1 Peter 5:3
in 1 Peter 5not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.
KJV
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
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This verse in 1 Peter 5
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Neither as being lords - Margin, “overruling.” The word here used (κατακυριεύω katakurieuō) is rendered “exercise dominion over,” in Mat 20:25; exercise lordship over, in Mar 10:42; and overcame, in Act 19:16. It does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It refers properly to that kind of jurisdiction which civil rulers or magistrates exercise. This is an exercise of authority, as contradistinguished from the influence of reason, persuasion, and example. The latter pertains to the ministers of religion; the former is forbidden to them.
This site's exposition
As a fellow elder
on 1 Peter 5:1-4
Peter charges the elders to be shepherds not lording it over those entrusted to you, the verb katakurieuo that Jesus forbade in Mark 10:42. When the Chief Shepherd appears, He gives the crown of glory that will never fade away.
This site's exposition
being examples to the flock
Albert Barnes notes that the word for lording it describes the rule of a civil magistrate over his subjects. Elders are to be examples to the flock entrusted to them. The flock belongs to God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Even though you may have authority over the church in what you say or in the office which you occupy, you should never have a superior attitude toward others.
Moreover, he does not feed the flock coercively, who, by presenting himself as an example of good conduct to his subordinates, has disciples who mutually encourage each other to imitate their teacher: Nor does he seek for shameful gain, who walks not arrogantly nor raises …
A commentator
Paschasius of DumiumQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS OF THE GREEK FATHERS 43.1 · Written before 600.
proposed
Practice what you preach, so that you may offer your people not only advice but a model as well, that they may imitate your example.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Nor as being lords over those assigned to your care, etc. So that the humility, which you desire your subjects to have towards you and among themselves, you may first show by your own actions and keep in your own mind intact, according to the …
He who in himself offers his flock an example of good conduct pastures them "not by compulsion," and thereby urges them to vie with one another in emulating their teacher. He who does not step forward with pride and does not exalt himself over those …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Neither as lording over the heritage - Behaving in a haughty, domineering manner, as though you had dominion over their conscience. The word translated heritage, is, literally, the portions. There is one flock under the one chief Shepherd; but many portions of this, under many pastors.
Neither as being lords over God's heritage,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
being lords--Greek, "lording it": implying pride and oppression. "Not that we have dominion over your faith." God's heritage--Greek, "the inheritances," that is, the portions of the Church committed severally to your pastoral charge [BENGEL]. It is explained by "the flock" in the next clause.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage - This is the voice of St. Peter in his catholic epistle to the catholic Church! According to him there are to be no lords over God’s heritage, the bishops and presbyters who are appointed by the head of the Church are to feed the flock, to guide and to defend it, not to fleece and waste it; and they are to look for their reward in another world, and in the approbation of God in their consciences. And in humility, self-abasement, self-renunciation, and heavenly-mindedness, they are to be ensamples, τυποι, types, to the flock, moulds of a heavenly form, into which the spirits and lives of the flock may be cast, that they may come out after a perfect pattern. We need not ask, Does the Church that arrogates to itself the exclusive title of Catholic, and do its supreme pastors, who affect to be the successors of Peter and the vicars of Jesus Christ, act in this way? They are in every sense the reverse of this. But we may ask, Do the other Churches, which profess to be reformed from the abominations of the above, keep the advice of the apostle in their eye? Have they pastors according to God’s own heart, who feed them with knowledge and understanding? Jer 3:15. Do they feed themselves, and not the flock? Are they lords over the heritage of Christ, ruling with a high eclesiastico-secular hand, disputing with their flocks about penny-farthing tithes and stipends, rather than contending for the faith once delivered to the saints? Are they heavenly moulds, into which the spirits and conduct of their flocks may be cast? I leave those who are concerned to answer these questions; but I put them, in the name of God, to all the preachers in the land. How many among them properly care for the flock? […]
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μηδ᾽ | med᾽ | not | G3366 → | 56 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| κατακυριεύοντες | katakurieuontes | exercising lordship over | G2634 → | |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κλήρων | kleron | those in your charge | G2819 → | |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| τύποι | tupoi | examples | G5179 → | |
| γινόμενοι | ginomenoi | being | G1096 → | 667 times |
| τοῦ | tou | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ποιμνίου· | poimniou | flock; | G4168 → |
μηδ᾽not
med᾽G3366 →56 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
κατακυριεύοντεςexercising lordship over
katakurieuontesG2634 →
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
κλήρωνthose in your charge
kleronG2819 →
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
τύποιexamples
tupoiG5179 →
γινόμενοιbeing
ginomenoiG1096 →667 times
τοῦto the
touG3588 →19766 times
ποιμνίου·flock;
poimniouG4168 →
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
2 Thessalonians 3:9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7
Through
Philippians 3:17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- Philippians 4:9
Through
Ezekiel 34:4You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.
it leads to
- Matthew 18:12–13
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one…
- Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’
- Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Matthew 18:12–13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies15
On this verse
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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; 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; Paschasius of Dumium, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS OF THE GREEK FATHERS 43.1 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.