1 Peter 1:21
What does 1 Peter 1:21 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 1:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 1:21 means
Through Christ, believers “are believers in God,” who raised Jesus from the dead and gave him glory. The resurrection and exaltation validate Christ’s work and reveal God’s faithfulness. Therefore, “your faith and hope might be in God”—not in self, circumstance, or any created thing. Jesus is the mediator of true trust, the bridge by which we come to know and rely on the Father. The verse gathers the chapter’s themes: new birth through resurrection hope, God’s power, and the certainty of future glory. Our confidence rests in the God who vindicated his Son and will complete what he began.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who through him have faith in God who took him up again from the dead into glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who through him do believe in God, who did raise out of the dead, and glory to him did give, so that your faith and hope may be in God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who through him are faithful in God who raised him up from the dead and hath given him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who by him do believe onGod, who has raised him from among [the] dead and given him glory, that your faith and hope should be inGod.
Context
Completing the theological section on redemption (vv. 18–21), this verse locates faith and hope firmly in God through Christ’s resurrection and glory. With salvation’s foundation freshly laid, Peter turns in verses 22–25 to the ethical fruit—sincere, fervent love—rooted in purification and new birth through the abiding word of God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Psalms 42:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Andwhy art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him Forthe help of his countenance.
- Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
- Romans 4:24
but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
- Ephesians 1:12
to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
- Hebrews 2:9
But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.
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