English Standard Version
1 Peter 3:9
9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- New King James Version (NKJV)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
Context of 1 Peter 3:9
7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
Read all of 1 Peter 31 Peter 3:9 word by word
μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας, τοὐναντίον δὲ εὐλογοῦντες ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Notμήmē · notG3361
- renderingἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
- forἀντίanti · forG473
- orἤē · orG2228
- railingλοιδορίαloidoria · revilingG3059
- butδέde · thenG1161
- contrariwiseτοὐναντίονtounantion · insteadG5121
- blessingεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
- knowingεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- ye areκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
- thereuntoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ye should inheritκληρονομέωklēronomeō · to inheritG2816
- a blessingεὐλογίαeulogia · praiseG2129
Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:9
- 1 Peter 2:20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
- Proverbs 17:13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
- Proverbs 20:22Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
- Matthew 5:39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- Luke 6:27"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
- 1 Corinthians 4:12and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
- Ephesians 4:32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
- 1 Peter 2:21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
- 1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
- Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
- Matthew 19:29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
- Matthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- Mark 10:17And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
- Luke 10:25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Not rendering evil for evil - Purposing, saying, doing nothing but good; and invariably returning good for evil. Ye are thereunto called - This is your calling - your business in life, to do good, and to do good for evil, and to implore God's blessing even on your worst enemies. And this is not only your duty, but your interest; for in so doing you shall obtain God's blessing, even life for evermore.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Not rendering evil for evil - See the Matthew 5:39, Matthew 5:44 notes; Romans 12:17 note. Or railing for railing - See the notes at 1 Timothy 6:4. Compare Mark 15:29; Luke 23:39. But contrariwise blessing - In a spirit contrary to this. See the notes at Matthew 5:44. Knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing - “Knowing that you were called to be Christians in order that you should obtain a blessing infinite and eternal in…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. 9so that you may inherit a blessing: By blessing others, we receive a blessing from God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. evil--in deed. railing--in word. blessing--your revilers; participle, not a noun after "rendering." knowing that--The oldest manuscripts read merely, "because." are--Greek, "were called." inherit a blessing--not only passive, but also active; receiving spiritual blessing from God by faith, and in your turn blessing others from love [Gerhard in Alford]. "It is not in order to inherit a blessing that we must bless, but because our portion is blessing."…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 3:9
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries