Amplified Bible
1 Peter 3:12
12For the eyes of the Lord are [looking favorably] upon the righteous (the upright), And His ears are attentive to their prayer (eager to answer), But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil.”
1 Peter 3:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
- New International Version (NIV)For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Context of 1 Peter 3:12
10For, “The one who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not], Must keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from speaking guile (treachery, deceit). 11He must turn away from wickedness and do what is right. He must search for peace [with God, with self, with others] and pursue it eagerly [actively—not merely desiring it]. For the eyes of the Lord are [looking favorably] upon the righteous (the upright), And His ears are attentive to their prayer (eager to answer), But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil.” 13Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled or disturbed [by their opposition].
Read all of 1 Peter 31 Peter 3:12 word by word
ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ κυρίου ἐπὶ δικαίους, καὶ ὦτα αὐτοῦ εἰς δέησιν αὐτῶν, πρόσωπον δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ ποιοῦντας κακά.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- the eyesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the righteousδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- earsοὖςous · earG3775
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- prayersδέησιςdeēsis · petitionG1162
- butδέde · thenG1161
- the faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- them that doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:12
- Deuteronomy 11:12a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you will have wars.”
- Psalms 11:4The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of men.
- Proverbs 15:3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors].
- Zechariah 4:10Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For these seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord which roam throughout the earth.”
- 2 Chronicles 7:15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place.
- Psalms 65:2O You who hear prayer, To You all mankind comes.
- Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight!
- John 9:31We know [according to your tradition] that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does His will, He hears him.
- James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
- Leviticus 17:10‘Any man from the house of Israel, or any stranger living temporarily among you, who eats any blood, against that person I shall set My face and I will cut him off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].
- Leviticus 20:3I will also set My face against that man [opposing him, withdrawing My protection from him] and will cut him off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them], because he has given some of his children to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name.
- Leviticus 26:17I will set My face against you so that you will be struck down before your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you.
- Psalms 80:16It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your [angry] appearance.
- Jeremiah 21:10For I have set My face against this city to do harm and not good,” says the Lord. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire.” ’
- Ezekiel 15:7and I set My face against them. Though they have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them.
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous - That is, He is continually under God's notice and his care; God continually watches for him and watches over him, and he is under his constant protection. And his ears are open unto their prayers - The original is very emphatic: The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears to their prayers. The righteous man ever attracts the Divine notice, and wherever he is, there is the ear of God; for, as…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous - That is, he is their Protector. His eyes are indeed on all people, but the language here is that which describes continual guardianship and care. And his ears are open unto their prayers - He hears their prayers. As he is a hearer of prayer, they are at liberty to go to him at all times, and to pour out their desires before him. This passage is taken from Psalm 34:15, and it is designed to show the reason…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words. He must forsake and keep far from evil actions, do all the good he can, and seek peace with all men. For God, all-wise and every where present, watches over the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12Peter emphasizes the connection between a person’s conduct and the blessing that God gives by quoting Psalm 34:12–16. This psalm was important in early Christian teaching (see also 1 Peter 2:3; Hebrews 12:14). The passage teaches believers to control their speech, resist evil, and do good. It also highlights God’s promise to bless those who obey him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Ground of the promised present and eternal life of blessedness to the meek (1Pe 3:10). The Lord's eyes are ever over them for good. ears ... unto their prayers--(1Jo 5:14, 15). face ... against--The eyes imply favorable regard; the face of the Lord upon (not as English Version, "against") them that do evil, implies that He narrowly observes them, so as not to let them really and lastingly hurt His people (compare 1Pe 3:13).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 3:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3
- 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
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