1 Peter 5:2

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

1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 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; 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

1 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

• ·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 shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
• Ezekiel 34:2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Yhwh unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
• Micah 5:4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of Yhwh, in the majesty of the name of Yhwh his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
• Micah 7:14Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
• John 21:15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
• Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Assembly of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
• Isaiah 63:11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
• Jeremiah 13:17But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Yhwh's flock is carried away captive.
• Ezekiel 34:31And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord Yhwh.
• Zechariah 11:17Woe to the vain shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
• Luke 12:32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
• 1 Corinthians 9:7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
• Psalms 78:71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
• Acts 20:26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
• Hebrews 12:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
• Isaiah 6:8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, 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

• Church
• Commandments
• Covetousness
• Elder
• Minister, Christian
• Sacrilege

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adversary
• Bishop
• Constraint
• Devour
• Ensample
• Heritage
• Oversight
• Stedfast

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