
Quotes in 1 Peter
1 Peter quotes from the Old Testament 10 times.
- 1 Peter 1:16 quoting Leviticus 11:45
- 1 Peter 1:25 quoting Isaiah 40:8
- 1 Peter 2:6 quoting Isaiah 28:16 (LXX)
- 1 Peter 2:7 quoting Psalm 118:22
- 1 Peter 2:22 quoting Isaiah 53:9
- 1 Peter 2:24 quoting Isaiah 53:4-5
- 1 Peter 2:25 quoting Isaiah 53:6
- 1 Peter 3:12 quoting Psalm 34:12-16
- 1 Peter 4:18 quoting Proverbs 11:31 (LXX)
- 1 Peter 5:5 quoting Proverbs 3:34 (LXX)
1 Peter 1:16 quoting Leviticus 11:45
1 Peter 1:16
‘You must be holy, because I’m holy!’
Leviticus 11:45
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘[…] So, you must be holy, because I, [Jehovah], am holy.’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘[…] ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.’
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)
Our comments:
Both sources match.
1 Peter 1:25 quoting Isaiah 40:8
1 Peter 1:25
‘God’s Word lasts throughout the ages.’
Isaiah 40:8
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘[…] God’s Word endures throughout the ages.’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘[…] But the word of our God shall stand for ever.’
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘[…] but the word of our God…’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A
✅ Match
Our comments:
Matches well with all sources.
1 Peter 2:6 quoting Isaiah 28:16 (LXX)
1 Peter 2:6
'{Look!} I am laying in Zion a select and precious cornerstone, and all that put faith in it will never be shamed.’
Isaiah 28:16
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘Look! Upon the foundation of Zion […] a costly, select cornerstone, […] And those trusting in him will never be shamed.’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a costly corner-stone of sure foundation; He that believeth shall not make haste.’
❌ Differs
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believs shal not act hasty.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A
❌ Differs
‘Behold, I lay… act hasty.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah B
❌ Differs
‘…precious…’ — Scroll 4Q60 Isaiah F
❓ Unknown
Our comments:
The Septuagint matches well. The Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls differ on the concluding phrase, using ‘not make haste’ or ‘not act hasty’ instead of ‘will never be shamed’.
1 Peter 2:7 quoting Psalm 118:22
1 Peter 2:7
‘The block that the builders rejected, but which has become the foundation cornerstone.’
Psalm 118:22
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘So, the stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone…’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Is become the chief corner-stone.’
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain these words.)
Our comments:
Both the Septuagint and Masoretic Text match well with only minor wording differences.
1 Peter 2:22 quoting Isaiah 53:9
1 Peter 2:22
‘He wasn’t guilty of any sin,
And his mouth didn’t speak any lies.’
Isaiah 53:9
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘[…] For, he had broken no Laws, Nor was treachery found in his mouth.’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘[…] Although he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.’
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘[…] although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A
✅ Match
‘[…] although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah B
✅ Match
‘[…] violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.’ — Scroll 4Q60 Isaiah D
✅ Match
Our comments:
Matches well with all sources.
1 Peter 2:24 quoting Isaiah 53:4-5 (LXX and DSS)
1 Peter 2:24
‘carried our sins… by his wounds, you were healed.’
Isaiah 53:4-5
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
But, he has carried our sins; […] And by his stripes, we were healed.’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; […]
And with his stripes we were healed.’
✅ Matches as a paraphrase
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; […] and by his wounds we are healed.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A
✅ Matches as a paraphrase
‘Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; […] and by his wounds we are healed.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah B
✅ Matches as a paraphrase
Our comments:
The Septuagint version matches well. The Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls versions match as a paraphrase, using ‘diseases’ or ‘sickness’/’suffering’ respectively for ‘sins’, but both convey healing by his wounds/stripes.
1 Peter 2:25 quoting Isaiah 53:6
1 Peter 2:25
‘you were like sheep who had strayed’
Isaiah 53:6
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘For, just like sheep, we’ve all strayed, […]‘
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘All we like sheep did go astray, […]‘
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘All we like sheep have gone astray. […]‘ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A
✅ Match
‘…like sheep… Everyone has turned to his own way; […]‘ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah B
✅ Match
Our comments:
All the complete sources (LXX, MT, and DSS 1Q Isaiah A & B) match well.
1 Peter 3:12 quoting Psalm 34:12-16
1 Peter 3:12
‘[Jehovah] watches out for the righteous,
And He listens when they’re crying to Him…’
But [Jehovah] opposes those who are doing what’s bad.’
Psalm 34:12-16
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘[…] For, [Jehovah] keeps His eyes on the righteous, And His ears hear the things that they ask.
But the face of [Jehovah] opposes the bad, […]‘
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘[…] The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous,
And His ears are open unto their cry.’
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, […]‘
✅ Match
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)
Our comments:
Both sources match well.
1 Peter 4:18 quoting Proverbs 11:31 (LXX)
1 Peter 4:18
‘For if the righteous are just barely being saved,
Where will those who are godless and the sinners make a showing?’
Proverbs 11:31
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘If the righteous will be saved by the skin of their teeth; What hope is there for the impious and sinners?’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘Behold, the righteous shall be requited [meaning, recompensed] in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!’
❌ Differs
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)
Our comments:
The Septuagint matches well. The Masoretic Text differs significantly.
1 Peter 5:5 quoting Proverbs 3:34 (LXX)
1 Peter 5:5
‘For God opposes those who think too much of themselves,
While He’s kind to those who are humble.’
Proverbs 3:34
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘For [Jehovah] opposes the proud, And shows favor to those who are humble.’
✅ Match
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, But unto the humble He giveth grace.’
❌ Differs
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)
Our comments:
The Septuagint matches well, being almost an identical quote of the Greek.
The Masoretic Text doesn’t mention the proud, but only ‘scorners’, who may indeed think too much of themselves (as the Greek says), but that’s not the same wording, which is what we’re looking for.
Quotes Index
- Matthew (27)
- Mark (13)
- Luke (16)
- John (11)
- Acts (34)
- Romans (62)
- 1 Corinthians (17)
- 2 Corinthians (11)
- Galatians (11)
- Ephesians (3)
- Philippians (1)
- Colossians (0)
- 1 Thessalonians (0)
- 2 Thessalonians (0)
- 1 Timothy (1)
- 2 Timothy (2)
- Titus (1)
- Philemon (0)
- Hebrews (30)
- James (4)
- 1 Peter (10)
- 2 Peter (4)
- 1 John (0)
- 2 John (0)
- 3 John (0)
- Jude (1)
- Revelation (7)