1 Peter 3:11
in 1 Peter 3He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
KJV
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
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This verse in 1 Peter 3
Commentary
8 notes on this verseExhortations and encouragements to godliness are of fundamental importance. It is essential to turn away from the tendency toward evil and from the evil path of acquiescence in wickedness, so as to reach out to what is good. We must first distance ourselves completely from everything evil if we want to enjoy genuine health, free from all disease. The person who seeks peace seeks Christ, for he is our peace, who made us both—Jew and Gentile—one new man, bringing peace by the blood of his cross.
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 Church Fathers2 voices
And if I glance around at their examples-(examples) of some David heaping up marriages for himself even through sanguinary means, of some Solomon rich in wives as well as in other riches-you are bidden to "follow the better things; " and you have withal Joseph but once wedded, and on this score I venture to say better than his father; you have Moses, the intimate eye-witness of God; you have Aaron the chief priest.
These things do not come naturally to us, for bad thoughts are always entering our minds. But if a man is wise, he will put them aside and in their place choose thoughts which will be advantageous and profitable for him. This, I believe, is what it means to turn away from evil.
The Medieval Church1 voice
That the instruction set forth by him is not false, he confirms by pointing to the words of David, and says: "who loves life," that is, who transforms himself for the true life and wants to show it worthy of love (for the expression "loves" …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Let him eschew evil,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
In oldest manuscripts, Greek, "Moreover (besides his words, in acts), let him." eschew--"turn from." ensue--pursue as a thing hard to attain, and that flees from one in this troublesome world.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Let him eschew evil - Let him avoid all evil. Compare Job 1:1. And do good - In any and every way; by endeavoring to promote the happiness of all. Compare the notes at Gal 6:10. Let him seek peace, and ensue it - Follow it; that is, practice it. See the Mat 5:9 note; Rom 12:18 note.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐκκλινάτω | ekklinato | he should turn away | G1578 → | |
| δὲ | de | also | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| κακοῦ | kakou | evil | G2556 → | 50 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ποιησάτω | poiesato | he should do | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἀγαθόν, | agathon | good, | G18 → | 102 times |
| ζητησάτω | zetesato | he should seek | G2212 → | |
| εἰρήνην | eirenen | peace | G1515 → | 91 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διωξάτω | dioxato | he should pursue | G1377 → | |
| αὐτήν. | auten | it. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ἐκκλινάτωhe should turn away
ekklinatoG1578 →
δὲalso
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
κακοῦevil
kakouG2556 →50 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ποιησάτωhe should do
poiesatoG4160 →569 times
ἀγαθόν,good,
agathonG18 →102 times
ζητησάτωhe should seek
zetesatoG2212 →
εἰρήνηνpeace
eirenenG1515 →91 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διωξάτωhe should pursue
dioxatoG1377 →
αὐτήν.it.
autenG846 →5565 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
Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
it leads to
- Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 3:16–18
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Psalms 120:6
Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.
- Romans 12:18
Through
Psalms 34:14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:27
Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
- Psalms 37:27
Through
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, CATENA; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, CATENA; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Monogamy and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.