1 Peter 3:6
What does 1 Peter 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 3:6 means
Sarah is cited as a concrete example: she obeyed Abraham and addressed him respectfully as “lord,” signaling deference and honor. Peter assures believing women that they are Sarah’s daughters when they “do well” and refuse to be intimidated. The call is to courageous goodness, not cringing fear. Submission flows from trust in God, not from terror. When a wife honors her husband in the fear of God and continues in good works without panic, she stands in the line of the matriarchs. This offers dignity and encouragement: true beauty is displayed in steadfast, fearless obedience to God, expressed in respectful conduct at home, even amid pressures that might otherwise breed alarm.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949As Sarah was ruled by Abraham, naming him lord; whose children you are if you do well, and are not put in fear by any danger.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him `sir,' of whom ye did become daughters, doing good, and not fearing any terror.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well and not fearing any disturbance.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose children ye have become, doing good, and not fearing with any kind of consternation.
Context
Building from the examples of holy women (verse 5), Peter spotlights Sarah as a model of respectful submission anchored in faith. The phrase about not being “put in fear” connects the call to reverent inner beauty (verse 4) with courage. Having completed counsel to wives (verses 1–6), Peter will address husbands in verse 7, ensuring that his household instructions are balanced. After that, the scope broadens to all believers (verses 8–12), shifting from household dynamics to community virtues and a general ethic of non-retaliation under God’s watchful care (supported by the citation in verses 10–12).
v.5For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
v.6This passage
v.7Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell withyour wivesaccording to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 18:15
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
- 1 Peter 3:14
But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
- Matthew 26:69
Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilæan.
- Isaiah 57:11
And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?
- Galatians 4:22
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
- Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
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