1 Peter 3 · Verse 11

1 Peter 3:11

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1 Peter 3:11, King James Version

1 Peter 3:11 in other translations

BSBHe must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
WEBLet him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
ASVAnd let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
YLTlet him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it;
DARBYAnd let him avoid evil, and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it;
BBEAnd let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart.
WebsterLet him shun evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.

What does 1 Peter 3:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. Let him eschew evil. Let him avoid all evil. Comp. Job 1:1.

And do good. In any and every way; by endeavouring to promote the happiness of all. Comp. Gal 6:10.

Let him seek peace, and ensue it. Follow it; that is, practise it. Mt 5:9; Rom 12:18. The meaning is, that a peaceful spirit will contribute to length of days.

(1.) A peaceful spirit--a calm, serene, and equal temper of mind--is favourable to health, avoiding those corroding and distracting passions which do so much to wear out the physical energies of the frame; and

(2.) such a spirit will preserve us from those contentions and strifes to which so many owe their death. Let any one reflect on the numbers that are killed in duels, in battles, and in brawls, and he will have no difficulty in seeing how a peaceful spirit will contribute to length of days.

(*) "eschew" "avoid"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 3:8-13

Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words. He must forsake and keep far from evil actions, do all the good he can, and seek peace with all men. For God, all-wise and every…

Read the full comment on 1 Peter 3:8-13 →

1 Peter 3:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐκκλινάτωekklinatōhe should turn awayG1578
ἀπὸapofromG575
κακοῦkakouevilG2556
καὶkaiandG2532
ποιησάτωpoiēsatōhe should doG4160
ἀγαθόν,agathongood,G18
ζητησάτωzētēsatōhe should seekG2212
εἰρήνηνeirēnēnpeaceG1515
καὶkaiandG2532
διωξάτωdiōxatōhe should pursueG1377
αὐτήν.autēnit.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Peter 3:11

  • Matthew 5:9

    Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

  • Hebrews 12:14

    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

  • Psalms 34:14

    Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

  • Romans 14:19

    Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

  • Colossians 3:15

    And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

  • James 4:17

    Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

  • 3 John 1:11

    Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

  • Romans 12:18

    If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

  • Romans 14:17

    For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

  • Romans 8:6

    For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

  • 1 Timothy 6:18

    That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

  • Galatians 6:10

    As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
eschew.
Job 1:1; 2:3; 28:28; Ps 34:14; 37:27; Pr 3:7; 16:6,17; Isa 1:16,17
Mt 6:13; Joh 17:15
do.
Ps 125:4; Mt 5:45; Mr 14:7; Lu 6:9,35; Ro 7:19,21; Ga 6:10; 1Ti 6:18
Heb 13:16; Jas 4:17; 3Jo 1:11
seek.
Ps 120:6,7; Mt 5:9; Lu 1:79; Ro 5:1; 8:6; 12:18; 14:17,19; Ga 5:22
Col 3:15; Heb 12:14; Jas 3:17,18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Peter 3:10

    For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

  • 1 Peter 3:11

    Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

  • 1 Peter 3:12

    For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Read all of 1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Apártase del mal, y haga bien; busque la paz, y sígala.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qu’il se détourne du mal et qu’il fasse le bien; qu’il recherche la paix et qu’il la poursuive;
German
Elberfelder 1871		er wende sich ab vom Bösen und tue Gutes; er suche Frieden und jage ihm nach;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Declinet a malo, et faciat bonum: inquirat pacem, et sequatur eam: