1 Peter 3:9

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Peter 3:9

7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers. 8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. 11And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

1 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 you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
• Proverbs 17:13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.
• Proverbs 20:22Do not say, “I will pay back evil!” Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.
• Matthew 5:39But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.
• Luke 6:27“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
• Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.
• 1 Corinthians 4:12We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,
• Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
• 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
• 1 Peter 5:10And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
• Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,
• Matthew 19:29And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much 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 10:17Now as Jesus was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
• Luke 10:25Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must 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

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Fellowship
• Forgiveness
• Kindness
• Love
• Malice
• Railing
• Retaliation
• Revenge
• Reward
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Speaking

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