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

7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain 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 2:20Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
• Proverbs 17:13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.
• Proverbs 20:22Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
• Matthew 5:39But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
• Luke 6:27“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.
• Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
• 1 Corinthians 4:12We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.
• Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
• 1 Peter 2:21For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
• 1 Peter 5:10In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
• Romans 8:28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
• Matthew 19:29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
• Matthew 25:34“Then 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 creation of the world.
• Mark 10:17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
• Luke 10:25One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should 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