1 Peter 3:4

1 Peter 3:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
• New International Version (NIV)Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
• New King James Version (NKJV)rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Context of 1 Peter 3:4

2beholding your chaste behaviour coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

1 Peter 3:4 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ὁ κρυπτὸς τῆς καρδίας ἄνθρωπος ἐν τῷ ἀφθάρτῳ τοῦ πραέως καὶ ἡσυχίου πνεύματος, ὅ ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ πολυτελές.Read the interlinear

• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• letεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• itὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• hiddenκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• ofπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• quietἡσύχιοςhēsuchios · quietG2272
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• sightἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:4

• Psalms 45:13The king’s daughter within the palace is all glorious: her clothing is inwrought with gold.
• Psalms 51:6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
• Matthew 23:26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.
• Luke 11:40Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?
• Romans 2:29but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
• Romans 6:6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
• Romans 7:22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
• 2 Corinthians 4:16Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
• Ephesians 4:22that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
• Colossians 3:3For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
• 1 Peter 1:23having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.
• 1 Peter 3:15but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
• Psalms 25:9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
• Psalms 147:6The LORD upholdeth the meek: he bringeth the wicked down to the ground.
• Psalms 149:4For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
• Isaiah 11:4but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The hidden man of the heart - ̔ . This phrase is of the same import with that of St. Paul, Romans 7:22, ̔ , the inner man; that is, the soul, with the whole system of affections and passions. Every part of the Scripture treats man as a compound being: the body is the outward or visible man; the soul, the inward, hidden, or invisible man. The term , man, is derived, according to the best etymologists, from , turning the face upward. This derivation of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart - This expression is substantially the same as that of Paul in Romans 7:22, “the inward man.” See the notes at that place. The word “hidden” here means that which is concealed; that which is not made apparent by the dress, or by ornament. It lies within, pertaining to the affections of the soul. In that which is not corruptible - Properly, “in the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.” This is said to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes: Peter is not saying that Christian women must avoid all forms of decoration. Instead, he teaches that their beauty should not come from clothing or jewelry but from the inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. See also 1 Timothy 2:9–10.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. But--"Rather." The "outward adornment" of jewelry, &c., is forbidden, in so far as woman loves such things, not in so far as she uses them from a sense of propriety, and does not abuse them. Singularity mostly comes from pride and throws needless hindrances to religion in the way of others. Under costly attire there may be a humble mind. "Great is he who uses his earthenware as if it were plate; not less great is he who uses his silver as if it were…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 3:4

• Meekness
• Righteousness
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• God
• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Humility
• Marriage
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet
• Railing

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