1 Peter 1:18 kjv

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1 Peter 1:18 nkjv

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

1 Peter 1:18 niv

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,

1 Peter 1:18 esv

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

1 Peter 1:18 nlt

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 18 Meaning

The verse asserts that believers have been liberated and purchased from a worthless way of life, one passed down through human tradition. This redemption was not achieved through perishable, material means like silver or gold, which are temporal and insufficient. Instead, this profound liberation was secured solely through the infinitely precious and undefiled blood of Jesus Christ, highlighting the unique, ultimate, and eternal value of His sacrifice as the divine Lamb without blemish.

1 Peter 1 18 Context

This verse appears in the introduction of Peter's first epistle, written to elect exiles (believers in diaspora) scattered across Asia Minor (1 Pet 1:1). Having greeted them and magnified their great salvation (1 Pet 1:3-9), Peter then speaks of the prophetic nature of this salvation and its eschatological fulfillment (1 Pet 1:10-12). In 1 Peter 1:13-17, he calls them to a life of hope, obedience, and holiness, urging them not to conform to their former evil desires, but to be holy as God is holy, recognizing that they address a Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds. Verse 18 then grounds this call to holiness and responsible living in the reality of their redemption, emphasizing its precious and divine cost. It serves as the foundation for the command to fear God (1 Pet 1:17) and love one another (1 Pet 1:22).

1 Peter 1 18 Word analysis

• knowing: Greek eidotes (εἰδότες). A perfect active participle of oida, meaning to know with full conviction, to have a deep understanding that informs one's actions. It signifies not mere intellectual acknowledgment but experiential certainty, a truth that defines one's identity and lifestyle. This knowing is the basis for Peter's preceding commands regarding conduct.
• that you were redeemed: Greek elutrōthēte (ἐλυτρώθητε). An aorist passive indicative from lytroō, meaning "to ransom, to liberate by payment of a ransom." This verb clearly points to a completed act of liberation through a price. It describes a transaction, not just an escape. The concept originates from purchasing a slave's freedom or releasing a prisoner of war. It is not mere forgiveness, but actual buying back of something lost or captive.
• not with corruptible things: Greek ou phthartois (οὐ φθαρτοῖς). Phthartois means "perishable, decaying, transient, corruptible." It signifies anything subject to decay or destruction, highlighting the ephemeral nature of worldly possessions. This is a direct contrast, establishing what the redemption was not accomplished by.
• as silver and gold: Greek arguriou ē chrusiou (ἀργυρίου ἢ χρυσίου). Specific examples of material wealth, common forms of ancient currency, and symbols of ultimate earthly value. By using these examples, Peter emphasizes that even the most valuable human treasures are utterly inadequate for divine redemption, as they are "corruptible."
• from your futile way of life: Greek ek tēs mataias humōn anastrophēs (ἐκ τῆς ματαίας ὑμōn anastrophēs).
  • futile: Greek mataias (ματαίας). Empty, vain, worthless, without purpose, unproductive, leading to nothing beneficial. It can imply a state of mind (Rom 1:21) or an outcome (Acts 14:15, 1 Cor 3:20). Here, it refers to a life devoid of true spiritual substance and purpose, incapable of achieving righteousness before God.
  • way of life: Greek anastrophēs (ἀναστροφῆς). Manner of life, conduct, behavior, moral disposition. It describes the practical outworking of one's inner being, a consistent pattern of living.
• inherited from your fathers: Greek patroparadotou (πατροπαραδότου). From patēr (father) and paradidōmi (to hand down, to deliver). This compound adjective means "traditionally handed down from fathers" or "inherited from one's ancestors." This implies established traditions or customs, whether religious, social, or moral, that are based on human practice rather than divine command. For Jewish converts, this could include burdensome legalistic traditions; for Gentile converts, it most certainly refers to pagan idolatry, ancestral customs involving spiritual bondage, and a lifestyle without God (Eph 4:17). This highlights that the previous life was based on human succession and error, contrasting sharply with God's perfect plan of redemption.
• not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your futile way of life, inherited from your fathers: This phrase group meticulously sets up a profound contrast. It describes a redemption from something—a life characterized by worthlessness and rooted in human, ancestral error—and emphasizes that this liberation was achieved by means other than humanly valued, but perishable, commodities. The imagery evokes a liberation from the "family curse" or societal/religious conditioning, which only the infinite, imperishable value of Christ's sacrifice could achieve. The past way of life, regardless of whether it was religious or irreligious in its context, was marked by spiritual barrenness and was perpetuated through tradition, incapable of yielding true life.

1 Peter 1 18 Bonus section

The phrase "inherited from your fathers" has particular resonance for both Jewish and Gentile believers in Peter's audience. For Jews, it could implicitly challenge adherence to non-biblical traditions that had become burdensome or spiritually barren (e.g., as condemned by Jesus in Mk 7:8-13). For Gentiles, it was a direct critique of pagan practices, idolatry, and ancestral worship that bound them to spiritual darkness (e.g., Acts 14:15). In either case, the redemption by Christ’s blood decisively breaks this generational cycle of futility. The passive voice "you were redeemed" stresses that this act was entirely God's initiative, requiring no human merit or material contribution, reinforcing divine grace as the sole means of salvation. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the stark contrast between worldly systems of value (money, tradition) and God's divine standard of value (the sacrificial blood of His Son).

1 Peter 1 18 Commentary

1 Peter 1:18 forms the theological bedrock for the preceding commands concerning holy living and fearing God. Peter unequivocally states that the believer's redemption is a finished, decisive act, purchased at an immeasurable cost. The use of "redeemed" (lytroō) implies a release from bondage through the payment of a price, rather than a mere act of forgiveness. This liberates believers from their "futile way of life," a spiritual emptiness that stemmed from human traditions, whether these were ancestral pagan practices or dead legalism. Earthly riches like silver and gold are explicitly dismissed as inadequate for such a divine transaction, highlighting their perishable nature and incapacity to effect spiritual change. This emphasizes the absolute uniqueness and ultimate sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, foreshadowing the mention of His precious, unblemished blood in the next verse. It means our freedom is not earned or bought by us but freely given to us because of the price Christ paid for us, demanding a response of awe and consecrated living.

• Practical usage: Understanding this means we no longer live bound by empty traditions, superstitions, or even self-help philosophies that lack divine power, but instead are freed to live a purposeful, holy life in light of the priceless redemption received.