Devine Scripture

1 Peter 4:9

What does 1 Peter 4:9 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Peter 4:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Peter 4:9 means

Hospitality is love with open doors. Peter urges believers to welcome one another “without murmuring.” In a dispersed and pressured church, sharing homes and tables was essential for fellowship, care, and the spread of the gospel. Doing it without grumbling guards the gift from being spoiled by a resentful spirit. Hospitality makes space for others’ needs at cost to one’s comfort; it reflects God’s welcome to us. The command suggests regular, cheerful practice rather than rare special occasions. In times of hardship, such generosity becomes a refuge and a testimony, showing that Christ has freed His people from self-protection to practical, joyful service.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

using hospitality one to another without murmuring:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

using hospitality one to another without murmuring:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Keep open house for all with a glad heart;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

hospitable to one another, without murmuring;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

hospitable one to another, without murmuring;

Context

Verse 9 follows the call to fervent love (v. 8) with a prominent way that love acts: hospitality. This continues the community focus launched in verse 7 and leads naturally into the stewardship of spiritual gifts in verses 10–11. The flow is from general (love) to specific (hospitality) to comprehensive (use of all gifts). By addressing attitude—“without murmuring”—Peter prepares readers to see service not as mere duty but as grace received and shared, which he will make explicit in the next verses.

v.8above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:

v.9This passage

v.10according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • James 5:9

    Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.

  • Philippians 2:14

    Do all things without murmurings and questionings:

  • Romans 16:23

    Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:7

    Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

  • Hebrews 13:2

    Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

  • Titus 1:8

    but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

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