1 Peter 5:5

Contextual Overview

⁵ Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. "God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble." ⁵ Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ⁵ Lykwyse ye yonger submit youre selves vnto the elder. Submit youre selves every man one to another knet youre selves togedder in lowlines of mynde. For god resisteth ye proude and geveth grace to the humble. ⁵ Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ⁵ You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT HE GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.⁵ In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. "God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34 ⁵ Likewise, you younger, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. ⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ⁵ Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ⁵ In like manner, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder, and be ye all subject to each other. Be ye cloathed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ye: Leviticus 19:32, Hebrews 13:17

all: 1 Peter 4:1, 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 5:21, Philippians 2:3

be clothed: 1 Peter 3:3, 1 Peter 3:4, 2 Chronicles 6:41, Job 29:14, Psalms 132:9, Psalms 132:16, Isaiah 61:10, Romans 13:14, Colossians 3:12

God: James 4:6, Job 22:29

giveth: Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:9 - submit Genesis 32:10 - not worthy of the least of all Exodus 18:11 - proudly Exodus 26:7 - curtains Exodus 28:40 - glory Leviticus 26:41 - humbled Numbers 12:2 - hath he not Deuteronomy 8:2 - to humble Deuteronomy 17:20 - his heart Ruth 2:7 - I pray 2 Samuel 22:28 - but thine 2 Kings 22:19 - humbled 2 Chronicles 25:19 - heart 2 Chronicles 32:25 - his heart 2 Chronicles 33:12 - humbled Nehemiah 9:10 - they Job 8:22 - clothed Job 29:8 - young men Job 32:6 - I am Job 40:11 - behold Psalms 10:17 - humble Psalms 35:26 - clothed Psalms 71:13 - covered Psalms 73:6 - covereth Psalms 94:2 - render Psalms 101:5 - an high Psalms 109:18 - As he Psalms 119:21 - rebuked Psalms 138:6 - Though Psalms 149:4 - beautify Proverbs 3:34 - he giveth Proverbs 6:17 - A proud look Proverbs 8:13 - pride Proverbs 15:25 - destroy Proverbs 15:33 - and Proverbs 18:12 - and Proverbs 21:4 - An high look Proverbs 25:7 - than Proverbs 29:23 - man's Proverbs 31:25 - Strength Ecclesiastes 7:8 - the patient Isaiah 2:11 - lofty Isaiah 5:15 - the eyes Isaiah 9:9 - in the pride Isaiah 16:6 - have Isaiah 65:5 - These Jeremiah 13:9 - the pride Jeremiah 43:2 - all the Jeremiah 50:31 - O thou Ezekiel 16:49 - pride Ezekiel 26:16 - clothe Ezekiel 28:2 - Because Ezekiel 42:14 - and shall put Daniel 4:30 - Is not Daniel 4:37 - those that walk Daniel 5:22 - hast Daniel 11:12 - his heart Micah 6:8 - walk humbly Habakkuk 2:4 - his Zephaniah 2:10 - for Zechariah 9:6 - General Malachi 3:15 - we call Matthew 3:11 - whose Matthew 18:4 - humble Matthew 20:24 - they Matthew 23:12 - General Matthew 25:37 - when Matthew 26:33 - yet Mark 7:22 - pride Mark 10:43 - whosoever Luke 1:51 - he hath scattered Luke 14:11 - whosoever Luke 16:15 - for Luke 17:10 - General Luke 18:14 - every Luke 22:24 - General John 9:34 - and dost John 13:14 - ye also Romans 11:20 - Be Romans 12:3 - not to 1 Corinthians 16:16 - ye Galatians 5:26 - provoking Ephesians 3:8 - who am 1 Timothy 3:6 - lest 1 Timothy 5:1 - entreat 2 Timothy 3:2 - proud Titus 2:6 - Young Titus 2:11 - the grace 1 Peter 2:17 - Honour

Cross-References

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Genesis 3:19
in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.

Genesis 3:19
You will sweat and work hard for your food. Later you will return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and when you die, you will return to the dust."

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return."

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou shalt return to the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and to dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Genesis 3:19
"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Genesis 3:19
in swoot of thi cheer thou schalt ete thi breed, til thou turne ayen in to the erthe of which thou art takun; for thou art dust, and thou schalt turne ayen in to dust.

Genesis 3:19
by the sweat of thy face thou dost eat bread till thy return unto the ground, for out of it hast thou been taken, for dust thou [art], and unto dust thou turnest back.'

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground-because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Likewise ye younger,.... Not in office, as if inferior officers to bishops were here intended, who ought to be subject to them; for elders and pastors are the same with them, nor is there any other office but that of deacons; nor younger pastors and overseers, such an one as Timothy was; not but that a deference is to be paid, and proper respect had to such who are of greater age, and longer standing and experience, by younger brethren in the ministry; nor such as are only younger in years, who ought to rise up unto, and honour hoary hairs, which may be done where subjection is not required, as here; nor such as are young in grace and experience, since there are little children, young men, and fathers in the church; but all the members of churches in common are here intended, as distinguished from their officers; for as pastors and overseers were, for the most part, chosen from among those that were senior in age, so the members generally consisted of the younger sort; and besides, as it was usual to call chief men and rulers, whether in church or state, fathers, so those that were subjects, the younger; see Luke 21:26. These the apostle exhorts as follows,

submit yourselves unto the elder; not merely in age, but in office, as before; for as he had exhorted the elders to a discharge of their work and office, he proceeds, in the next place, and which is signified by the word "likewise", to stir up the members of the churches to their duty to their elders, or pastors, who had the oversight of them; and that is to "submit" themselves to them, as in

Hebrews 13:17, which is done by attending constantly on the word preached by them, and receiving it, so far as it agrees with the Scriptures of truth; and by joining with them in all the ordinances of Christ, and their administrations of them; by being subject to the laws of Christ's house, as put in execution by them; by taking their counsel and advice, regarding and hearkening to their admonitions and reproofs, and taking them in good part, looking upon them, and behaving towards them, as their spiritual guides and governors. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "to your elders"; such as were particularly set over them in the Lord, and had taken the care of them, for to no others are they obliged to submit themselves.

Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another; that is, all the members of the churches should not only submit themselves to their pastors, but to their fellow members, as in Ephesians 5:21, they should submit to the superior judgments of one another, esteeming each other better than themselves, and not be tenacious of their own way of thinking and judging of things; yea, condescend to men of low estates and weaker minds, bear the infirmities of the weak, and take all admonitions and reproofs given in a friendly manner kindly; and cheerfully perform all offices of love, and by it serve one another in things temporal and spiritual; doing the meanest services for the good of each other, such as washing the feet of one another, in imitation of their Lord and master.

And be clothed with humility; without which there will be no subjection, either to the elders, or one another. This is a grace which shows itself in a man's thinking and speaking the best of others, and the worst of himself; in not affecting places and titles of eminence; in being content with the lowest place, and patiently bearing the greatest contempt; in not aspiring to things too high for him, always acknowledging his own meanness, baseness, and unworthiness, ascribing all he is, and has, to the grace and goodness of God, whether it be gifts of nature, providence, or grace: and this is a believer's clothing, not the robe of his justifying righteousness before God, but is a considerable part of his inward garment of sanctification, which is in the sight of God of great price; and makes a large show in his outward conversation garments before men, and renders him lovely and amiable: it is an ornament to him, which is precious with God, and recommends him to the esteem of men, and the religion and Gospel he professes, and his profession of it. Some think there is a metaphor in the words, taken from knots of ribbons, and such like things, wore by women on their heads, or breasts, for ornament; and that the apostle's advice to the saints is, that their breast knot, or ornament, should be humility. Others think it is taken from a sort of badge which servants wore over their garments, by which they were distinguished; and so saints are directed to put on this badge, by which they may be known to be the servants of Christ: the former seems more agreeable: but as the word signifies to bind, or fasten anything, by tying of knots, it may denote the retaining of this grace in constant exercise, so as never to be without it; and to be clothed or covered with it, is always to have it on, and in exercise, in every action of life, in all our deportment before God and men, in all public and religious worship, and throughout the whole of our conversation, in the family, in the world, or in the church. The phrase seems to be Jewish, and is to be met with in the writings of the Jews. It is said a,

"he that has fear, ונתלבש בענוה, "and is clothed with humility"; humility is the most excellent, and is comprehended in all, as it is said, Proverbs 22:4. He who has the fear of God is worthy of humility, and everyone that hath humility is worthy of kindness or holiness.''

And it is a saying of R. Meir b,

"he that loves God loves men; he that makes God glad makes men glad; and it (the law) מלבשתו ענוה, "clothes him with humility and fear".''

For he resisteth the proud; or "scorneth the scorners", as it is in Proverbs 3:34, from whence these words are taken: the Lord treats them as they treat others; as they despise all other men and things, he despises them; he is above them, in that they have dealt proudly, and has them in derision; he eludes all their artifices, and frustrates their schemes, and disappoints their ambitious views, and scatters them in the imagination of their hearts, and brings their counsels to confusion, and opposes himself to them, and as their adversary; and a dreadful thing it is for persons to have God stand up against them, and resist them. This is a reason dissuading from pride, and exciting to humility, as is also what follows: and giveth grace to the humble; that is, more grace; see James 4:6. The first grace cannot be intended, for no man is truly humble before he has received the grace of God, it is that which makes him so; or it may design larger gifts of grace, which God bestows on those who acknowledge him to be the author and giver of what they have, and who make a proper use of them to his glory; when he takes away from the vain and ostentatious that which to themselves and others they seemed to have. Moreover, God grants his gracious presence to such as are of an humble, and of a contrite spirit; and at last he gives them glory, which is a free grace gift, and the perfection of grace; the poor in spirit, or humble souls, have both a right and meetness for, and shall enjoy the kingdom of heaven.

a Zohar in Numb. fol. 60. 3. b Pirke Abot, c. 6. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Likewise, ye younger - All younger persons of either sex.

Submit yourselves unto the elder - That is, with the respect due to their age, and to the offices which they sustain. There is here, probably, a particular reference to those who sustained the office of elders or teachers, as the same word is used here which occurs in 1 Peter 5:1. As there was an allusion in that verse, by the use of the word, to age, so there is in this verse to the fact that they sustained an office in the church. The general duty, however, is here implied, as it is everywhere in the Bible, that all suitable respect is to be shown to the aged. Compare Leviticus 19:32; 1 Timothy 5:1; Acts 23:4; 2 Peter 2:9.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another - In your proper ranks and relations. You are not to attempt to lord it over one another, but are to treat each other with deference and respect. See the Ephesians 5:21 note; Philippians 2:3 note.

And be clothed with humility - The word here rendered “be clothed” (ἐγκομβώμαι egkombōmai) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is derived from κόμβος kombos - a strip, string, or loop to fasten a garment; and then the word refers to a garment that was fastened with strings. The word ἐγκόμβωμα engkombōma refers particularly to a long white apron, or outer garment, that was commonly worn by slaves. See Robinson, Lexicon; Passow, Lexicon. There is, therefore, special force in the use of this word here, as denoting an humble mind. They were to be willing to take any place, and to perform any office, however humble, in order to serve and benefit others. They were not to assume a style and dignity of state and authority, as if they would lord it over others, or as if they were better than others; but they were to be willing to occupy any station, however humble, by which they might honor God. It is known that not a few of the early Christians actually sold themselves as slaves, in order that they might preach the gospel to those who were in bondage. The sense here is, they were to put on humility as a garment bound fast to them, as a servant bound fast to him the apron that was significant of his station. Compare Colossians 3:13. It is not unusual in the Scriptures, as well as in other writings, to compare the virtues with articles of apparel; as that with which we are clothed, or in which we are seen by others. Compare Isaiah 11:5; Isaiah 59:17.

For God resisteth the proud ... - This passage is quoted from the Greek translation in Proverbs 3:34. See it explained in the notes at James 4:6, where it is also quoted.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Peter 5:5. Likewise, ye younger — νεωτεροι probably means here inferiors, or those not in sacred offices; and may be understood as referring to the people at large who are called to obey them that have the rule over them in the Lord. In this sense our Lord, it appears, uses the word, Luke 22:26.

Be subject one to another — Strive all to serve each other; let the pastors strive to serve the people, and the people the pastors; and let there be no contention, but who shall do most to oblige and profit all the rest.

Be clothed with humility — To be clothed with a thing or person is a Greek mode of speech for being that thing or person with which a man is said to be clothed. Be ye truly humble; and let your outward garb and conduct be a proof of the humility of your hearts. εγκομβωμα, from the original word εγκομβωσασθε, signifies often an outward ornamental garment, tied in different places with knots or bows, probably ornamented all over with bows or knots of different coloured ribands, silk twist, c. But it also signifies the outward garment worn by servants, slaves, girls, and shepherds, which was rather intended to be the guard of the other garments than an ornament to those thus dressed: and I am rather inclined to take it in this sense than in the former for as the apostle calls upon them to be subject to each other, he desires them to put on humility, as the encomboma or servant's dress, that they may appear to be such as were ready to serve; and that he cannot refer to this article of clothing as an ornament the next words sufficiently prove: God resisteth the PROUD, and giveth grace to the HUMBLE-the proud, with all their ornaments, God resists; while those who are clothed with the humble garment he adorns.