1 Peter 3:1-9

Wives and Husbands

3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, ¹  even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, ²  3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct. ³  3:3 Let your ⁴  beauty ⁵  not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry ⁶  or fine clothes – 3:4 but the inner person ⁷  of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed ⁸  Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children ⁹  when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so. ¹⁰  3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners ¹¹  and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers. ¹² 

Suffering for Doing Good

3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, ¹³  sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless ¹⁴  others ¹⁵  because you were called to inherit a blessing.

[3:1]  ¹ tn Grk “that…they may be won over,” showing the purpose of “being subject” (vs. 1b). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[3:1]  ² tn Grk “by the wives’ behavior.”

[3:2]  ³ tn Grk “behavior,” the same word translated “the way you live” in vs. 1.

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Grk “whose,” referring to the wives.

[3:3]  ⁵ tn Or “adornment.”

[3:3]  ⁶ tn The word “jewelry” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate that gold ornaments or jewelry is intended; otherwise the reader might assume wearing gold-colored clothing was forbidden.

[3:4]  ⁷ tn Grk “the hidden man.” KJV’s “the hidden man of the heart,” referring to a wife, could be seriously misunderstood by the modern English reader.

[3:6]  ⁸ tn Grk “as Sarah obeyed.”

[3:6]  ⁹ tn Grk “whose children you become.”

[3:6]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “doing good and not fearing any intimidation.”

[3:7]  ¹¹ tn Grk “living together according to knowledge, as to the weaker, female vessel.” The primary verbs of vs. 7 are participles (“living together…showing honor”) but they continue the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.

[3:7]  ¹² tn Grk “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek, this clause was translated as a separate sentence.

[3:8]  ¹³ tn There is no main verb in this verse (Grk “Finally, all [ ] harmonious”), but it continues the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.

[3:9]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “not returning…but blessing,” continuing the sense of command from the preceding.

[3:9]  ¹⁵ tn The direct object “others” is omitted but implied in Greek, and must be supplied to suit English style.