1 Peter 2:14

1 Peter 2:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
• New International Version (NIV)or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
• English Standard Version (ESV)or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
• New King James Version (NKJV)or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

Context of 1 Peter 2:14

12Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy]. 13Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power, or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right. 15For it is the will of God that by doing right you may silence (muzzle, gag) the [culpable] ignorance and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people. 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.

1 Peter 2:14 word by word

εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν ὡς δι᾽ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις εἰς ἐκδίκησιν κακοποιῶν, ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• Orεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
• unto governorsἡγεμώνhēgemōn · rulerG2232
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• unto them that are sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the punishmentἐκδίκησιςekdikēsis · vengeanceG1557
• of evildoersκακοποιόςkakopoios · wrongdoingG2555
• andδέde · thenG1161
• for the praiseἔπαινοςepainos · praiseG1868
• of them that do wellἀγαθοποιόςagathopoios · doing goodG17

Cross-references for 1 Peter 2:14

• Romans 13:3For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 2:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Or unto governors - By king as supreme, the Roman emperor is meant; and by governors, ̔, are meant, leaders, governors, presidents, proconsuls, and other chief magistrates, sent by him into the provinces dependent on the Roman empire. For the punishment of evil doers - This was the object of their mission; they were to punish delinquents, and encourage and protect the virtuous.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Or unto governors - Subordinate officers, appointed by the chief magistrate, over provinces. Perhaps Roman proconsuls are here particularly intended. As unto them that are sent by him - By the king, or the Roman emperor. They represent the supreme power. For the punishment of evil doers - One of the leading ends of government. “The Roman governors had the power of life and death in such conquered provinces as those mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1“ - Doddridge…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 A Christian conversation must be honest; which it cannot be, if there is not a just and careful discharge of all relative duties: the apostle here treats of these distinctly. Regard to those duties is the will of God, consequently, the Christian's duty, and the way to silence the base slanders of ignorant and foolish men. Christians must endeavour, in all relations, to behave aright, that they do not make their liberty a cloak or covering for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right: Compare Romans 13:3–4.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. governors--subordinate to the emperor, "sent," or delegated by Cæsar to preside over the provinces. for the punishment--No tyranny ever has been so unprincipled as that some appearance of equity was not maintained in it; however corrupt a government be, God never suffers it to be so much so as not to be better than anarchy [Calvin]. Although bad kings often oppress the good, yet that is scarcely ever done by public authority (and it is of what is done…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 2:14

• Citizens
• Commandments
• Example
• Government
• Rulers
• Self-Denial

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Chosen
• Cloke
• Disallow
• Fleshly
• Offer
• Sincere
• Spiritual
• Submit
• Taxes

Commentaries on 1 Peter 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings