Bible Strands

1 Peter 3:11

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

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Peter writes to scattered believers in Asia Minor, quoting Psalm 34:14 within a passage (3:8–12) on the conduct that marks those who fear the Lord.

The words — ἐκκλινάτω (ekklinatō) is a jussive aorist: "let him turn aside," carrying the force of a direct command rather than a suggestion. ποιησάτω (poiēsatō), likewise a jussive aorist, pairs with it as "let him do," making the verse a two-part imperative: away from one thing, toward another.

The thread — The verse is a direct quotation of Psalm 34:14; the peace motif it carries reappears in Matthew 5:9 and Hebrews 12:14.

Why it lands — It is a command issued in the third person, which in Hebrew and Greek idiom functions as a universal "you": the reader is the one who must turn, do, seek, and pursue.

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

ἐκκλινάτωekklinatōhe should turn awayδὲdealsoἀπὸapofromκακοῦkakouevilκαὶkaiandποιησάτωpoiēsatōhe should doἀγαθόν,agathongood,ζητησάτωzētēsatōhe should seekεἰρήνηνeirēnēnpeaceκαὶkaiandδιωξάτωdiōxatōhe should pursueαὐτήν.autēnit.

King James Version

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

Cross-references