1 Peter 3:4

1 Peter 3:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
• New International Version (NIV)Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
• New King James Version (NKJV)rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Context of 1 Peter 3:4

2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 3Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart — the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.

1 Peter 3:4 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ὁ κρυπτὸς τῆς καρδίας ἄνθρωπος ἐν τῷ ἀφθάρτῳ τοῦ πραέως καὶ ἡσυχίου πνεύματος, ὅ ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ πολυτελές.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• the hiddenκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• of the heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• that which is not corruptibleἄφθαρτοςaphthartos · incorruptibleG862
• of a meekπραΰςpraus · gentleG4239
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• quietἡσύχιοςhēsuchios · quietG2272
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• in the sightἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• of great priceπολυτελήςpolutelēs · valuableG4185

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:4

• Psalms 45:13In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious, her clothing embroidered with gold.
• Psalms 51:6Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
• Matthew 23:26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
• Luke 11:40Fools! Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too?
• Romans 2:29On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart — by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.
• Romans 6:6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
• Romans 7:22For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
• 2 Corinthians 4:16Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
• Ephesians 4:22to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,
• Colossians 3:3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
• 1 Peter 1:23because you have been born again — not of perishable seed but of imperishable — through the living and enduring word of God.
• 1 Peter 3:15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
• Psalms 25:9He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
• Psalms 147:6The Lord helps the oppressed but brings the wicked to the ground.
• Psalms 149:4For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
• Isaiah 11:4but he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The hidden man of the heart - ̔ . This phrase is of the same import with that of St. Paul, Romans 7:22, ̔ , the inner man; that is, the soul, with the whole system of affections and passions. Every part of the Scripture treats man as a compound being: the body is the outward or visible man; the soul, the inward, hidden, or invisible man. The term , man, is derived, according to the best etymologists, from , turning the face upward. This derivation of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart - This expression is substantially the same as that of Paul in Romans 7:22, “the inward man.” See the notes at that place. The word “hidden” here means that which is concealed; that which is not made apparent by the dress, or by ornament. It lies within, pertaining to the affections of the soul. In that which is not corruptible - Properly, “in the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.” This is said to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes: Peter is not saying that Christian women must avoid all forms of decoration. Instead, he teaches that their beauty should not come from clothing or jewelry but from the inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. See also 1 Timothy 2:9–10.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. But--"Rather." The "outward adornment" of jewelry, &c., is forbidden, in so far as woman loves such things, not in so far as she uses them from a sense of propriety, and does not abuse them. Singularity mostly comes from pride and throws needless hindrances to religion in the way of others. Under costly attire there may be a humble mind. "Great is he who uses his earthenware as if it were plate; not less great is he who uses his silver as if it were…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 3:4

• Meekness
• Righteousness
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Humility
• Marriage
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet

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