1 Peter 3:7
What does 1 Peter 3:7 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 3:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 3:7 means
Husbands are charged to live with their wives “according to knowledge”—with understanding of God’s design, their wives’ needs, and the weight of their own calling. They must show honor to the woman as the “weaker vessel,” likely acknowledging physical or social vulnerability, not moral or spiritual inferiority. Crucially, wives are “joint-heirs of the grace of life,” equal partners in salvation and dignity. To fail in honor is not a small matter: it hinders prayer. God ties piety at home to access in prayer, pressing husbands to treat their wives as precious. The Christian husband, then, combines thoughtful care with reverent recognition that his wife stands beside him in grace, not beneath him in worth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Ye 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Ye 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And you husbands, give thought to your way of life with your wives, giving honour to the woman who is the feebler vessel, but who has an equal part in the heritage of the grace of life; so that you may not be kept from prayer.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The husbands, in like manner, dwelling with <FI>them<Fi> , according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel--to the wife--imparting honour, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Ye husbands, likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel and as to the co-heirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[Ye] husbands likewise, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, as with a weaker, [even] the female, vessel, giving [them] honour, as also fellow-heirs of [the] grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
Context
After instructing wives (verses 1–6), Peter addresses husbands to complete the household code. The balance matters: Christian marriage requires mutual responsibility—wives adorn the gospel through reverent submission; husbands honor and understand their wives as co-heirs. The warning about hindered prayers shows how seriously God takes household conduct. From here, Peter widens the lens to the whole church (verses 8–12), calling all believers to unity, compassion, humility, and blessing others rather than retaliating, supported by Scripture’s assurance of God’s favor toward the righteous and His opposition to evildoers (verses 10–12).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4
that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
- Malachi 2:14
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
- Matthew 19:3
And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
- Matthew 18:19
Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.
- Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
- Matthew 5:23
If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,
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