1 Peter 3:3
1 Peter 3:3 in Multiple Translations
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;
Do not let your ornaments be those of the body such as dressing of the hair, or putting on of jewels of gold or fair clothing;
Don't focus on outward attractiveness—hairstyles, gold jewelry, or fashionable clothes—
Whose apparelling, let it not be that outwarde, with broyded heare, and golde put about, or in putting on of apparell:
whose adorning — let it not be that which is outward, of plaiting of hair, and of putting around of things of gold, or of putting on of garments,
Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on apparel;
Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel:
Do not be trying to make yourselves beautiful by decorating the outside of your bodies, such as ◄by the way you comb your hair/by your hair style► or by wearing gold jewelry and fine clothes.
You women will be really beautiful if you live in a quiet way, and don’t try to be important. If you are beautiful inside like that, you will stay beautiful for ever, even after you get old. But if you just do things like colour your hair and do it up, or if you have gold rings and necklaces, or if you have pretty clothes, you might think you are beautiful, but those things don’t last for ever. So be quiet inside yourselves, and don’t try to be important. God really wants you to be beautiful that way.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Peter 3:3
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1 Peter 3:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — 1 Peter 3:3
Study Notes — 1 Peter 3:3
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Peter 3:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Peter 3:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Peter 3:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Peter 3:3
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Peter 3:3
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
- Sermons on 1 Peter 3:3
Context — Wives and Husbands
3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Timothy 2:9–10 | Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God. |
| 2 | Romans 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. |
| 3 | Isaiah 3:18–24 | In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; their pendants, bracelets, and veils; their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms; their signet rings and nose rings; their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses; and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. |
| 4 | Titus 2:3–15 | Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited. In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us. Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. |
| 5 | Isaiah 61:10 | I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 4:30 | And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life. |
| 7 | Ezekiel 16:7–13 | I made you thrive like a plant of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD. Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 2:32 | Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number. |
| 9 | Exodus 33:4 | When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry. |
| 10 | Isaiah 52:1 | Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you. |
1 Peter 3:3 Summary
This verse is saying that as a Christian, your beauty should not just come from how you look on the outside, like your hair or clothes, but from who you are on the inside, like your heart and spirit. This is because true beauty comes from knowing and loving God, as seen in Psalm 138:8 where it says that God will perfect the beauty of His people. By focusing on inner beauty, you can reflect the love and character of Christ to those around you, including your husband or family, as seen in Colossians 3:12-14. Remember, it's not about never wearing nice clothes or jewelry, but about keeping your priorities straight and being beautiful in the eyes of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean by 'outward adornment' in this verse?
In 1 Peter 3:3, 'outward adornment' refers to external things like hairstyles, jewelry, and clothing that people use to make themselves look attractive, as opposed to the inner qualities that truly make a person beautiful, as seen in Proverbs 31:30 where it says that 'a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised'
Is this verse saying that women should not wear nice clothes or jewelry at all?
No, this verse is not saying that women should never wear nice clothes or jewelry, but rather that their primary focus should not be on external appearances, as supported by 1 Timothy 2:9-10 which instructs women to adorn themselves with modesty and humility
How does this relate to my everyday life as a Christian woman?
As a Christian woman, this verse encourages you to prioritize your inner spiritual beauty, cultivated through a relationship with God, over external appearances, as seen in 2 Corinthians 3:18 where it talks about being transformed into the image of Christ
What is the main point of this verse in the context of marriage?
In the context of marriage, this verse emphasizes that a wife's beauty and attractiveness should come from her inner character and spirit, rather than just external appearances, as a way to win over her husband and reflect the beauty of Christ, as seen in Ephesians 5:22-33
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I prioritize external beauty over internal beauty in my daily life, and how can I shift my focus?
- How can I cultivate a 'gentle and quiet spirit' in my own life, as mentioned in 1 Peter 3:4?
- In what ways can I use my external appearances to reflect the beauty of Christ, rather than just drawing attention to myself?
- What are some practical ways I can apply the principle of inner beauty in my relationships, including my marriage or friendships?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Peter 3:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Peter 3:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
Cambridge Bible on 1 Peter 3:3
Barnes' Notes on 1 Peter 3:3
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Peter 3:3
Sermons on 1 Peter 3:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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What Guys Think About Modesty by c.j. Mahaney by Compilations | This sermon addresses the daily battle against sin and temptation faced by men, emphasizing the need for women to understand and support their struggle for purity. It highlights th |
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A Call to Modesty (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living a holy and modest life. He urges the congregation to examine their lives and repent of any secret sins or hidden wr |
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(The Foundation and the Building) the Secrets of Jesus Life by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the allure of materialism and the desire to imitate the extravagant lifestyles of others. He warns against being deceived by the external appe |
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Bearing the Image of God by Steve Gallagher | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the purpose of life is not about feelings or blessings, but about glorifying God. He shares the story of Watchman Knee, a man who endure |
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Biblical Principles of Godly Dress by Dean Taylor | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the topic of godly dress and emphasizes the importance of dressing in a way that pleases God. He acknowledges that discussing this topic may b |
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Moved by the Holy Ghost 1991 by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon reflects on encounters with remarkable women of faith throughout the speaker's life, from Catherine Booth to a modern-day anointed woman living in simplicity and devoti |
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The Biblical Teaching on Modest Dress by Dean Taylor | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of faith in salvation, stating that a person is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. He identifies himself as a g |





