New International Version
1 Peter 5:2
2Be 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;
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;
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
Context of 1 Peter 5:2
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 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; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade 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 40:11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
- Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
- Micah 5:4He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
- Micah 7:14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago.
- John 21:15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
- Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
- Isaiah 63:11Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
- Jeremiah 13:17If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
- Ezekiel 34:31You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
- Zechariah 11:17“Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!”
- Luke 12:32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
- 1 Corinthians 9:7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?
- Psalms 78:71from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
- Acts 20:26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.
- Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
- Isaiah 6:8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. 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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