1 Peter 2:25
in 1 Peter 2For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
KJV
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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This verse in 1 Peter 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseError has three causes—darkness, loneliness and ignorance. The Gentile sheep were wandering among idols because of their foolish ignorance, and they found themselves lost in the darkness of sin and in the loneliness of a strange nation. Peter goes on to add that now they …
This site's exposition
you were like sheep going astray
Verse 25 closes the line of Isaiah 53:6, you were like sheep going astray. Christ is the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls, overseer being episkopos, the office the letter gives the elders at 5:1 under the Chief Shepherd.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
When, by Pilate's order, He was scourged, He endured on His body the wounds from the blows as well.
But now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. He touches on the evangelical parable, where the pious Shepherd, having left ninety-nine sheep in the desert, came to visit the one that had gone astray. For what was said there, that …
For you were like sheep gone astray. How is it that he calls both sheep and gone astray, when those who lead a life in error are rather called by the name of goats than sheep, unless because the Lord knows who are his, who …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For ye were as sheep going astray,.... This is a proof of their being healed, namely, their conversion; in which an application of the blood of Christ, and pardon, and so healing by it, was made to their souls. The apostle has still in view the prophecy of Isa 53:
Learn, [1.] Sinners, before their conversion, are always going astray; their life is a continued error. [2.] Jesus Christ is the supreme shepherd and bishop of souls, who is always resident with his flock, and watchful over them. [3.] Those that expect the love and care of this universal pastor must return to him, must die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For ye were as sheep going astray - Here also is an allusion to Isa 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” See the notes at that verse. The figure is plain. We were like a flock without a shepherd. We had wandered far away from the true fold, and were following our own paths. We were without a protector, and were exposed to every kind of danger. This aptly and forcibly expresses the condition of the whole race before God recovers people by the plan of salvation.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Shepherd and Bishop--The designation of the pastors and elders of the Church belongs in its fullest sense to the great Head of the Church, "the good Shepherd." As the "bishop" oversees (as the Greek term means), so "the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous" (1Pe 3:12).
For ye were as sheep going astray - Formerly ye were not in a better moral condition than your oppressors; ye were like stray sheep, in the wilderness of ignorance and sin, till Christ, the true and merciful Shepherd, called you back from your wanderings, by sending you the Gospel of his grace. Bishop of your souls - Unless we consider the word bishop as a corruption of the word επισκοπος episcopos, and that this literally signifies an overseer, an inspector, or one that has the oversight, it can convey to us no meaning of the original. Jesus Christ is the Overseer of souls; he has them continually under his eye; he knows their wants, wishes, dangers, etc., and provides for them. As their shepherd, he leads them to the best pastures, defends them from their enemies, and guides them by his eye. Jesus is the good Shepherd that laid down his life for his sheep. All human souls are inexpressibly dear to him, as they are the purchase of his blood. He is still supreme Bishop or Overseer in his Church. He alone is Episcopus episcoporum, “the Bishop of bishops;” a title which the Romish pontiffs have blasphemously usurped. But this is not the only attribute of Jesus on which they have laid sacrilegious hands. And besides this, with force and with cruelty have they ruled the sheep: but the Lord is breaking the staff of their pride, and delivering the nations from the bondage of their corruption. Lord, let thy kingdom come!
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἦτε | ete | You were | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| πρόβατα | probata | sheep | G4263 → | |
| πλανώμενοι | planomenoi | going astray | G4105 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐπεστράφητε | epestraphete | you have returned | G1994 → | |
| νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ποιμένα | poimena | Shepherd | G4166 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπίσκοπον | episkopon | Overseer | G1985 → | |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ψυχῶν | psuchon | souls | G5590 → | 103 times |
| ὑμῶν.¶ | humon | of you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ἦτεYou were
eteG1510 →2333 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
πρόβαταsheep
probataG4263 →
πλανώμενοιgoing astray
planomenoiG4105 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐπεστράφητεyou have returned
epestrapheteG1994 →
νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ποιμέναShepherd
poimenaG4166 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπίσκοπονOverseer
episkoponG1985 →
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ψυχῶνsouls
psuchonG5590 →103 times
ὑμῶν.¶of you.
humonG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:2–3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- 1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- 1 Peter 1:18–19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
- 1 Peter 5:2–3
Through
Isaiah 53:6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
- Psalms 119:176
I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
- Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely…
- Romans 4:25
He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
- 1 Peter 3:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies26
On this chapter
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.