New King James Version
1 Peter 3:15
15But 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;
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 Living Translation (NLT)Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Context of 1 Peter 3:15
13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 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; 16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Read all of 1 Peter 31 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 20:12Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
- Numbers 27:14For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah, at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)
- Isaiah 5:16But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.
- Isaiah 29:23But when he sees his children, The work of My hands, in his midst, They will hallow My name, And hallow the Holy One of Jacob, And fear the God of Israel.
- Psalms 119:46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
- Jeremiah 26:12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard.
- Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
- Amos 7:14Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit.
- Matthew 10:18You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
- Luke 21:14Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
- Acts 4:8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
- Acts 21:39But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:1“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
- 2 Timothy 2:25in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries