1 Peter 3:1
in 1 Peter 3Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;
KJV
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
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This verse in 1 Peter 3
Commentary
14 notes on this verseIf these things may happen to those women also who, having attained the faith while in (the state of) Gentile matrimony, continue in that state, still they are excused, as having been "apprehended by God" in these very circumstances; and they are bidden to persevere in their married state, and are sanctified, and have hope of "making a gain" held out to them.
This site's exposition
submit yourselves to your husbands
on 1 Peter 3:1-2
Believing wives of unbelieving husbands are told that husbands who refuse to believe the word may be won over without words. The verb, kerdaino, means gained, and the means is conduct, your pure and reverent demeanor.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
So far, however, as regards the dress of women, the variety of observance compels us-men of no consideration whatever-to treat, presumptuously indeed, after the most holy apostle, except in so far as it will not be presumptuously if we treat the subject in accordance with the apostle. Touching modesty of dress and ornamentation, indeed, the prescription of Peter likewise is plain, checking as he does with the same mouth, because with the same Spirit, as Paul, the glory of garments, and the pride of gold, and the meretricious elaboration of the hair.
Similarly, wives should be subject to their husbands, so that even those who do not obey the word may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Let your adornment not be external, …
The Instructor orders them to go forth "in becoming apparel, and adorn themselves with shamefacedness and sobriety," "subject to their own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold," he says, "your chaste conversation. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 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."
"without a word." Whether by ceasing all speech and all response, or because a demonstration through deeds is more effective than the anxious diligence found in words: for a silent deed is more excellent than a work deprived of speech.
The husband is the head of the wife, and so she must be subject to him just as the other members of the body must be subject to the head. Peter wants wives to show their husbands the path of virtue with just the same …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
The Apostle set forth moral teaching for all: for kings, rulers, masters, and slaves. For subjects he established as law that they should obey kings and rulers, in what they ought and as they ought, and thereby showed that the rulers themselves have a certain …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands,.... As well as subjects to princes, and servants to masters; though not with the same sort of subjection, but what is suitable to the relation they stand in to their husbands; See Gill on Eph 5:22. See Gill on Col 3:18. that if any obey not the word; any husband who is an unbeliever, has no love for the Gospel, and gives no credit to it, but despises, disbelieves, and rejects it, the word of truth, of faith, of righteousness, reconciliation, and salvation.
The apostle having treated of the duties of subjects to their sovereigns, and of servants to their masters, proceeds to explain the duty of husbands and wives. Lest the Christian matrons should imagine that their conversion to Christ, and their interest in all Christian privileges, exempted them from subjection to their pagan or Jewish husbands, the apostle here tells them, 1.
He exhorts Christians to unity, love, compassion, peace, and patience under sufferings; to oppose the slanders of their enemies, not by returning evil for evil, or railing for railing, but by blessing; by a ready account of their faith and hope, and by keeping a good conscience,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands - On the duty here enjoined, see the 1Co 11:3-9 notes, and Eph 5:22 note. That, if any obey not the word - The word of God; the gospel. That is, if any wives have husbands who are not true Christians. This would be likely to occur when the gospel was first preached, as it does now, by the fact that wives might be converted, though their husbands were not. It cannot be inferred from this, that after they themselves had become Christians they had married unbelieving husbands.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Unspoken acting is more powerful than unperformed speaking" [Å’CUMENIUS]. "A soul converted is gained to itself, to the pastor, wife, or husband, who sought it, and to Jesus Christ; added to His treasury who thought not His own precious blood too dear to lay out for this gain" [LEIGHTON].
Ye wives, be in subjection - Consider that your husband is, by God’s appointment, the head and ruler of the house; do not, therefore, attempt to usurp his government; for even though he obey not the word - is not a believer in the Christian doctrine, his rule is not thereby impaired; for Christianity never alters civil relations: and your affectionate, obedient conduct will be the most likely means of convincing him of the truth of the doctrine which you have received. Without the word - That your holy conduct may be the means of begetting in them a reverence for Christianity, the preaching of which they will not hear. See the notes on 1Co 14:34, and the other places referred to in the margin.
The words behind it
22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁμοίως | homoios | Likewise | G3668 → | 30 times |
| αἱ | hai | You | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| γυναῖκες | gunaikes | wives | G1135 → | 211 times |
| ὑποτασσόμεναι | hupotassomenai | be subject | G5293 → | 38 times |
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰδίοις | idiois | to [their] own | G2398 → | |
| ἀνδράσιν, | andrasin | husbands, | G435 → | 216 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἴ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τινες | tines | any | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἀπειθοῦσιν | apeithousin | are disobedient | G544 → | 14 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγῳ, | logo | word, | G3056 → | 329 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γυναικῶν | gunaikon | wives | G1135 → | 211 times |
| ἀναστροφῆς | anastrophes | conduct | G391 → | 13 times |
| ἄνευ | aneu | without | G427 → | |
| λόγου | logou | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| κερδηθήσονται, | kerdethesontai | they will be gained, | G2770 → |
ὉμοίωςLikewise
homoiosG3668 →30 times
αἱYou
haiG3739 →1405 times
γυναῖκεςwives
gunaikesG1135 →211 times
ὑποτασσόμεναιbe subject
hupotassomenaiG5293 →38 times
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἰδίοιςto [their] own
idioisG2398 →
ἀνδράσιν,husbands,
andrasinG435 →216 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἴif
eiG1487 →508 times
τινεςany
tinesG5100 →528 times
ἀπειθοῦσινare disobedient
apeithousinG544 →14 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
λόγῳ,word,
logoG3056 →329 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
γυναικῶνwives
gunaikonG1135 →211 times
ἀναστροφῆςconduct
anastrophesG391 →13 times
ἄνευwithout
aneuG427 →
λόγουword
logouG3056 →329 times
κερδηθήσονται,they will be gained,
kerdethesontaiG2770 →
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
Colossians 3:18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Titus 2:4–5
In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children,
- 1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
- Ephesians 5:22
Through
1 Corinthians 11:3But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
it leads to
- Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
- 1 Corinthians 3:23
and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
- Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
- Genesis 3:16
Through
Ephesians 5:33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:2–7
when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
- 1 Peter 3:2–7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 3; 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 (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter; Tertullian, To His Wife Book II; Tertullian, On Prayer and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.