ekpalai marks something situated in the distant past, whether a judgment or the heavens and earth.

The two occurrences mark matters placed in the distant past: a judgment already pronounced in 2 Peter 2:3 and the heavens and earth as existing in 2 Peter 3:5.

1. Situated in the distant past · dominant

   In 2 Peter 2:3, the adverb occurs with the clause about judgment already pronounced; the APB renders the clause "Their judgment pronounced long ago is not idle." In 2 Peter 3:5, it characterizes the heavens in the statement about the earth's formation; the APB renders "the heavens were of old."

   2 Peter 2:32 Peter 3:5

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the adverb with "long ago" in 2 Peter 2:3 and "of old" in 2 Peter 3:5. These renderings confirm the verses' past-time setting rather than establish separate senses.