1 Peter 2:14

Mace New Testament

as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill,

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

Simplified Cowboy Version
or an elected official. The king has sent them to dole out punishment on those who do wrong and give a pat on the back to those who do right.

Bible in Basic English
And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well.

Darby Translation
or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.

World English Bible
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
as sent by him, for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well.

Weymouth's New Testament
or to provincial Governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and the encouragement of those who do what is right.

King James Version (1611)
Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of euil doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.

Literal Translation
or to governors, as through Him having indeed being sent for vengeance on evildoers, but praise on well doers,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
or vnto rulers, as vnto them that are sent of him, for the punyshment of euell doers, but for the prayse of the that do well.

Amplified Bible
or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right.

American Standard Version
or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

Revised Standard Version
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
other vnto rulars as vnto them that are sent of him for the punysshment of evyll doars: but for the laude of them that do well.

Update Bible Version
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those that do well.

Webster's Bible Translation
Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Young's Literal Translation
whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

New Century Version
and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

New English Translation
or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.

Berean Standard Bible
or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Contemporary English Version
You must also obey governors, because they are sent by the Emperor to punish criminals and to praise good citizens.

Complete Jewish Bible
or to governors as being sent by him to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do what is good.

English Standard Version
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of euill doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.

George Lamsa Translation
Or to judges because from them officers are sent for the punishment of offenders, and to bestow honour on those who do good.

Christian Standard Bible®
or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.

Hebrew Names Version
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well.

International Standard Version
or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.Romans 13:3-4;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and to judges, because from him they are sent for the punishment of transgressors, and for the commendation of good works.

Murdock Translation
and to judges, because they are sent by him for the punishment of offenders, and for the praise of them that do well.

New King James Version
or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

New Living Translation
or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

New Life Bible
Obey the men who work for them. God sends them to punish those who do wrong and to show respect to those who do right.

English Revised Version
or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil–doers and for praise to them that do well.

New Revised Standard
or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Or unto governors, as, through him, sent - for vengeance on evil-doers, but praise to such as do good;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good.

King James Version
Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Lexham English Bible
or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Other vnto rulers, as vnto them that are sent of hym for the punyshment of euyll doers, but for the laude of them that do well.

Easy-to-Read Version
And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good.

New American Standard Bible
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

Good News Translation
and to the governors, who have been appointed by him to punish the evildoers and to praise those who do good.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
ethir to duykis, as to thilke that ben sent of hym to the veniaunce of mysdoers, and to the preisyng of good men.

Contextual Overview

¹³ and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, ¹⁴ as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill, ¹⁵ and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate ¹⁶ men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants ¹⁷ of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king. ¹⁸ You that are servants, be subject to your masters with all reverence: not only to such as are kind and gentle, ¹⁹ but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution ²⁰ from a principle of conscience. what glory is there in suffering corporal punishment for real offences? but if you meet with ill usage for doing your duty, and bear it with constancy, ²¹ this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us, ²² leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

for the punishment: Romans 13:3, Romans 13:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:12 - General Judges 18:7 - magistrate 1 Samuel 10:25 - General 2 Chronicles 19:5 - General Nehemiah 13:21 - I will lay Isaiah 53:2 - he hath no Daniel 6:1 - Darius 1 Corinthians 11:17 - I praise 1 Thessalonians 2:2 - shamefully 2 Timothy 2:9 - as 1 Peter 4:2 - no 2 Peter 2:10 - despise

Cross-References

Revelation 9:14
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Or unto governors,.... Inferior magistrates, such as were under the Roman emperor; as proconsuls, procurators, c. such as Pontius Pilate, Felix, and Festus, who had under the emperor the government of particular nations, provinces, and cities:

as unto them that are sent by him either by the king, the Roman emperor, by whom they were sent, from whom they received their commission, and derived their authority, under whom they acted, and to whom they were accountable; or by God, by whom they are ordained, and whose ministers they are, and for the ends hereafter mentioned; so that this contains an argument or reason why they should be submitted to:

for the punishment of evildoers; the breakers of the laws of God and men, on whom punishment is to be inflicted, by the civil magistrates, for the breach of them, by lines, scourgings, imprisonment, and death itself, according as the crimes are:

and for the praise of them that do well; who behave according to the laws of God and nations, and are obedient to magistrates, and subject to every ordinance; these have praise of men, of magistrates, and are rewarded by them; by protecting their persons, defending their properties, and preserving them in the peaceable enjoyment of their estates and possessions; see Romans 13:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Or unto governors - Subordinate officers, appointed by the chief magistrate, over provinces. Perhaps Roman proconsuls are here particularly intended.

As unto them that are sent by him - By the king, or the Roman emperor. They represent the supreme power.

For the punishment of evil doers - One of the leading ends of government. “The Roman governors had the power of life and death in such conquered provinces as those mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1“ - Doddridge. Ulpian, the celebrated Roman lawyer, who flourished two hundred years after Christ, thus describes the power of the governors of the Roman provinces: “It is the duty of a good and vigilant president to see to it that his province be peaceable and quiet. And that he ought to make diligent search after sacrilegious persons, robbers, man-stealers, and thieves, and to punish everyone according to their guilt.” Again, “They who govern whole provinces, have the power of sending to the mines.” And again,” The presidents of provinces have the highest authority, next to the emperor.” Peter has described the office of the Roman governors in language nearly resembling that of Ulpian. See Lardner’s Credibility, (Works, i. 77, edit. 8vo., Lond. 1829)

And for the praise of them that do well - Praise here stands opposed to punishment, and means commendation, applause, reward. That is, it is a part of their business to reward in a suitable manner those who are upright and virtuous as citizens. This would be by protecting their persons and property; by defending their rights, and, perhaps, by admitting those to share the honors and emoluments of office who showed that they were worthy to be trusted. It is as important a part of the functions of magistracy to protect the innocent, as it is to punish the wicked.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Or unto governors — By king as supreme, the Roman emperor is meant; and by governors, ηγεμοσιν, are meant, leaders, governors, presidents, proconsuls, and other chief magistrates, sent by him into the provinces dependent on the Roman empire.

For the punishment of evil doers — This was the object of their mission; they were to punish delinquents, and encourage and protect the virtuous.