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For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1 Peter 2:19 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.
  • BSB For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
  • NKJV For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
  • NASB For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.
  • NLT For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

It is commendable before God when someone endures unjust suffering out of conscience toward him. God values patient endurance of undeserved pain for his sake.

Overview

Peter explains why submission even under injustice is meaningful: enduring unjust suffering 'because of conscience toward God' is gracious in his sight. The believer's awareness of God transforms mistreatment into an occasion for faithful witness. This prepares for the example of Christ, who supremely endured undeserved suffering.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 16

  • Matt 5:10–12Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • 1 Pet 3:14–17But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
  • 1 Pet 2:20For 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.
  • Luke 6:32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
  • 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
  • Rom 13:5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
  • John 15:21But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
  • 2 Tim 1:12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
  • 2 Cor 8:1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
  • 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
  • Ps 119:86All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
  • Ps 35:19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
  • Ps 69:4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
  • Ps 38:19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
  • Job 21:27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
  • Acts 11:23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Peter videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Peter 2:19YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 PeterMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The lamb without blemish foreknown before the world, who bore our sins in his body on the tree, by whose wounds we are healed — the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

How 1 Peter 2:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.