1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
• New International Version (NIV)The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Context of 1 Peter 4:7

5They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards. For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. 8Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

1 Peter 4:7 word by word

Πάντων δὲ τὸ τέλος ἤγγικεν· σωφρονήσατε οὖν καὶ νήψατε εἰς προσευχάς,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• the endὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the endτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056
• of all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• is at handἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448
• be yeσωφρονέωsōphroneō · be of sound mindG4993
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• watchνήφωnēphō · be soberG3525
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• prayerπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335

Cross-references for 1 Peter 4:7

• Ecclesiastes 7:2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy lies. The priests exercise power by their own authority. And my people love to have it this way. But they will not be able to help you when the time of judgment comes!
• Ezekiel 7:2“You, son of man – this is what the sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land!
• Matthew 24:13But the person who endures to the end will be saved.
• Romans 13:12The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.
• 1 Corinthians 7:29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,
• 1 Corinthians 15:24Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.
• Philippians 4:5Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!
• Hebrews 10:25not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.
• James 5:8You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
• 2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
• 1 John 2:18Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.
• 1 Peter 1:13Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.
• 1 Peter 3:7Husbands, 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.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 4:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But the end of all things is at hand - I think that here also St. Peter keeps the history of the deluge before his eyes, finding a parallel to the state of the Jews in his own time in that of the antediluvians in the days of Noah. In Genesis 6:13, God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me. This was spoken at a time when God had decreed the destruction of the world by a flood. Peter says, The end of all things is at hand; and this he spoke…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7But the end of all things is at hand - This declaration is also evidently designed to support and encourage them in their trials, and to excite them to lead a holy life, by the assurance that the end of all things was drawing near. The phrase, “the end of all things,” would naturally refer to the end of the world; the winding up of human affairs. It is not absolutely certain, however, that the apostle used it here in this sense. It might mean that so far…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-11Verses 7-11 The destruction of the Jewish church and nation, foretold by our Saviour, was very near. And the speedy approach of death and judgment concerns all, to which these words naturally lead our minds. Our approaching end, is a powerful argument to make us sober in all worldly matters, and earnest in religion. There are so many things amiss in all, that unless love covers, excuses, and forgives in others, the mistakes and faults for which every one…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7The end of all things is near: With the coming of Christ, the "last days" predicted by the Old Testament prophets had begun (see 1:10–12). The next event in God’s plan to save people is the second coming of Christ. His return will bring an end to the world as we know it. This end could come at any time. Therefore, Christians must always be ready for it (see also Philippians 4:5; James 5:8; Revelation 1:3; 22:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Resuming the idea in 1Pe 4:5. the end of all things--and therefore also of the wantonness (1Pe 4:3, 4) of the wicked, and of the sufferings of the righteous [Bengel]. The nearness meant is not that of mere "time," but that before the Lord; as he explains to guard against misapprehension, and defends God from the charge of procrastination: We live in the last dispensation, not like the Jews under the Old Testament. The Lord will come as a thief; He is…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 4:7

• Commandments
• Holiness
• Judgment
• Sobriety
• Temptation
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Begin
• Cover
• Ungodly
• Charity
• Ethics
• Parousia
• Persecution
• Peter, the First Epistle of

Commentaries on 1 Peter 4

• 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
• 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