The Meaning of 1 Peter 2:17 Explained

1 Peter 2:17

KJV: Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

YLT: to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.

Darby: Shew honour to all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.

ASV: Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Honour  all  [men]. Love  the brotherhood.  Fear  God.  Honour  the king. 

What does 1 Peter 2:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

These four injunctions summarize our social obligations. The first two and the last two are pairs. We should respect everyone, but we should love fellow believers. God deserves fear whereas the emperor is worthy of respect. These two pairs connect with Jesus" teachings that we should love our enemies ( Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27; Luke 6:35) and render to Caesar what is his and to God what is His ( Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25). [1]
All people are worthy of honor if for no other reason than because they reflect the image of God. Our primary responsibility to other Christians is to show them love (cf. 1 Peter 1:22; John 13:35). Our primary responsibility to God is to show Him fear (reverence, cf. 1 Peter 1:17). Peter added a final word about the king. He probably did so because his readers found it especially difficult to honor the Roman emperor, who was evidently Nero when Peter wrote this epistle (cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-2).
"Peter called believers to a different spirit, a spirit of deference-even while experiencing undeserved persecution. The word "deference" conveys the idea of thoughtful consideration of another individual"s desires or feelings or the courteous, respectful, or ingratiating regard for another"s wishes....
""Deference" refers to a proper attitude that results in behavior characterized by respect." [2]
Respect is not the same as honor. We may not respect someone, but we can and should still honor him or her. For example, I have a friend whose father was an alcoholic. My friend did not respect his father who was frequently drunk, often humiliated his wife and children, and failed to provide for his family adequately. Nevertheless my friend honored his father because he was his father. He demonstrated honor by taking him home when his father could not get home by himself. He sometimes had to defend him from people who would have taken advantage of him when he was drunk.
Similarly we may not be able to respect certain government officials because of their personal behavior or beliefs. Still we can and should honor them because they occupy an office that places them in a position of authority over us. We honor them because they occupy the office; we do not just honor the office. Peter commanded us to honor the king and all who are in authority over us, not just the offices they occupy. We may not respect someone, but we can and should honor them by treating them with respect. Respecting people and treating them with respect are two different things. Feeling respect for someone is different than showing respect for someone. Honoring others is our responsibility; earning our respect is theirs. This is especially difficult when those in authority are persecuting us.

Context Summary

1 Peter 2:11-17 - The Christian Pilgrim's Walk
Strong desires must be kept under the stronger hand of the Christian soul-not extirpated but turned into right directions as God's providence points the way. Our desires ultimately rule our prayers and our life. We must therefore keep them above all else, for out of the heart are the issues of life. "Cleanse thou the thoughts of our heart by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee." God does not wish the extirpation of any element of our nature, but its consecration. We must not allow wrong things; and we must not allow the abuse or excess of right ones. The silent witness of a holy life or a well-ordered home is of incalculable worth. Oh that people in contact with us may turn from us to glorify God! See 1 Peter 2:12.
Though we do not belong to this world, but are passing through it to our home, we should show ourselves willing to conform to the institutions and customs of the world around us, so far as we can do so without injury to conscience or betrayal of the rights of Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 2

1  He exhorts to put away wickedness;
4  showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built
11  He beseeches them also to abstain from sinful desires;
13  to be obedient to authorities;
18  and teaches servants how to obey their masters;
20  patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 2:17

Honour all men [παντας τιμησατε]
Not with the same honour. Constative use of the aorist imperative. [source]
Love the brotherhood [την αδελποτητα αγαπατε]
Present active imperative of αγαπαω — agapaō keep on doing it. Note the abstract αδελποτης — adelphotēs (from αδελπος — adelphos brother) in the collective sense, rare save in ecclesiastical literature, though in 1 Maccabees 12:10; 4Macc. 10:3, and in late papyri. It is a word for all Christians. Fear God (τον τεον ποβειστε — ton theon phobeisthe). In both senses of reverence and dread, and keep it up (present middle imperative). Honour the king Keep that up also. A fine motto in this verse. [source]
Fear God [τον τεον ποβειστε]
In both senses of reverence and dread, and keep it up (present middle imperative). [source]
Honour the king [τον βασιλεα τιματε]
Keep that up also. A fine motto in this verse. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 2:17

Romans 12:10 In honor preferring one another [τῇ τιμῇ ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι]
The verb occurs only here. It means to go before as a guide. Honor is the honor due from each to all. Compare Philemon 2:3; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 5:5. Hence, leading the way in showing the honor that is due. Others render antcipating and excelling. [source]
1 Peter 5:9 Brethren [ἀδελφότητι]
Lit., brotherhood. Only here and 1 Peter 2:17. [source]
1 Peter 3:7 Ye husbands likewise [οι ανδρες ομοιως]
Probably “likewise” here refers to honouring all men (1 Peter 2:17), not “likewise” of 1 Peter 3:1. [source]
1 Peter 5:9 Steadfast in your faith [στερεοι τηι πιστει]
Locative case πιστει — pistei Στερεος — Stereos is old adjective for solid like a foundation (2 Timothy 2:19).The same sufferings (τα αυτα των πατηματων — ta auta tōn pathēmatōn). An unusual construction with the genitive rather than the usual τα αυτα πατηματα — ta auta pathēmata perhaps as Hofmann suggests, “the same tax of sufferings” (“the same things in sufferings”). Probably this is correct and is like Xenophon‘s phrase in the Memorabilia (IV. 8. 8), τα του γηρως επιτελεισται — ta tou gērōs epiteleisthai (to pay the tax of old age).Are accomplished Present (and so process) middle (you are paying) or passive (is paid) infinitive of επιτελεω — epiteleō old verb, to accomplish (2 Corinthians 7:1).In your brethren who are in the world (τηι εν τωι κοσμωι υμων αδελποτητι — tēi en tōi kosmōi humōn adelphotēti). Associate-instrumental case αδελποτητι — adelphotēti (in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:17, which see) after τα αυτα — ta auta (like 1 Corinthians 11:5) or dative after επιτελεισται — epiteleisthai Even so ειδοτες — eidotes (second perfect active participle of οιδα — oida) with an infinitive usually means “knowing how to” (object infinitive) as in Luke 12:56; Philemon 3:18 rather than “knowing that” (indirect assertion) as taken above. [source]
1 Peter 5:9 Are accomplished [επιτελεισται]
Present (and so process) middle (you are paying) or passive (is paid) infinitive of επιτελεω — epiteleō old verb, to accomplish (2 Corinthians 7:1).In your brethren who are in the world (τηι εν τωι κοσμωι υμων αδελποτητι — tēi en tōi kosmōi humōn adelphotēti). Associate-instrumental case αδελποτητι — adelphotēti (in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:17, which see) after τα αυτα — ta auta (like 1 Corinthians 11:5) or dative after επιτελεισται — epiteleisthai Even so ειδοτες — eidotes (second perfect active participle of οιδα — oida) with an infinitive usually means “knowing how to” (object infinitive) as in Luke 12:56; Philemon 3:18 rather than “knowing that” (indirect assertion) as taken above. [source]
1 Peter 5:9 In your brethren who are in the world [τηι εν τωι κοσμωι υμων αδελποτητι]
Associate-instrumental case αδελποτητι — adelphotēti (in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:17, which see) after τα αυτα — ta auta (like 1 Corinthians 11:5) or dative after επιτελεισται — epiteleisthai Even so ειδοτες — eidotes (second perfect active participle of οιδα — oida) with an infinitive usually means “knowing how to” (object infinitive) as in Luke 12:56; Philemon 3:18 rather than “knowing that” (indirect assertion) as taken above. [source]
1 John 2:9 His brother [τὸν ἀδελφόν]
His fellow-Christian. The singular, brother, is characteristic of this Epistle. See 1 John 2:10, 1 John 2:11; 1 John 3:10, 1 John 3:15, 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:20, 1 John 4:21; 1 John 5:16. Christians are called in the New Testament, Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16), mainly by those outside of the Christian circle. Disciples, applied to all followers of Christ (John 2:11; John 6:61) and strictly to the twelve (John 13:5sqq.). In Acts 19:1, to those who had received only John's baptism. Not found in John's Epistles nor in Revelation. Brethren. The first title given to the body of believers after the Ascension (Acts 1:15, where the true reading is ἀδελφῶν brethrenfor μαθητῶν disciples). See Acts 9:30; Acts 10:23; Acts 11:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 John 3:14; 3 John 1:5, 3 John 1:10; John 21:23. Peter has ἡ ἀδελφότης thebrotherhood (1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 5:9). The believers. Under three forms: The believers ( οἱ πιστοί ; Acts 10:45; 1 Timothy 4:12); they that believe ( οἱ πιστεύοντες ; 1 Peter 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; Ephesians 1:19); they that believed ( οἱ πιστεύσαντες ; Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32; Hebrews 4:3). The saints ( οἱ ἅγιοι ); characteristic of Paul and Revelation. Four times in the Acts (Acts 9:13, Acts 9:32, Acts 9:41; Acts 26:10), and once in Jude (Judges 1:3). Also Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 13:24. In Paul, 1 Corinthians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 1:15, etc. In Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3, Revelation 8:4; Revelation 11:18, etc.|Until now ( ἕως ἄρτι )|Though the light has been increasing, and though he may claim that he has been in the light from the first. The phrase occurs in John 2:10; John 5:17; John 16:24; and is used by Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 15:6.| [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 2:17 mean?

Everyone honor The brotherhood love - God fear the king honor
Πάντας τιμήσατε τὴν ἀδελφότητα ἀγαπᾶτε τὸν Θεὸν φοβεῖσθε τὸν βασιλέα τιμᾶτε

Πάντας  Everyone 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
τιμήσατε  honor 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: τιμάω  
Sense: to estimate, fix the value.
ἀδελφότητα  brotherhood 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀδελφότης  
Sense: brotherhood, brotherly kindness.
ἀγαπᾶτε  love 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸν  God 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
φοβεῖσθε  fear 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).
βασιλέα  king 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: βασιλεύς  
Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
τιμᾶτε  honor 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: τιμάω  
Sense: to estimate, fix the value.