OET interlinear 1 PET 3:9

3:9

This is similar to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:27–28. If a Christian is treated badly by someone, he must do good to that person. God expects his people to behave like that, and he will bless them if they do.

3:9a

Do not repay evil with evil: The phrase Do not repay evil with evil means “Do not do evil to someone in return for the evil they have done to you.” In some languages it may be natural to translate it as a conditional statement:

If someone does evil to you, do not do evil back to them

When someone harms you, do not take revenge

3:9b

or: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as or here introduces another thing that believers were not to do. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as:

and

insult with insult: There is some implied information here. The words “Do not repay” from 9a are implied at the beginning of this verse part. The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Do not repay insult with insult in this context means “Do not speak evil to someone in return for the evil they have spoken to you.” Some other ways this phrase has been translated are:

Do not pay back…cursing with cursing (GNT)

Do not repay…abuse with abuse (REB)

3:9c

but: The Greek conjunction de that the BSB translates as but introduces what believers were to do instead of returning evil for evil. Here is another way to translate this transition:

Instead (CEV)

with blessing: In some languages it may be natural to supply a verb here, probably the same verb that you used in 3:9a and 3:9b. The NCV has:

repay with a blessing

In other languages it may be natural to translate the noun blessing as a verb:

bless them (GW)

bless others (NET)

blessing: There are two ways of interpreting the word blessing here:

1. It means that Christians should ask God to bless their enemies. See Matthew 5:44.

2. It means that Christians should do good to their enemies. For example, the CEV says:

   treat everyone with kindness (BSB, CEV, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV)

Most English versions are ambiguous. If you must choose between these two interpretations, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1), which has the support of most commentaries.

3:9d

to this you were called: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as to this you were called:

1. It refers backward to 3:9c and means “God called you to bless others.” For example:

   That is what you were called to do (NJB) (BSB, RSV, KJV, NLT, NCV, NIV, NJB)

2. It refers forward to 3:9e and means “God called you in order to bless you.” For example:

   for a blessing is what God intends you to receive (REB) (NASB, REB, GNT, CEV, NET, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This agrees with 2:21, where the context is similar.

The phrase to this you were called is passive. God is the one who is doing the calling. In some languages it may be more natural to express this in an active form. For example:

to this God has called you

called: The word called in this context means “invited” or “summoned.” The CEV translates this phrase as:

You are God’s chosen ones (CEV)

3:9e

so that: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as so that here introduces the reason/purpose why God called his people to bless others. See how you translated similar expressions in 2:21 (“that”) and 2:24b (“so that”).

you may inherit a blessing: The phrase you may inherit a blessing means “you will receive a blessing.” It is implied that it is God who will give the blessing. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit:

God will give you a blessing

God will bless you