1 Peter 1:24
What does 1 Peter 1:24 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 1:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 1:24 means
Peter cites Scripture: “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth.” Human life and its achievements are transient, beautiful for a moment but quickly fading. This sobering truth relativizes worldly status and accomplishment. In contrast to perishable flesh, God’s purposes stand firm. For believers, this means anchoring identity, hope, and conduct in what lasts. It also explains why love, born of imperishable seed, is a wiser investment than self-glory. Our frailty drives us to depend on the abiding word that gave us life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:
KJV
King James Version · 1611For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For it is said, All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass becomes dry and the flower dead:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because all flesh <FI>is<Fi> as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For all flesh is as grass and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass is withered and the flower thereof is fallen away.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Because all flesh [is] as grass, and all its glory as [the] flower of grass. The grass has withered and [its] flower has fallen;
Context
Verse 24 prepares for the climactic contrast in verse 25: human transience versus the word’s permanence. By rehearsing human frailty, Peter reinforces the need to root Christian life in the imperishable word that begot us (v. 23). This undergirds the call to fervent love, which expresses what is lasting rather than what withers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 1:10
and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
- 2 Kings 19:26
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted before it is grown up.
- Psalms 92:7
When the wicked spring as the grass, And when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; It is that they shall be destroyed for ever.
- Psalms 103:15
As for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
- James 4:14
whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Psalms 102:4
My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.
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