1 Peter 1:16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

◄ 1 Peter 1:16 ►

New International Version
for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

New Living Translation
For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

English Standard Version
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Berean Standard Bible
for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Berean Literal Bible
because it has been written: "You shall be holy, because I am holy."

King James Bible
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

New King James Version
because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

New American Standard Bible
because it is written: “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

NASB 1995
because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

NASB 1977
because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Legacy Standard Bible
because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Amplified Bible
because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY (set apart), FOR I AM HOLY.”

Christian Standard Bible
for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

American Standard Version
because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

Contemporary English Version
That's why the Scriptures say, "I am the holy God, and you must be holy too."

English Revised Version
because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Scripture says, "Be holy, because I am holy."

Good News Translation
The scripture says, "Be holy because I am holy."

International Standard Version
For it is written, "You must be holy, because I am holy."

Majority Standard Bible
for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

NET Bible
for it is written, "You shall be holy, because I am holy."

New Heart English Bible
because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Webster's Bible Translation
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Weymouth New Testament
Because it stands written, "You are to be holy, because I am holy."

World English Bible
because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
because it has been written: “Become holy, because I am holy”;

Berean Literal Bible
because it has been written: "You shall be holy, because I am holy."

Young's Literal Translation
because it hath been written, 'Become ye holy, because I am holy;'

Smith's Literal Translation
For it has been written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Catholic Public Domain Version
for it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am Holy.”

New American Bible
for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.”

New Revised Standard Version
for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Because it is written, Be you holy, even as I am holy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because it is written: “Be holy, just as I also am holy.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
because it is written, Be you holy, for I am holy.

Godbey New Testament
because it has been written, Ye shall be holy; because I am holy.

Haweis New Testament
because it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Mace New Testament
for it is written, "be ye holy, because I am holy."

Weymouth New Testament
Because it stands written, "You are to be holy, because I am holy."

Worrell New Testament
because it has been written, "Ye shall be holy, because I am Holy."

Worsley New Testament
Be ye holy, for I am holy.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Call to Holiness
…15But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. / For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Leviticus 20:7
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.

Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 John 3:3
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

Isaiah 35:8
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Psalm 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Treasury of Scripture

Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.

Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Leviticus 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Leviticus 20:7
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

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Holy Stands Writings Written

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Holy Stands Writings Written

1 Peter 1

1. Peter praises God for his manifold spiritual graces;
10. showing that the salvation in Christ the fulfillment of prophesy;
13. and exhorts them accordingly to be holy.

Berean Study Bible

for it is written
This phrase underscores the authority and continuity of Scripture. The Greek word "γέγραπται" (gegraptai) is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing relevance. It emphasizes that the command to be holy is not a new directive but one rooted in the ancient texts of the Old Testament, specifically Leviticus. This continuity highlights the unchanging nature of God's expectations for His people.

Be holy
The Greek word for "holy" is "ἅγιος" (hagios), which means set apart, sacred, or consecrated. In the historical context of the early church, being holy meant living a life distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures. Holiness involves both moral purity and a dedication to God's service. It is a call to reflect God's character in every aspect of life, aligning one's actions, thoughts, and intentions with His will.

because I am holy
This phrase is a direct quotation from Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, and 20:7, where God commands the Israelites to be holy as He is holy. The Hebrew word for holy, "קָדוֹשׁ" (qadosh), conveys the idea of separateness and purity. God's holiness is intrinsic to His nature, and He calls His people to mirror this attribute. Historically, this call to holiness set the Israelites apart from other nations, serving as a testament to God's unique relationship with them. In the New Testament context, it signifies the believer's transformation and sanctification through Christ, who enables them to live a holy life.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) Be ye holy; for I am holy.--The better reading here is, Ye shall he holy; it is still, however, a command, not a promise--except that all God's commands are promises. The command comes some five or six times in the Book of Leviticus, addressed not only to the Levites, but to all the people. It would, therefore, apply twice over to the recipients of this letter by virtue of their twofold consecration, in the old and in the new Israel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy; literally, according to the best manuscripts, ye shall be holy - future for imperative. The words occur five times in the Book of Leviticus. God had called the Israelites to be his peculiar people, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5, 6). He has called us Christians to be "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9). He is holy, awful in holiness; in his sight "the heavens are not clean." We who are his must strive to be holy, separated from all that is impure, consecrated to his service.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

for
διότι (dioti)
Conjunction
Strong's 1360: On this account, because, for. From dia and hoti; on the very account that, or inasmuch as.

it is written:
γέγραπται (gegraptai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

“Be
ἔσεσθε (esesthe)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

holy,
Ἅγιοι (Hagioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

holy.”
ἅγιος (hagios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

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NT Letters: 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written You shall be (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)