The big picture
1 Peter 5 opens in verse 1 with “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”, and closes in verse 14 with “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ…” Repeated or prominent terms include glory, Christ, grace, Amen, elder. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Peter · King James Version · 141 Peter 5:1-7
1–7: The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a…
1 Peter 5:1–7 opens with “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings…” and reaches “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Elders tending a flock willingly, younger believers clothed with humility, and watchful resistance against a prowling adversary, with particular weight carried by elder, flock, glory.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for…” Naming Feed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Peter 5:1-7
King James Version1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:8-14
8–14: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring…
1 Peter 5:8–14 opens with “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about…” and reaches “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Elders tending a flock willingly, younger believers clothed with humility, and watchful resistance against a prowling adversary, with particular weight carried by Amen, Christ, glory.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” The line’s distinctive content terms include adversary, devil, devour. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include accomplished, afflictions, brethren. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Peter 5:8-14
King James Version8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Peter 5:1 begins with “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Peter 5:10 forms a natural hinge: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish…”
The final note
1 Peter 5:14 leaves the reader with “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words glory, Christ, grace, Amen, elder, flock help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- dominion
- responsibility or rule
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.