1 Peter 1:16

1 Peter 1:16

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

a. NLT: For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

b. NIV: For it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.

c. YLT: Because it hath been written, 'Become ye holy, because I am holy;'

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

e. Worrell Translation: Because it has been written, “Ye shall be holy, because I am holy.”

f. Wuest Translation: Because it has been written and is on record, You be holy individuals, because, as for myself, I am holy.

1. “Because it is written…”

a. Because [Strong: 1360 dioti dee-ot'-ee from 1223 and 3754; on the very account that, or inasmuch as:--because (that), for, therefore.]

b. it is written [Strong: 1125 grapho graf'-o a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten).]

1). This is a quote from Leviticus.

a). 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.

2). Here is the substance of what we are to gird up our loins with, the written word of God! Peter exhorts us to be holy as He [God] is holy, BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN!

3). This compliments what God told Joshua after He appointed him commander in chief over Israel.

a). Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

4). It also compliments what David wrote in Psalm on how to keep ourselves from the influence of the ungodly, the sinners and the scornful. Gird up the loins of our mind by meditating the word of God.

a). Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

5). Finally it compliments what James wrote concerning being doers of the word.

a). James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

b). The Word is the mirror. We look into the Word and see what manner of man or woman we are. The Word says we are new creatures in Christ and gives us the pattern we are to live our lives by. If we are not obedient by doing the word, we will go our way and forget what manner of person we are [new creatures in Christ.] If we meditate on the word, grace will be given through revelation knowledge and we will obey, and obedience will come much of the time with relative ease.

2. “…Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

a. Be ye [Strong: 1096 ginomai ghin'-om-ahee a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

b. holy [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.] [Zodhiates: Holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated, saint.Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God.]

c. for [Strong: 3754 hoti hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

d. I [Strong: 1473 ego eg-o' a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]

e. am [Strong: 1510 eimi i-mee' the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was.]

f. holy [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.] [Zodhiates: Holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated, saint.Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God.]