God’s Word Translation
1 Peter 2:14
14Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
1 Peter 2:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
- New International Version (NIV)or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
- English Standard Version (ESV)or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
- New King James Version (NKJV)or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
Context of 1 Peter 2:14
12Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you. 13Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority. Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. 16Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God.
Read all of 1 Peter 21 Peter 2:14 word by word
εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν ὡς δι᾽ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις εἰς ἐκδίκησιν κακοποιῶν, ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- Orεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
- unto governorsἡγεμώνhēgemōn · rulerG2232
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- unto them that are sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the punishmentἐκδίκησιςekdikēsis · vengeanceG1557
- of evildoersκακοποιόςkakopoios · wrongdoingG2555
- andδέde · thenG1161
- for the praiseἔπαινοςepainos · praiseG1868
- of them that do wellἀγαθοποιόςagathopoios · doing goodG17
Cross-references for 1 Peter 2:14
Commentaries on 1 Peter 2:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Or unto governors - By king as supreme, the Roman emperor is meant; and by governors, ̔, are meant, leaders, governors, presidents, proconsuls, and other chief magistrates, sent by him into the provinces dependent on the Roman empire. For the punishment of evil doers - This was the object of their mission; they were to punish delinquents, and encourage and protect the virtuous.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Or unto governors - Subordinate officers, appointed by the chief magistrate, over provinces. Perhaps Roman proconsuls are here particularly intended. As unto them that are sent by him - By the king, or the Roman emperor. They represent the supreme power. For the punishment of evil doers - One of the leading ends of government. “The Roman governors had the power of life and death in such conquered provinces as those mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1“ - Doddridge…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 A Christian conversation must be honest; which it cannot be, if there is not a just and careful discharge of all relative duties: the apostle here treats of these distinctly. Regard to those duties is the will of God, consequently, the Christian's duty, and the way to silence the base slanders of ignorant and foolish men. Christians must endeavour, in all relations, to behave aright, that they do not make their liberty a cloak or covering for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right: Compare Romans 13:3–4.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. governors--subordinate to the emperor, "sent," or delegated by Cæsar to preside over the provinces. for the punishment--No tyranny ever has been so unprincipled as that some appearance of equity was not maintained in it; however corrupt a government be, God never suffers it to be so much so as not to be better than anarchy [Calvin]. Although bad kings often oppress the good, yet that is scarcely ever done by public authority (and it is of what is done…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 2:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 2
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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