1 Peter 3:11
New International Version
They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

New Living Translation
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

English Standard Version
let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

Berean Standard Bible
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Berean Literal Bible
Also let him turn away from evil, and let him do good. Let him seek peace and let him pursue it.

King James Bible
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

New King James Version
Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

New American Standard Bible
“HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

NASB 1995
“HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

NASB 1977
“AND LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

Legacy Standard Bible
HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

Amplified Bible
“HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. HE MUST SEARCH FOR PEACE [with God, with self, with others] AND PURSUE IT EAGERLY [actively—not merely desiring it].

Christian Standard Bible
and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,

American Standard Version
And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

Contemporary English Version
Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road to peace.

English Revised Version
And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They must turn away from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue it.

Good News Translation
You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart.

International Standard Version
He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it.

Majority Standard Bible
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

NET Bible
And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

New Heart English Bible
Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let him shun evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.

Weymouth New Testament
Let him turn from evil, and do good; Let him inquire for peace and go in pursuit of it.

World English Bible
Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
let him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it;

Berean Literal Bible
Also let him turn away from evil, and let him do good. Let him seek peace and let him pursue it.

Young's Literal Translation
let him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it;

Smith's Literal Translation
Let him bend away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and follow it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace and pursue it:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

New American Bible
must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it.

New Revised Standard Version
let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let him refrain from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Let him move away from wickedness and let him do good; let him seek peace and run after it.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
let him turn from evil and do good: let him seek peace, and pursue it.

Godbey New Testament
let him depart from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it:

Haweis New Testament
Let him depart from every wicked thing, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.?

Mace New Testament
he must avoid vice, practise virtue, seek peace, and persevere in the enquiry.

Weymouth New Testament
Let him turn from evil, and do good; Let him inquire for peace and go in pursuit of it.

Worrell New Testament
and let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it;

Worsley New Testament
let him turn away from evil, and do good:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Turning from Evil
10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”…

Cross References
Psalm 34:14
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Isaiah 1:16-17
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Psalm 37:27
Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. / Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.


Treasury of Scripture

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

eschew.

Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job 2:3
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

do.

Psalm 125:4
Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

Matthew 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mark 14:7
For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

seek.

Psalm 120:6,7
My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace…

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Luke 1:79
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Jump to Previous
Avoid Evil Good Heart Inquire Peace Pursue Pursuit Right Searching Seek Shun Turn Turned
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Avoid Evil Good Heart Inquire Peace Pursue Pursuit Right Searching Seek Shun Turn Turned
1 Peter 3
1. He teaches the duty of wives and husbands to each other;
8. exhorting all men to unity and love;
14. and to suffer persecution.
19. He declares also the benefits of Christ toward the old world.














He must turn from evil
This phrase emphasizes the necessity of repentance, a central theme throughout the Bible. Turning from evil involves a conscious decision to reject sin and its influences. In the context of 1 Peter, the early Christians faced persecution and were called to live distinctively holy lives. This call to turn from evil echoes the message of the prophets, such as Isaiah 1:16-17, where the people of Israel are urged to wash themselves and cease to do evil. The concept of turning away from evil is also found in the wisdom literature, such as Proverbs 3:7, which advises fearing the Lord and shunning evil. This turning is not merely a rejection but a transformation of character, aligning with the New Testament call to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

and do good;
The call to "do good" is a proactive command, urging believers to engage in righteous actions. This reflects the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized love and good deeds as evidence of faith (Matthew 5:16). In the Greco-Roman world, where Peter's audience lived, doing good was often associated with civic duty and public honor. However, Peter redefines it as a spiritual obligation, rooted in the character of God. The apostle Paul similarly encourages believers to not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). This phrase underscores the Christian ethic of active goodness, which is not just the absence of evil but the presence of positive, godly action.

he must seek peace
Seeking peace involves both an internal and external pursuit. Internally, it refers to the peace of God that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), which guards the hearts and minds of believers. Externally, it involves living in harmony with others, as much as it depends on the individual (Romans 12:18). In the historical context, early Christians were often at odds with both Jewish and Roman authorities, making the pursuit of peace a challenging yet essential endeavor. This pursuit is not passive but requires effort and intentionality, reflecting the peacemaking nature of Christ, who is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

and pursue it.
The word "pursue" indicates an active, ongoing effort. It suggests that peace is not always easily attained and may require perseverance and sacrifice. This aligns with Jesus' teaching in the Beatitudes, where peacemakers are called blessed (Matthew 5:9). The pursuit of peace is a reflection of God's kingdom values, contrasting with the world's often contentious nature. In the broader biblical narrative, the pursuit of peace is linked to the ultimate reconciliation of all things through Christ (Colossians 1:20). This phrase calls believers to be agents of reconciliation, embodying the peace that Christ has made possible through His sacrifice.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, is the author of this epistle. He writes to encourage and instruct believers facing persecution.

2. Early Christian Communities
The recipients of Peter's letter were early Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, facing trials and needing guidance on living a godly life amidst adversity.

3. Persecution of Christians
The context of Peter's writing includes the persecution of Christians, which required them to live out their faith with integrity and peace.
Teaching Points
Turning from Evil
Christians are called to actively reject sin and evil in their lives. This requires discernment and a commitment to holiness.

Doing Good
Beyond avoiding evil, believers are encouraged to engage in positive actions that reflect God's love and righteousness.

Seeking Peace
Peace is not passive; it requires intentional effort and pursuit. Christians should strive to be peacemakers in their communities and relationships.

Pursuing Peace
The pursuit of peace involves reconciliation, forgiveness, and the promotion of harmony, reflecting the peace of Christ in our interactions.(11) Let him eschew evil.--Literally swerve out of the way from evil. The two former clauses dealt with the domain of word; these two with the domain of action. It suits St. Peter's intention better to take the verse, not as an exhortation to virtue in general, but as an instruction how to behave under provocation and in danger. The "good" which the man is to do is what is kind, not merely what is virtuous; and so, by contrast, the "evil" to be eschewed probably means chiefly what is malicious.

Seek peace, and ensue it.--"As much as in you lieth," says St. Paul, "live peaceably with all men." It is to be a matter of diligent search; and if it seems to flee away it is to be "ensued"--i.e., pursued. The active practical measures here prescribed confirm the surmise that "blessing" in 1Peter 3:8 covered more ground than benedictory prayers.

Verse 11. - Let him eschew evil, and do good; literally, let him turn away from evil. Let him seek peace, and ensue it. Let him seek it as a hidden treasure, and pursue it as if it might escape from him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
He must turn away
ἐκκλινάτω (ekklinatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1578: From ek and klino; to deviate, i.e. to shun, or to decline.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

evil
κακοῦ (kakou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2556: Bad, evil, in the widest sense. Apparently a primary word; worthless, i.e. depraved, or injurious.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

do
ποιησάτω (poiēsatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

good;
ἀγαθόν (agathon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'.

he must seek
ζητησάτω (zētēsatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

peace
εἰρήνην (eirēnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

pursue
διωξάτω (diōxatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

it.
αὐτήν (autēn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Letters: 1 Peter 3:11 Let him turn away from evil and (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)
1 Peter 3:10
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