1 Peter 2:5
What does 1 Peter 2:5 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 2:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 2:5 means
Joined to Christ, believers also become “living stones,” formed into a “spiritual house”—a temple where God dwells by His Spirit. They are not merely the building; they are also a “holy priesthood,” set apart to draw near to God and to represent Him to the world. Their offerings are “spiritual sacrifices,” not animal offerings, but acts of praise, prayer, obedience, generosity, and service arising from renewed hearts. Crucially, all is “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Union with Him gives both access and acceptability. In Christ, ordinary people become God’s sanctuary and priests, turning every arena of life into a place of consecrated worship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable toGod by Jesus Christ.
Context
Verse 5 expands the building metaphor introduced in verse 4. Christ is the living stone; those who come to Him are built together and commissioned. The priestly language anticipates the rich identity statements in verses 9–10. Before that, verses 6–8 ground this imagery in Scripture, showing that the cornerstone theme and the divided response to Him were foretold. The sequence is Christ (v.4), church (v.5), Scripture support (vv.6–8).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
- Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
- Isaiah 66:21
And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah.
- 1 Peter 4:11
if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- Philippians 4:18
But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
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