1 Peter 4:5
New International Version
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

New Living Translation
But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

English Standard Version
but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Berean Standard Bible
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Berean Literal Bible
who will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

King James Bible
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

New King James Version
They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

New American Standard Bible
but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

NASB 1995
but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

NASB 1977
but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Legacy Standard Bible
but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Amplified Bible
But they will [have to] give an account to Him who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.

Christian Standard Bible
They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

American Standard Version
who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Contemporary English Version
But they will have to answer to God, who judges the living and the dead.

English Revised Version
who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Good News Translation
But they will have to give an account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

International Standard Version
They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Majority Standard Bible
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

NET Bible
They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

New Heart English Bible
who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Weymouth New Testament
But they will have to give account to Him who stands ready to pronounce judgement on the living and the dead.

World English Bible
They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
who will give an account to Him who is ready to judge [the] living and [the] dead,

Berean Literal Bible
who will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Young's Literal Translation
who shall give an account to Him who is ready to judge living and dead,

Smith's Literal Translation
Who shall return the word to him holding in readiness to judge the living and the dead.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who shall render account to him, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But they must render an account to him who is prepared to judge the living and the dead.

New American Bible
but they will give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

New Revised Standard Version
But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they shall answer to God who is to judge the quick and the dead.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Those who give an account to God, who is going to judge the dead and living.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
These shall give an account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Godbey New Testament
who shall give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Haweis New Testament
who shall give an account to him, who holds himself ready to judge the living and the dead.

Mace New Testament
but they will be call'd to account by him, who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.

Weymouth New Testament
But they will have to give account to Him who stands ready to pronounce judgement on the living and the dead.

Worrell New Testament
who shall render an account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Worsley New Testament
who shall give an account to Him, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Living for God's Glory
4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.…

Cross References
Acts 10:42
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

Romans 14:10-12
Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. / It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” / So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Timothy 4:1
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:

Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

John 5:22-29
Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, / so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. / Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. ...

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. / And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. ...

Hebrews 9:27
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Psalm 96:13
before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

Daniel 7:9-10
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. / A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. / All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. ...

Romans 2:5-6
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. / God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

Jude 1:14-15
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones / to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”


Treasury of Scripture

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

shall.

Malachi 3:13-15
Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? …

Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Luke 16:2
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

that.

Psalm 1:6
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

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1 Peter 4
1. He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12. and comforts them against persecution.














But they will have to give an account
This phrase emphasizes the inevitability of divine judgment. The Greek word for "give an account" is "apodidomi," which implies a formal reckoning or settlement. In the context of 1 Peter, this serves as a reminder that all actions, especially those of the ungodly who persecute believers, will be scrutinized by God. Historically, this reflects the early Christian understanding that earthly injustices would be rectified by divine justice. The phrase encourages believers to remain steadfast, knowing that God’s judgment is certain and just.

to Him who is ready
The readiness of God to judge underscores His omnipresence and omniscience. The Greek word "etoimos" conveys a sense of preparedness and immediacy. This readiness is not a passive state but an active, ongoing readiness to execute justice. It reassures believers that God is not distant or indifferent but is actively engaged in the moral order of the world. This readiness also serves as a warning to the unrepentant, emphasizing the urgency of repentance and faith.

to judge
The act of judging, "krino" in Greek, involves discerning, separating, and making a decision. In the biblical context, it is not merely about punishment but about the establishment of righteousness and truth. This judgment is comprehensive, taking into account the heart and actions of individuals. For believers, this is a source of comfort, knowing that God’s judgment is fair and righteous. It also serves as a call to live holy lives, reflecting the character of Christ.

the living and the dead
This phrase highlights the universality and totality of God’s judgment. It encompasses all humanity, transcending time and space. The living refers to those currently alive, while the dead includes all who have passed away. This reflects the early Christian belief in the resurrection and the final judgment, where all will stand before God. It serves as a powerful reminder of the eternal perspective that should govern a believer’s life, encouraging them to live with the awareness of eternal consequences.

(5) Who shall give account.--Perhaps said with a reference to 1Peter 3:15, where these very persons call the Christians to give "account" (the Greek word is the same). The side-purpose of the clause (as in the similar threat, 1Peter 2:8) is to warn the readers against sharing their fate by sharing their sins.

To him that is ready to judge.--This carries on the history of Jesus Christ a step further still. The last thing was His sitting on the right hand of God. This is the order of the Apostles' Creed. Bengel wisely remarks: "The Apostles, when they are not expressly treating of the date of Christ's advent, set forth that advent to their longing and devotion as close at hand. Hence Peter includes the slanderers of his day among the living, as just about to be judged."

Verse 5. - Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. The judgment is at hand; the Judge standeth before the door; all men, quick and dead alike, must give account to him. It is better to suffer now for well-doing than then for evil-doing. Men call you to give account now (1 Peter 3:15); they themselves must give account to God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[But they]
οἳ (hoi)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

will have to give
ἀποδώσουσιν (apodōsousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 591: From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.

an account
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

to Him who
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

is
ἔχοντι (echonti)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

ready
ἑτοίμως (hetoimōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2093: Readily. Adverb from hetoimos; in readiness.

to judge
κρῖναι (krinai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

[the] living
ζῶντας (zōntas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2198: To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[the] dead.
νεκρούς (nekrous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.


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NT Letters: 1 Peter 4:5 Who will give account to him who (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)
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