For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
Parallel translations
- WEB For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
- KJV For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
- BSB For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,
- NASB For in this way the holy women of former times, who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,
- NLT This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.
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
The holy women of old who hoped in God adorned themselves this way, submitting to their husbands. Godly women throughout Scripture model trust in God expressed through inner beauty.
Overview
Peter appeals to 'the holy women before' as examples of the inner adornment he commends. Their hope was set 'in God,' and that trust expressed itself in respectful submission to their husbands. This grounds his instruction not in cultural fashion but in the consistent pattern of faithful women across redemptive history.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 5:5Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
- Titus 2:3–4and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
- Acts 9:36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
- Prov 31:30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
- 1 Tim 2:15but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.
- 1 Tim 5:10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
- Luke 8:2–3and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
- Luke 2:37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.
- Heb 11:11By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
- Jer 49:11Leave your fatherless children. I will preserve them alive. Let your widows trust in me.”
- 1 Sam 2:1Hannah prayed, and said: “My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
- 1 Pet 3:2–4seeing your pure behavior in fear.
- Acts 1:14All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
- Prov 31:10Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
- 1 Tim 2:10but (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:5 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.