Bible Strands
1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Peter writes to dispersed believers enduring unjust persecution, using Christ’s passion as the immediate behavioral model. He addresses them at a moment when natural retaliation feels justified but divine judgment remains the only proper refuge.
The words — The Greek loidoroumenos (being reviled) and paredidou (He was delivering) frame the verse’s core contrast between human abuse and voluntary surrender. Peter explicitly states that Jesus neither retaliated against insults nor threatened His attackers.
The thread — This pattern directly echoes Isaiah 53:7’s silent lamb, 1 Peter 4:19’s command to entrust souls to the Creator, and Hebrews 12:3’s instruction to endure hostility without fainting. The motif ties Christ’s passive suffering to the believer’s ongoing trials.
Why it lands — The text commands those facing unjust treatment to cease retaliation and actively commit their situation to God’s impartial judgment. It requires practical trust and continued obedience rather than emotional reaction when suffering occurs.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- 1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- Hebrews 12:3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
- Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
- Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
- Acts 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
- 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Psalms 31:5 Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
- 2 Timothy 4:8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.