1 Peter 3 11

1 Peter 3:11 kjv

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

1 Peter 3:11 nkjv

Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:11 niv

They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:11 esv

let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:11 nlt

Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

1 Peter 3 verses

1 Peter 3 11 Meaning

This verse presents a clear and concise imperative for ethical living for believers. It commands an active renunciation of evil in all its forms and a simultaneous, diligent commitment to good deeds. Beyond simply avoiding wrongdoing, it requires a proactive and earnest search for and pursuit of peace, which encompasses holistic well-being, harmony, and right relationships, reflecting a Christ-like character even amidst suffering.

1 Peter 3 11 Context

1 Peter 3:11 is part of a broader section (1 Peter 3:8-12) where Peter exhorts believers to unity, brotherly love, sympathy, compassion, and humility. This counsel comes immediately after addressing the roles of husbands and wives and before detailing Christ's suffering and its implications for believers. The immediate context (3:9) advises against repaying evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but rather to bless. Verse 11, directly quoting Psalm 34:14, reinforces the practical means of achieving this counter-cultural lifestyle of blessing in the face of mistreatment. Peter is writing to Christians who are experiencing or are about to experience suffering and persecution. His aim is to guide them on how to live godly lives that honor Christ amidst such challenging circumstances, emphasizing that ethical conduct and the pursuit of peace are not options but necessities for those who truly believe. This moral conduct demonstrates the reality of their faith and acts as a testimony.

1 Peter 3 11 Word Analysis

• Let him turn away (Greek: ekklivato - ἐκκλινάτω): This is an aorist imperative, conveying a strong, immediate, and decisive command to actively move away from, to avoid, to swerve off course from. It implies a conscious and intentional separation from. It's not a passive withdrawal but a deliberate renunciation.
• from evil (Greek: apo kakou - ἀπὸ κακοῦ): Refers to what is morally bad, wicked, or harmful. It encompasses not just specific sinful acts but also evil thoughts, intentions, and influences. This signifies a fundamental moral redirection away from all forms of wickedness.
• and do good (Greek: poiesato agathon - ποιησάτω ἀγαθόν): Poiesato is an aorist imperative, meaning to make or do; agathon refers to what is inherently good, right, beneficial, or virtuous. This command is the positive counterpart to turning from evil, requiring proactive engagement in righteous, God-honoring, and neighbor-loving actions. It is not enough to simply cease evil; one must actively pursue and perform good.
• let him seek peace (Greek: zetesato eirenen - ζητησάτω εἰρήνην): Zetesato is an aorist imperative, meaning to seek, search for, investigate, or inquire after. Eirenen (eirene) translates to peace, which in the biblical sense (derived from Hebrew shalom) is much more than the absence of conflict. It encompasses wholeness, well-being, harmony, prosperity, and right relationships with God, self, others, and creation. This implies a deliberate and earnest effort to discover and secure true shalom.
• and pursue it (Greek: dioksato auten - διωξάτω αὐτήν): Dioksato is an aorist imperative, carrying the meaning to chase, follow after earnestly, strive after, press on, or even pursue in a hunting sense. This intensifies the command to "seek peace." It indicates relentless, persistent effort and zeal in striving for peace, overcoming obstacles, and making sacrifices to attain and maintain it. It implies an active, often strenuous, commitment to peace-making, not just wishing for it.

Words-group analysis:

• "Let him turn away from evil and do good": This phrase embodies the core principle of biblical repentance: a decisive departure from sin (negative) coupled with an active embrace of righteousness (positive). It calls for a life marked by ethical discernment and moral transformation, moving beyond mere abstinence from wrong into diligent, Christ-like action. It requires a changed heart manifesting in changed behavior.
• "Let him seek peace and pursue it": This is a powerful, two-pronged command emphasizing the proactive and persistent nature of Christian peacemaking. "Seeking" denotes intention and discovery—finding opportunities for peace. "Pursuing" signifies effort and tenacity—diligently working towards reconciliation and harmony even when challenging. It’s an active engagement, not passive waiting, and often involves courageously overcoming divisions and conflict. This dual imperative stresses that peace is not an accidental outcome but the result of earnest and sustained labor.

1 Peter 3 11 Bonus Section

This verse highlights a powerful dynamic between personal ethics and communal harmony, rooted in the character of God who is "the God of peace" (Phil 4:9). Peter applies a principle originally found in the wisdom literature (Psalm 34:12-16) to the unique circumstances of the New Covenant Church facing suffering. The implication for the suffering Christian is that their steadfast pursuit of good and peace, even in the face of evil, is what distinguishes them and aligns them with God's will. Such a life of moral integrity and peacemaking demonstrates an authentic faith and secures divine favor (as implied in the preceding Ps 34 verses and Peter's overall message about suffering for righteousness). This also connects to the Lord's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where blessings are promised to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and those who are peacemakers. The peace being sought and pursued is thus an internal disposition from God's Spirit as well as an outward, relational state that believers actively cultivate.

1 Peter 3 11 Commentary

1 Peter 3:11 serves as a profound call to practical holiness, encapsulating the essence of ethical conduct expected from believers. Drawn from Psalm 34, it outlines a two-fold dynamic of disengagement from all forms of evil and passionate engagement in goodness. The phrase "turn away from evil" implies a radical break with sinful practices, thoughts, and influences. It demands a decisive choice to forsake wickedness, not just to tolerate it at a distance, but to actively move away from its pervasive power. Conversely, "do good" means more than merely avoiding harm; it's a positive command to initiate, create, and practice acts of righteousness, compassion, and benefit towards others, reflecting God's own benevolent nature.

The second pair of imperatives, "seek peace and pursue it," escalates the commitment. "Seeking" indicates an investigative and intentional search for holistic well-being (shalom), both within oneself and in relationships. It means looking for opportunities to reconcile, to build bridges, and to foster harmony. "Pursuing" adds a layer of zealous, determined, and enduring effort. Peace is not something that passively happens; it must be diligently chased and tirelessly worked for, even when it requires sacrifice, humility, or overcoming adversity. For early Christians facing persecution, this meant responding to mistreatment with Christ-like grace and working towards reconciliation rather than retaliation, demonstrating the transforming power of the Gospel. It challenges believers to be agents of divine shalom in a broken world. This verse underscores that ethical living is not static but dynamic, requiring both discernment and relentless exertion.