1 Peter 2:9
What does 1 Peter 2:9 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 2:9 means
Believers are named as an “elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.” These titles bestow a new, dignified identity derived from God’s choice and consecration. Royal priesthood combines nearness to the King with service for Him. The purpose is missional: “that ye may show forth the excellencies” of God—the beauty of His character and saving acts. He called them out of darkness into His marvellous light, rescuing them from ignorance and sin into truth and life. Identity leads to proclamation; grace received becomes grace announced. The church exists to make God’s greatness visible and audible in a dark world.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
KJV
King James Version · 1611But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and ye <FI>are<Fi> a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous light;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;
Context
After describing the different outcomes of belief and unbelief (vv. 6–8), verse 9 celebrates who believers are in Christ and why they exist. The language echoes Israel’s covenant titles, now applied to the church’s mixed Jew-Gentile community in Him. Verse 10 will intensify this by contrasting past alienation with present mercy. Together, these verses anchor ethical exhortations (vv. 11–17) in a rich gospel identity: we live well because we belong to God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 2:5
ye 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.
- Isaiah 43:20
The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
- Ephesians 5:8
for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
- Romans 9:24
even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
- Deuteronomy 14:2
For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, and Jehovah hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.
- Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.
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