God’s Word Translation
1 Peter 1:16
16Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
- New International Version (NIV)for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
- New King James Version (NKJV)because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Context of 1 Peter 1:16
14Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better. 15But because the God who called you is holy, you must be holy in every aspect of your life. Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17So if you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth in fear. He is the God who judges all people by what they have done, and he doesn’t play favorites. 18Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
Read all of 1 Peter 11 Peter 1:16 word by word
διότι γέγραπται· ἅγιοι ἔσεσθε, ὅτι ἐγὼ ἅγιοςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Peter 1:16
- Leviticus 11:44“Here is the reason: I am the Lord your God. You must live holy lives. Be holy because I am holy. Never become unclean by touching anything that swarms or crawls on the ground.
- Leviticus 19:2“Tell the whole congregation of Israel: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
- Leviticus 20:7“Live holy lives. Be holy because I am the Lord your God.
- Amos 3:3Do two people ever walk together without meeting first?
Commentaries on 1 Peter 1:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy - Leviticus 11:44. This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God. Compare Micah 4:5. It is a great truth, that people everywhere will imitate the God whom they worship. They will form…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-16Verses 13-16 As the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gathered in their long and loose garments, that they might be ready in their business, so let Christians do by their minds and affections. Be sober, be watchful against all spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate in all behaviour. Be sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. A strong and perfect trust in the grace of God, is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16"Be holy, because I am holy": This phrase appears often in Scripture. It emphasizes that God's people must be holy like God (see Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7; also Ezekiel 20:12; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Revelation 22:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye ... for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [Calvin]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [Didymus]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 1
- 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
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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