1 Peter 3:9
in 1 Peter 3Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
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.
⋯
This verse in 1 Peter 3
Commentary
3 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Not rendering evil for evil - See the Mat 5:39, Mat 5:44 notes; Rom 12:17 note. Or railing for railing - See the notes at 1Ti 6:4. Compare Mar 15:29; Luk 23:39. But contrariwise blessing - In a spirit contrary to this. See the notes at Mat 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 the heavens. Expecting such a blessing yourselves, you should be ready to scatter blessings on all others.
This site's exposition
be ye all of one mind
on 1 Peter 3:8-12
The addresses close on the whole church: one mind, compassion, brotherly love, pity, courtesy, and the family resemblance to the Lord, not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, called to bless and to inherit a blessing. The proof text is Psalm 34:12-16 quoted at length, the psalm of the hunted David tasting that the Lord is good, already cited at 2:3. The eyes of the Lord over the righteous and his ears open to their prayers is the letter's quiet answer to surveillance by hostile neighbors: a better watcher is watching.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Be courteous - To all men. Courtesy is such a behaviour toward equals and inferiors as shows respect mixed with love. Ye are called to inherit a blessing - Therefore their railing cannot hurt you; and, by blessing them, you imitate God, who blesses you.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἀποδιδόντες | apodidontes | repaying | G591 → | |
| κακὸν | kakon | evil | G2556 → | 50 times |
| ἀντὶ | anti | for | G473 → | |
| κακοῦ | kakou | evil | G2556 → | 50 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| λοιδορίαν | loidorian | insult | G3059 → | |
| ἀντὶ | anti | for | G473 → | |
| λοιδορίας, | loidorias | insult, | G3059 → | |
| τοὐναντίον | tounantion | on the contrary | G5121 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εὐλογοῦντες | eulogountes | blessing | G2127 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐκλήθητε | eklethete | you were called | G2564 → | 147 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| εὐλογίαν | eulogian | blessing | G2129 → | |
| κληρονομήσητε. | kleronomesete | you may inherit. | G2816 → |
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἀποδιδόντεςrepaying
apodidontesG591 →
κακὸνevil
kakonG2556 →50 times
ἀντὶfor
antiG473 →
κακοῦevil
kakouG2556 →50 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
λοιδορίανinsult
loidorianG3059 →
ἀντὶfor
antiG473 →
λοιδορίας,insult,
loidoriasG3059 →
τοὐναντίονon the contrary
tounantionG5121 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
εὐλογοῦντεςblessing
eulogountesG2127 →
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ἐκλήθητεyou were called
ekletheteG2564 →147 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
εὐλογίανblessing
eulogianG2129 →
κληρονομήσητε.you may inherit.
kleronomeseteG2816 →
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
Proverbs 20:22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Romans 12:17–19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 17:13
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Through
Romans 12:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Proverbs 20:22
Through
Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Matthew 5:44
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- Galatians 6:10
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Peter
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.