Lord who purchased them (2 Peter 2:1). In this passage he employs vivid metaphors to expose their emptiness and inevitable judgment. A well that lacks water fails to fulfill its purpose of providing life‑giving refreshment; likewise, false teachers promise spiritual nourishment but deliver nothing of value. Clouds that are driven by a tempest suggest a promise of rain that never arrives—an appearance of promise without substance. The “mist of darkness” reserved forever points to the eternal judgment awaiting those who persist in deception.

From this warning several practical lessons emerge. First, believers must exercise discernment, testing every teaching against the truth of Scripture (cf. 1 John 4:1). Second, the outward charisma or eloquence of a teacher should not outweigh the need for sound doctrine; the true measure is the substance of God’s Word (cf. Colossians 2:8). Third, the passage reminds us that the temporary success of false teachers does not alter their final destiny of darkness and judgment, urging Christians to remain rooted in eternal truth (cf. Matthew 7:15‑20).

In conclusion, whether or not the exact phrasing appears in the KJV, Peter’s use of these images serves to warn the church of the deceptive nature and ultimate condemnation of false teachers. The passage calls believers to vigilant discernment, a focus on doctrinal substance over appearance, and steadfast confidence in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.