The Meaning of 1 Peter 1:16 Explained

1 Peter 1:16

KJV: Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

YLT: because it hath been written, 'Become ye holy, because I am holy;'

Darby: because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.

ASV: because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because  it is written,  Be ye  holy;  for  I  am  holy. 

What does 1 Peter 1:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Peter reinforced this imperative with an Old Testament quotation (cf. Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7).
"When it comes to the use of the OT, 1Peter stands out among the NT letters, especially when one compares the number of citations and allusions to the length of the letter1Peter contains about the same number of OT references per unit of text as does Hebrews. Only Revelation contains more." [1]
The writer just quoted listed nine citations of Old Testament passages in1Peter and20 allusions to Old Testament passages.
In the context, Israel was to be holy so she could have intimate fellowship with God. We cannot expect to enjoy intimate fellowship with God who is holy unless we are holy too. Intimate fellowship with God is the greatest good human beings can experience (cf. Philippians 3:8), but without holiness it is impossible.
"The Word reveals God"s mind, so we should learn it; God"s heart, so we should love it; God"s will, so we should live it. Our whole being-mind, will, and heart-should be controlled by the Word of God....
"We do not study the Bible just to get to know the Bible. We study the Bible that we might get to know God better. Too many earnest Bible students are content with outlines and explanations, and do not really get to know God. It is good to know the Word of God, but this should help us better know the God of the Word." [2]

Context Summary

1 Peter 1:13-25 - Redeemed And Purified
The appeal for a holy life is enforced by considering the great cost of our redemption and the great hope which is opened before us. Ours must be the girded loins, lest our desires trail after forbidden things, or be sullied by the mud on the road. We must be holy, as God is: and this can be realized only when we allow God, by His Holy Spirit, to pour Himself into our natures.
There is no fear like that which love begets. We do not fear God with the fear of the slave or felon, but with the fear of the love that cannot endure the thought of giving pain to the loving and loved. Who can think of returning to Egypt, when such a Passover lamb has redeemed us! Our redemption was not an after-thought with God. It is part of an eternal plan; let us not get entangled in the meshes of mere earthly ambition. Notice the familiar combination of faith, hope and love, 1 Peter 1:21-22. But these graces are only indigenous in those who have been twice born by the Spirit through the Word. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 1

1  Peter praises God for his manifold spiritual graces;
10  showing that the salvation in Christ the fulfillment of prophesy;
13  and exhorts them accordingly to be holy

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 1:16

Because it is written [διοτι γεγραπται]
“Because The quotation is from Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7. Reenforced by Jesus in Matthew 5:48. The future εσεστε — esesthe here is volitive like an imperative. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 1:16

1 Peter 1:24 For [διοτι]
As in 1 Peter 1:16 First aorist (gnomic, timeless) passive indicative of χηραινω — xērainō (see James 1:11).Falleth Second aorist (gnomic, timeless) active indicative of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō (see James 1:11). sa120 [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 1:16 mean?

because it has been written - Holy you shall be because I holy am
διότι γέγραπται ‹ὅτι› Ἅγιοι ἔσεσθε ὅτι ἐγὼ ἅγιος [εἰμι]

διότι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: διότι  
Sense: on this account that, because.
γέγραπται  it  has  been  written 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
‹ὅτι›  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ἅγιοι  Holy 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
ἔσεσθε  you  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἅγιος  holy 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Peter 1:16?

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