1 Peter 3:12

1 Peter 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
• New International Version (NIV)For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Context of 1 Peter 3:12

10“People who want to live a full life and enjoy good days must keep their tongues from saying evil things, and their lips from speaking deceitful things. 11They must turn away from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue it. The Lord’s eyes are on those who do what he approves. His ears hear their prayer. The Lord confronts those who do evil.” 13Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14But even if you suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset.

1 Peter 3:12 word by word

ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ κυρίου ἐπὶ δικαίους, καὶ ὦτα αὐτοῦ εἰς δέησιν αὐτῶν, πρόσωπον δὲ κυρίου ἐπὶ ποιοῦντας κακά.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• the eyesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the righteousδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• earsοὖςous · earG3775
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• prayersδέησιςdeēsis · petitionG1162
• butδέde · thenG1161
• the faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
• them that doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:12

• Deuteronomy 11:12It is a land the Lord your God cares about. He watches over it all year long.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9The Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them. You acted foolishly in this matter. So from now on, you will have to fight wars.”
• Psalms 11:4The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine Adam’s descendants.
• Proverbs 15:3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. They watch evil people and good people.
• Zechariah 4:10Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (These seven eyes of the Lord roam over all the earth.)”
• 2 Chronicles 7:15My eyes will be open, and my ears will pay attention to those prayers at this place.
• Psalms 65:2You are the one who hears prayers. Everyone will come to you.
• Proverbs 15:8A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayers of decent people please him.
• John 9:31We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants.
• James 5:16So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.
• Leviticus 17:10“If Israelites or foreigners eat any blood, I will condemn them and exclude them from the people,
• Leviticus 20:3I will condemn them and exclude them from the people. They gave one of their children to Molech, made my holy tent unclean, and dishonored my holy name.
• Leviticus 26:17I will condemn you so that you will go down in defeat in front of your enemies. Those who hate you will be your rulers. You will run away even when no one is chasing you.
• Psalms 80:16The vine has been cut down and burned. Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face.
• Jeremiah 21:10I’ve decided to harm this city, not to do good to it, declares the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.’
• Ezekiel 15:7I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will turn against them.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous - That is, He is continually under God's notice and his care; God continually watches for him and watches over him, and he is under his constant protection. And his ears are open unto their prayers - The original is very emphatic: The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears to their prayers. The righteous man ever attracts the Divine notice, and wherever he is, there is the ear of God; for, as…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous - That is, he is their Protector. His eyes are indeed on all people, but the language here is that which describes continual guardianship and care. And his ears are open unto their prayers - He hears their prayers. As he is a hearer of prayer, they are at liberty to go to him at all times, and to pour out their desires before him. This passage is taken from Psalm 34:15, and it is designed to show the reason…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. 10-12Peter emphasizes the connection between a person’s conduct and the blessing that God gives by quoting Psalm 34:12–16. This psalm was important in early Christian teaching (see also 1 Peter 2:3; Hebrews 12:14). The passage teaches believers to control their speech, resist evil, and do good. It also highlights God’s promise to bless those who obey him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Ground of the promised present and eternal life of blessedness to the meek (1Pe 3:10). The Lord's eyes are ever over them for good. ears ... unto their prayers--(1Jo 5:14, 15). face ... against--The eyes imply favorable regard; the face of the Lord upon (not as English Version, "against") them that do evil, implies that He narrowly observes them, so as not to let them really and lastingly hurt His people (compare 1Pe 3:13).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 3:12

• Anthropomorphisms
• Commandments
• Eye
• Quotations and Allusions
• Reward
• Righteous
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet
• Railing
• Reason
• Spirit
• Terror

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