1 Peter 4:17
What does 1 Peter 4:17 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 4:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 4:17 means
Peter announces that the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household. This does not mean condemnation for believers, but purifying, fatherly evaluation. God starts with His own people, refining them through trials so that their faith is proved and their lives aligned with His holiness. If this cleansing scrutiny comes to the church, “what shall be the end” for those who refuse the gospel? The implied answer is fearful. The comparison sharpens both comfort and warning: our sufferings are purposeful and purifying, but for the disobedient, judgment will be final and without remedy. Trials now prepare; rejection now invites ruin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the time has come for the judging, starting with the church of God; but if it makes a start with us, what will be the end of those who are not under the rule of God?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because it is the time of the beginning of the judgment from the house of God, and if first from us, what the end of those disobedient to the good news of God?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the time is, that judgment should begin at the house of God. And if at first at us, what shall be the end of them that believe not the gospel of God?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the time of having the judgment begin from the house ofGod [is come]; but if first from us, what [shall be] the end of those who obey not the glad tidings ofGod?
Context
Verse 17 provides the theological frame for Christian suffering introduced in verses 12–16. The church’s trials are part of God’s present, purifying judgment. This contrasts with the ultimate fate of those who do not obey the gospel, setting up the rhetorical intensification in verse 18. The flow moves from exhortation and encouragement to sober reflection, deepening the reader’s grasp of what God is doing through hardship and why steadfastness matters eternally.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 23:31
For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
- Ezekiel 9:6
slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.
- Amos 3:2
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
- Hebrews 12:24
and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.
- Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
- Jeremiah 49:12
For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, they to whom it pertained not to drink of the cup shall assuredly drink; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink.
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