1 Peter 3 · Verse 14

1 Peter 3:14

But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Peter 3:14, King James Version

1 Peter 3:14 in other translations

BSBBut even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
WEBBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”
ASVBut even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
YLTbut if ye also should suffer because of righteousness, happy are ye! and of their fear be not afraid, nor be troubled,
DARBYBut if also ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye; but be not afraid of their fear, neither be troubled;
BBEBut you are happy if you undergo pain because of righteousness; have no part in their fear and do not be troubled;
WebsterBut if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

What does 1 Peter 3:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. But and if--"But if even." "The promises of this life extend only so far as it is expedient for us that they should be fulfilled" [Calvin]. So he proceeds to state the exceptions to the promise (1Pe 3:10), and how the truly wise will behave in such exceptional cases. "If ye should suffer"; if it should so happen; "suffer," a milder word than harm. for righteousness--"not the suffering, but the cause for which one suffers, makes the martyr" [Augustine]. happy--Not even can suffering take away your blessedness, but rather promotes it. and--Greek, "but." Do not impair your blessing (1Pe 3:9) by fearing man's terror in your times of adversity. Literally, "Be not terrified with their terror," that is, with that which they try to strike into you, and which strikes themselves when in adversity. This verse and 1Pe 3:15 is quoted from Is 8:12, 13. God alone is to be feared; he that fears God has none else to fear. neither be troubled--the threat of the law, Le 26:36; De 28:65, 66; in contrast to which the Gospel gives the believer a heart assured of God's favor, and therefore unruffled, amidst all adversities. Not only be not afraid, but be not even agitated.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake. Implying that though, in general, a holy character would constitute safety, yet that there was a possibility that they might suffer persecution. Comp. Mt 5:10 2Ti 3:12.

Happy are ye. Perhaps alluding to what the Saviour says in Mt 5:10: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake." On the meaning of the word happy or blessed, Mt 5:3. The meaning here is, not that they would find positive enjoyment in persecution on account of righteousness, but that they were to regard it as a blessed condition; that is, as a condition that might be favourable to salvation; and they were not therefore, on the whole, to regard it as an evil.

And be not afraid of their terror. Of anything which they can do to cause terror. There is evidently an allusion here to Isa 8:12,13: "Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." Isa 8:12, seq. Comp. Isa 51:12, Mt 10:28.

Neither be troubled. With apprehension of danger. Compare Jn 14:1. If we are true Christians, we have really no reason to be alarmed in view of anything that can happen to us. God is our protector, and he is abundantly able to vanquish all our foes; to uphold us in all our trials; to conduct us through the valley of death, and to bring us to heaven. "All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present or things to come," 1Cor 3:21,22.

(a) "be not afraid" Isa 8:12,13, 51:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 But and if ye suffer - God may permit you to be tried and persecuted for righteousness' sake, but this cannot essentially harm you; he will press even this into your service, and make it work for your good. Happy are ye - This seems to refer to Mat 5:10, etc. Blessed or happy, are ye when men persecute you, etc. It is a happiness to suffer for Christ; and it is a happiness, because if a man were not holy and righteous the world would not persecute him, so he is happy in the very cause of his sufferings. Be not afraid of their terror - Τον δε φοβον αυτων μη φοβηθητε· Fear not their fear; see Isa 8:12. Sometimes fear is put for the object of a man's religious worship; see Gen 31:42; Pro 1:26, and the place in Isaiah just quoted. The exhortation may mean, Fear not their gods, they can do you no hurt; and supposing that they curse you by them, yet be not troubled; "He who fears God need have no other fear."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 3:14-22
We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to glorify and honour him. What was the ground and reason of their hope? We should be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The conscience is good, when it does its office well. That person is in a sad condition on whom sin and suffering meet: sin makes suffering extreme, comfortless, and destructive. Surely it is better to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing, whatever our natural impatience at times may suggest. The example of Christ is an argument for patience under sufferings. In the case of our Lord's suffering, he that knew no sin, suffered instead of those who knew no righteousness. The blessed end and design of our Lord's sufferings were, to reconcile us to God, and to bring us to eternal glory. He was put to death in respect of his human nature, but was quickened and raised by the power of the Holy Spirit. If Christ could not be freed from sufferings, why should Christians think to be so? God takes exact notice of the means and advantages people in all ages have had. As to the old world, Christ sent his Spirit; gave warning by Noah. But though the patience of God waits long, it will cease at last. And the spirits of disobedient sinners, as soon as they are out of their bodies, are committed to the prison of hell, where those that despised Noah's warning now are, and from whence there is no redemption. Noah's salvation in the ark upon the water, which carried him above the floods, set forth the salvation of all true believers. That temporal salvation by the ark was a type of the eternal salvation of believers by baptism of the Holy Spirit. To prevent mistakes, the apostle declares what he means by saving baptism; not the outward ceremony of washing with water, which, in itself, does no more than put away the filth of the flesh, but that baptism, of which the baptismal water formed the sign. Not the outward ordinance, but when a man, by the regeneration of the Spirit, was enabled to repent and profess faith, and purpose a new life, uprightly, and as in the presence of God. Let us beware that we rest not upon outward forms. Let us learn to look on the ordinances of God spiritually, and to inquire after the spiritual effect and working of them on our consciences. We would willingly have all religion reduced to outward things. But many who were baptized, and constantly attended the ordinances, have remained without Christ, died in their sins, and are now past recovery. Rest not then till thou art cleansed by the Spirit of Christ and the blood of Christ. His resurrection from the dead is that whereby we are assured of purifying and peace.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Peter 3:14 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.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
εἰeiifG1487
καὶkaievenG2532
πάσχοιτεpaschoiteyou would sufferG3958
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
δικαιοσύνην,dikaiosunēnrighteousness,G1343
μακάριοι.makarioi[you are] blessed.G3107
τὸνton<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
φόβονphobonthe threatsG5401
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
μὴmēnotG3361
φοβηθῆτεphobēthēteshall you be afraid ofG5399
μηδὲmēdeneitherG3366
ταραχθῆτε·tarachthēteshall you be troubled;G5015

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

Cross references for 1 Peter 3:14

  • Matthew 10:28

    And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  • 1 Peter 2:19-20

    For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

  • Matthew 5:10-12

    Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  • Isaiah 41:10-14

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. …

  • Isaiah 8:12-13

    Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

  • 1 Peter 4:13-16

    But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:10

    Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Luke 6:22-23

    Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

  • James 1:12

    Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

  • Luke 12:4-5

    And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

  • John 14:27

    Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

  • John 14:1

    Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if.
2:19,20; 4:13-16; Jer 15:15; Mt 5:10-12; 10:18-22,39; 16:25; 19:29
Mr 8:35; 10:29; Lu 6:22,23; Ac 9:16; 2Co 12:10; Php 1:29; Jas 1:12
and be.
Isa 8:12,13; 41:10-14; 51:12; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9; Mt 10:28,31
Lu 12:4,5; Joh 14:1,27; Ac 18:9,10

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

Context

  • 1 Peter 3:13

    And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

  • 1 Peter 3:14

    But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

  • 1 Peter 3:15

    But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Read all of 1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas también si alguna cosa padecéis por hacer bien, sois bienaventurados. Por tanto, no temáis por el temor de ellos, ni seáis turbados;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais, si même vous souffrez pour la justice, vous êtes bienheureux; « et ne craignez pas leurs craintes, et ne soyez pas troublés,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber wenn ihr auch leiden solltet um der Gerechtigkeit willen, glückselig seid ihr! Fürchtet aber nicht ihre Furcht, noch seid bestürzt,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed et si quid patimini propter justitiam, beati. Timorem autem eorum ne timueritis, et non conturbemini.