New English Translation
1 Peter 5:2
2Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
1 Peter 5:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
- New International Version (NIV)Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
- English Standard Version (ESV)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
- New King James Version (NKJV)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
Context of 1 Peter 5:2
1So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
Read all of 1 Peter 51 Peter 5:2 word by word
ποιμάνατε τὸ ἐν ὑμῖν ποίμνιον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπισκοποῦντες μὴ ἀναγκαστῶς ἀλλ᾽ ἑκουσίως κατὰ θεόν, μηδὲ αἰσχροκερδῶς ἀλλὰ προθύμως·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Feedποιμαίνωpoimainō · to shepherdG4165
- the flockποίμνιονpoimnion · flockG4168
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- which is amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- youσύsu · youG4771
- taking the oversightἐπισκοπέωepiskopeō · to oversee/care forG1983
- notμήmē · notG3361
- by constraintἀναγκαστῶςanagkastōs · necessarilyG317
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- willinglyἑκουσίωςhekousiōs · voluntarilyG1596
- notμηδέmēde · norG3366
- for filthy lucreαἰσχροκερδῶςaischrokerdōs · greedilyG147
- of a ready mindπροθύμωςprothumōs · eagerlyG4290
Cross-references for 1 Peter 5:2
- Isaiah 40:11Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.
- Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them – to the shepherds: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?
- Micah 5:4He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the Lord’s strength, by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.
- Micah 7:14Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod, the flock that belongs to you, the one that lives alone in a thicket, in the midst of a pastureland. Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead, as they did in the old days.
- John 21:15Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
- Acts 20:28Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
- Isaiah 63:11His people remembered the ancient times. Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea, along with the shepherd of his flock? Where is the one who placed his holy Spirit among them,
- Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not pay attention to this warning, I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride. I will weep bitterly and my eyes will overflow with tears because you, the Lord’s flock, will be carried into exile.”
- Ezekiel 34:31And you, my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are my people, and I am your God, declares the sovereign Lord.’”
- Zechariah 11:17Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”
- Luke 12:32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.
- 1 Corinthians 9:7Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?
- Psalms 78:71He took him away from following the mother sheep, and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and of Israel, his chosen nation.
- Acts 20:26Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all.
- Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
- Isaiah 6:8I heard the voice of the sovereign master say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!”
Commentaries on 1 Peter 5:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Feed the flock - Do not fleece the flock. Taking the oversight - · Discharging the office of bishops or superintendents. This is another proof that bishop and presbyter were the same order in the apostolic times, though afterwards they were made distinct. Not by constraint - The office was laborious and dangerous, especially in these times of persecution; it is no wonder then that even those who were best qualified for the office should strive to excuse…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Feed the flock of God - Discharge the duties of a shepherd toward the flock. On the word “feed,” see the notes at John 21:15. It is a word which Peter would be likely to remember, from the solemn manner in which the injunction to perform the duty was laid on him by the Saviour. The direction means to take such an oversight of the church as a shepherd is accustomed to take of his flock. See the notes at 1 Peter 5:1, are called presbyters, or elders; and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Be shepherds of God’s flock: The word pastor comes from the New Testament image of a shepherd tending his flock.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Feed--Greek, "Tend as a shepherd," by discipline and doctrine. Lead, feed, heed: by prayer, exhortation, government, and example. The dignity is marked by the term "elder"; the duties of the office, to tend or oversee, by "bishop." Peter has in mind Christ's injunction to him, "Feed (tend) My sheep ... Feed (pasture) My lambs" (Joh 21:16). He invites the elders to share with him the same duty (compare Ac 20:28). The flock is Christ's. which is among…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 5:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 5
- 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
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