1 Peter 2:18
What does 1 Peter 2:18 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 2:18 means
Servants are told to be subject to their masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the harsh. This does not celebrate injustice; it recognizes that many believers occupy powerless positions. In such places, Christian faith shines through patient, respectful endurance. Submission here is not complicity with evil but a Godward posture that refuses retaliation and trusts divine justice. The command dignifies servants as moral agents whose conduct matters to God and witnesses to Christ, even when wronged. Peter speaks pastorally to sufferers, calling them to a Christlike path that honors God in hard circumstances.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Servants, bein subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Servants, bein subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Servants, take orders from your masters with all respect; not only if they are good and gentle, but even if they are bad-humoured.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The domestics! be subjecting yourselves in all fear to the masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the cross;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Servants, [be] subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill-tempered.
Context
Following general social duties (v.17), verse 18 narrows the focus to servants, a group likely to face unfair treatment. Verses 19–20 will explain why patient endurance under injustice is pleasing to God. This prepares for the climactic grounding in verses 21–25: Christ Himself suffered unjustly, leaving an example and accomplishing salvation through His wounds. The argument moves from practical counsel to theological foundation, ensuring that exhortation rests on the gospel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 3:2
to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
- 1 Timothy 6:1
Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.
- Ephesians 6:5
Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
- Proverbs 3:32
For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.
- James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
- Proverbs 11:20
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
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