1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
• New International Version (NIV)The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Context of 1 Peter 4:7

5But they will [have to] give an account to Him who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead. 6For this is why the good news [of salvation] was preached [in their lifetimes] even to those who are dead, that though they were judged in the flesh as men are, they may live in the spirit according to [the will and purpose of] God. The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.] 8Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

1 Peter 4:7 word by word

Πάντων δὲ τὸ τέλος ἤγγικεν· σωφρονήσατε οὖν καὶ νήψατε εἰς προσευχάς,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• the endὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the endτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056
• of all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• is at handἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448
• be yeσωφρονέωsōphroneō · be of sound mindG4993
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• watchνήφωnēphō · be soberG3525
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• prayerπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335

Cross-references for 1 Peter 4:7

• Ecclesiastes 7:2It is better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that [day of death] is the end of every man, And the living will take it to heart and solemnly ponder its meaning.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love [to have] it so! But what will you do when the end comes?
• Ezekiel 7:2“Also, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel, ‘An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land.
• Matthew 24:13But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.
• Romans 13:12The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.
• 1 Corinthians 7:29But I say this, believers: the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not;
• 1 Corinthians 15:24After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperative and abolished every ruler and every authority and power.
• Philippians 4:5Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
• Hebrews 10:25not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.
• James 5:8You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.
• 2 Peter 3:9The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
• 1 John 2:18Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour.
• 1 Peter 1:13So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].
• 1 Peter 3:7In the same way, you husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship], as with someone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 4:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But the end of all things is at hand - I think that here also St. Peter keeps the history of the deluge before his eyes, finding a parallel to the state of the Jews in his own time in that of the antediluvians in the days of Noah. In Genesis 6:13, God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me. This was spoken at a time when God had decreed the destruction of the world by a flood. Peter says, The end of all things is at hand; and this he spoke…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7But the end of all things is at hand - This declaration is also evidently designed to support and encourage them in their trials, and to excite them to lead a holy life, by the assurance that the end of all things was drawing near. The phrase, “the end of all things,” would naturally refer to the end of the world; the winding up of human affairs. It is not absolutely certain, however, that the apostle used it here in this sense. It might mean that so far…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-11Verses 7-11 The destruction of the Jewish church and nation, foretold by our Saviour, was very near. And the speedy approach of death and judgment concerns all, to which these words naturally lead our minds. Our approaching end, is a powerful argument to make us sober in all worldly matters, and earnest in religion. There are so many things amiss in all, that unless love covers, excuses, and forgives in others, the mistakes and faults for which every one…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7The end of all things is near: With the coming of Christ, the "last days" predicted by the Old Testament prophets had begun (see 1:10–12). The next event in God’s plan to save people is the second coming of Christ. His return will bring an end to the world as we know it. This end could come at any time. Therefore, Christians must always be ready for it (see also Philippians 4:5; James 5:8; Revelation 1:3; 22:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Resuming the idea in 1Pe 4:5. the end of all things--and therefore also of the wantonness (1Pe 4:3, 4) of the wicked, and of the sufferings of the righteous [Bengel]. The nearness meant is not that of mere "time," but that before the Lord; as he explains to guard against misapprehension, and defends God from the charge of procrastination: We live in the last dispensation, not like the Jews under the Old Testament. The Lord will come as a thief; He is…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 4:7

• Commandments
• Holiness
• Judgment
• Sobriety
• Temptation
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Begin
• Cover
• Ungodly
• Charity
• Ethics
• Parousia
• Persecution
• Peter, the First Epistle of

Commentaries on 1 Peter 4

• 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
• 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