1 Peter 3:14
in 1 Peter 3But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
KJV
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
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This verse in 1 Peter 3
Commentary
13 notes on this verseBut even if you suffer anything for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. He says, not only does the one who inflicts evil upon those doing good not harm you at all, but also when the enemy persecutes you for the good deeds which he …
This site's exposition
Who can harm you
on 1 Peter 3:13-14
Doing good disarms most harm, and the exception is blessed: even if you should suffer for what is right, the beatitude of Matthew 5:10. Do not fear what they fear quotes Isaiah 8:12, and verse 15 takes its answer from Isaiah's next line.
This site's exposition
you are blessed
Those who suffer for what is right are blessed. Adam Clarke hears Matthew 5:10 in the words. John Wesley reads the next line, from Isaiah 8:12, as a call to fear God and be shaken by nothing else.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
No one can harm a person who does not do evil himself. Peter shows that trials which come from the Gentiles cannot harm those who live according to virtue. On the contrary, they turn those who endure them into blessed people.
Therefore, sanctify God in your hearts, and do not be afraid of human fear nor be troubled. But always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. And do this with the demonstration …
The Medieval Church1 voice
From the words of the prophet that he cited, he draws a conclusion. There it is said: "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Pet. 3:12), and the apostle adds …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But if ye should suffer - This is no harm to you, but a good. Fear ye not their fear - The very words of the Septuagint, Isaiah viii, 12, 13. Let not that fear be in you which the wicked feel.
Secondly, To suffer for righteousness sake is the honour and happiness of a Christian; to suffer for the cause of truth, a good conscience, or any part of a Christian's duty, is a great honour; the delight of it is greater than the torment, the honour more than the disgrace, and the gain much greater than the loss.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake,....
He will do himself right, and do all the world justice; and his goodness is no obstruction to his doing so. This patient humble behaviour of Christians is further recommended and urged from two considerations:-- (1.) This will be the best and surest way to prevent suffering; for who is he that will harm you?
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But and if ye suffer - God may permit you to be tried and persecuted for righteousness’ sake, but this cannot essentially harm you; he will press even this into your service, and make it work for your good. Happy are ye - This seems to refer to Mat 5:10, etc. Blessed or happy, are ye when men persecute you, etc. It is a happiness to suffer for Christ; and it is a happiness, because if a man were not holy and righteous the world would not persecute him, so he is happy in the very cause of his sufferings.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But and if--"But if even." "The promises of this life extend only so far as it is expedient for us that they should be fulfilled" [CALVIN]. So he proceeds to state the exceptions to the promise (1Pe 3:10), and how the truly wise will behave in such exceptional cases.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But and if ye suffer for righteousness” sake - Implying that though, in general, a holy character would constitute safety, yet that there was a possibility that they might suffer persecution. Compare the Mat 5:10 note; 2Ti 3:12 note. Happy are ye - Perhaps alluding to what the Saviour says in Mat 5:10; “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness” sake.” On the meaning of the word happy or blessed, see the notes at Mat 5:3. The meaning here is, not that they would find positive enjoyment in persecution on account of righteousness, but that they were to regard it as a blessed condition; that is, as a condition that might be favorable to salvation; and they were not therefore, on the whole, to regard it as an evil. And be not afraid of their terror - Of anything which they can do to cause terror. There is evidently an allusion here to Isa 8:12-13; “Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” See the notes at that passage. Compare Isa 51:12; Mat 10:28. “Neither be troubled.” With apprehension of danger. Compare the notes at Joh 14:1. If we are true Christians, we have really no reason to be alarmed in view of anything that can happen to us. God is our protector, and he is abundantly able to vanquish all our foes; to uphold us in all our trials; to conduct us through the valley of death, and to bring us to heaven. “All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come,” 1Co 3:21-22.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάσχοιτε | paschoite | you would suffer | G3958 → | 42 times |
| διὰ | dia | because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| δικαιοσύνην, | dikaiosunen | righteousness, | G1343 → | |
| μακάριοι. | makarioi | [you are] blessed. | G3107 → | |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| φόβον | phobon | the threats | G5401 → | 46 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| φοβηθῆτε | phobethete | shall you be afraid of | G5399 → | 95 times |
| μηδὲ | mede | neither | G3366 → | 56 times |
| ταραχθῆτε· | tarachthete | shall you be troubled; | G5015 → |
ἀλλ᾽But
all᾽G235 →635 times
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάσχοιτεyou would suffer
paschoiteG3958 →42 times
διὰbecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
δικαιοσύνην,righteousness,
dikaiosunenG1343 →
μακάριοι.[you are] blessed.
makarioiG3107 →
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
φόβονthe threats
phobonG5401 →46 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
φοβηθῆτεshall you be afraid of
phobetheteG5399 →95 times
μηδὲneither
medeG3366 →56 times
ταραχθῆτε·shall you be troubled;
tarachtheteG5015 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
it leads to
- Luke 12:4–5
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
- Isaiah 8:12–13
“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- James 4:12
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
- Ecclesiastes 8:12–13
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Luke 12:4–5
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Peter
This page draws on 11 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, CATENA; 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; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.