1 Peter

1 Peter 3:15–17

¹⁵But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.^c Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. ¹⁷For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Footnotes

c 3:15 BYZ and TR But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.This sentence may also be included with the quotation from the previous verse; see Isaiah 8:13|ISA 8:13.

Read all of 1 Peter 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Peter 3:15

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
your	ὑμῶν	hymōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
hearts	καρδίαις	kardiais	Noun - Dative Feminine Plural	G2588 the heart, inner life, intention
sanctify	ἁγιάσατε	hagiasate	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G37 I make holy, sanctify
Christ	Χριστὸν	Christon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G5547 anointed, the Messiah, the Christ
Lord	Κύριον	Kyrion	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
Always	ἀεὶ	aei	Adverb	G104 always
be prepared	ἕτοιμοι	hetoimoi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G2092 ready, prepared
to	πρὸς	pros	Preposition	G4314 to, towards, with
give a defense	ἀπολογίαν	apologian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G627 a verbal defense
to everyone	παντὶ	panti	Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
who	τῷ	tō	Article - Dative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
asks	αἰτοῦντι	aitounti	Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular	G154 I ask, request, beg, petition
you	ὑμᾶς	hymas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
the reason	λόγον	logon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
for	περὶ	peri	Preposition	G4012 about, concerning, around
the	τῆς	tēs	Article - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3588 the
hope	ἐλπίδος	elpidos	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1680 hope, expectation
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
you	ὑμῖν	hymin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
But	ἀλλὰ	alla	Conjunction	G235 but, except
with	μετὰ	meta	Preposition	G3326 with, after
gentleness	πραΰτητος	prautētos	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G4240 mildness, gentleness
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
respect	φόβου	phobou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G5401 fear, terror, reverence

1 Peter 3:16

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
keeping	ἔχοντες	echontes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G2192 I have, hold, possess
a clear	ἀγαθήν	agathēn	Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular	G18 good
conscience	συνείδησιν	syneidēsin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4893 the conscience
so that	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
those who slander you	καταλαλεῖσθε	katalaleisthe	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural	G2635 I speak evil of
may be put to shame	καταισχυνθῶσιν	kataischynthōsin	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Plural	G2617 I shame, disgrace, put to utter confusion
by your	ὑμῶν	hymōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
good	ἀγαθὴν	agathēn	Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular	G18 good
behavior	ἀναστροφήν	anastrophēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G391 behavior, manner of life
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
Christ	Χριστῷ	Christō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G5547 anointed, the Messiah, the Christ

1 Peter 3:17

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
better	κρεῖττον	kreitton	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative	G2909 stronger, more excellent
if	εἰ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
God’s	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
will	θέλημα	thelēma	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G2307 will, wish, desire
to suffer	πάσχειν	paschein	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G3958 I am acted upon, suffer
doing good	ἀγαθοποιοῦντας	agathopoiountas	Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural	G15 I do that which is good
than	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
for doing evil	κακοποιοῦντας	kakopoiountas	Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural	G2554 I do harm, do wrong

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Peter 3:15 Colossians 4:6 · 2 Timothy 2:25–26 · Luke 21:14–15 · 1 Peter 3:2 · Matthew 10:18–20 · Hebrews 6:1 · Psalm 119:46 · Titus 1:2 · Colossians 1:27 · 1 Samuel 12:7 · Colossians 1:23 · Colossians 1:5

1 Peter 3:16 1 Peter 2:12 · 1 Peter 2:15 · Hebrews 13:18 · Titus 2:8 · Matthew 5:11 · 1 Peter 2:19 · Acts 24:16 · 1 Timothy 1:5 · Romans 9:1

1 Peter 3:17 1 Peter 3:14 · 1 Peter 4:19 · Matthew 26:39 · 1 Peter 2:15 · 1 Peter 2:20 · Acts 21:14 · Matthew 26:42 · 1 Peter 4:15

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.