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.
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This verse in 1 Peter 3
Commentary
16 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
Finally, all of you, be like-minded
on 1 Peter 3:8-12
The household addresses close on the whole church, which repays insult with blessing and so will inherit a blessing. Psalm 34:12 to 16, the psalm echoed at 2:3, grounds it: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.
This site's exposition
insult with insult
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown distinguish evil done in deed from insult given in word. The call to inherit a blessing works both ways: believers receive blessing from God and pass it on to those who revile them. John Wesley adds that by blessing them they imitate God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Free from the ordinances that concerned both men and women, Peter then presents a common exhortation to all men, women, youths, adolescents, kings, leaders, subjects, and those who are governed, foreigners, citizens, the rich, and the poor. Therefore, he adds: "In summary." That is, what …
Of course you should not return evil for good or cursing for blessing either, though some people do. A Christian is called to the exact opposite behavior!
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
A brother asked a hermit, 'What is humility?' He answered, 'To do good to them that do evil to you.' The brother said, 'Suppose a man cannot attain that standard, what is he to do?' The hermit answered, 'He should run away, and choose silence.'
How much more, while you are returning the malediction in the name of Jupiter himself, are you doing honour to Jupiter in the same way as he who provoked you! But a believer ought to laugh in such cases, not to rave; nay, according to the precept, not to return a curse in the name of God even, but dearly to bless in the name of God, that you may both demolish idols and preach God, and fulfil discipline.
Not even by an evil word does He permit it to be vented. Ever if we must be angry, our anger must not be maintained beyond sunset, as the apostle admonishes.
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him.
The Medieval Church3 voices
What is humility? It is to bear the insults of others, to accept sins against oneself, to bear punishments. Indeed this is not just humility, but prudence as well.
Because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. Namely, with the Judge saying: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom (Matthew 25). The blessing of inheritance can also be understood as that by which the Church is perpetually blessed in …
The connection with the preceding instruction is as follows: finally, or to put it briefly, be all of one mind, and so forth, knowing that you are called to this, to bless everyone. For Paul also says: "Bless those who persecute you" (Rom. 12:14); acting …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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.
Not rendering evil for evil,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
evil--in deed. railing--in word. blessing--your revilers; participle, not a noun after "rendering." knowing that--The oldest manuscripts read merely, "because." are--Greek, "were called." inherit a blessing--not only passive, but also active; receiving spiritual blessing from God by faith, and in your turn blessing others from love [GERHARD in ALFORD].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Not rendering evil for evil - Purposing, saying, doing nothing but good; and invariably returning good for evil. Ye are thereunto called - This is your calling - your business in life, to do good, and to do good for evil, and to implore God’s blessing even on your worst enemies. And this is not only your duty, but your interest; for in so doing you shall obtain God’s blessing, even life for evermore.
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
On this page
Studies21
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On this chapter
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 16 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); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter; Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians 2; Tertullian, On Idolatry; Tertullian, On Prayer and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.