1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
• New International Version (NIV)But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
• English Standard Version (ESV)but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Context of 1 Peter 3:15

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. But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God⌟ when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. 16Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you. 17After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.

1 Peter 3:15 word by word

κύριον δὲ τὸν Χριστὸν ἁγιάσατε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν.¶ Ἕτοιμοι ἀεὶ πρὸς ἀπολογίαν παντὶ τῷ αἰτοῦντι ὑμᾶς λόγον περὶ τῆς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐλπίδος,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• sanctifyἁγιάζωhagiazō · to sanctifyG37
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• readyἕτοιμοςhetoimos · readyG2092
• alwaysἀείaei · alwaysG104
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• an answerἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
• to every manπᾶςpas · allG3956
• that askethαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• a reasonλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
• the hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• meeknessπραΰτηςprautēs · gentlenessG4240
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:15

• Numbers 20:12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving them.”
• Numbers 27:14You both rebelled against my command in the Desert of Zin. You didn’t show the people how holy I am when they were complaining at the oasis.” (This was the oasis of Meribah at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin.)
• Isaiah 5:16The Lord of Armies will be honored when he judges. The holy God will show himself to be holy when he does what is right.
• Isaiah 29:23When they see all their children, the children I made with my hands, they will acknowledge my name as holy. They will treat the Holy One of Jacob as holy. They will stand in terror of the God of Israel.
• Psalms 119:46I will speak about your written instructions in the presence of kings and not feel ashamed.
• Jeremiah 26:12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy everything that you have heard me say against this temple and against this city.
• Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question.
• Amos 7:14Amos responded, “I’m not a prophet, and I’m not a disciple of the prophets. I am a rancher and a grower of figs.
• Matthew 10:18Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world.
• Luke 21:14So make up your minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
• Acts 4:8Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and leaders of the people,
• Acts 5:29Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people.
• Acts 21:39Paul answered, “I’m a Jew, a citizen from the well-known city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I’m asking you to let me talk to the people.”
• Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen as I now present my case to you.”
• Colossians 4:6Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
• 2 Timothy 2:25He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - To sanctify God may signify to offer him the praises due to his grace, but as to sanctify literally signifies to make holy, it is impossible that God should be thus sanctified. We have often already seen that ̔ signifies to separate from earth, that is, from any common use or purpose, that the thing or person thus separated may be devoted to a sacred use. Perhaps we should understand Peter's words thus: Entertain…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - In Isaiah Isaiah 8:13 this is, “sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;” that is, in that connection, regard him as your Protector, and be afraid of him, and not of what man can do. The sense in the passage before us is, “In your hearts, or in the affections of the soul, regard the Lord God as holy, and act toward him with that confidence which a proper respect for one so great and so holy demands. In the midst of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to glorify and honour him. What was the ground and reason of their hope? We should be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The conscience is good, when it does its office well. That person is in a sad condition on whom sin and suffering meet: sin makes suffering…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15"Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken“: See Isaiah 8:13, where God urges the prophet to fear only the Lord. sanctify Christ as Lord: By showing deep respect and obedience to Christ, they will no longer fear the people who persecute them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mt 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 3:15

• Commandments
• Fear of God
• Heart
• Hope
• Influence
• Meekness
• Quotations and Allusions
• Reasoning
• Speaking
• Testimony

In the dictionaries

• God
• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Hope
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet
• Railing
• Reason

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