Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
What does 1 Peter 5:6 mean?
Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside 1 Peter 5:6-7 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on 1 Peter 5:6
Do not arrogate to yourselves what does not belong to you; do not evince pride and haughtiness in your manner; do not exalt yourselves above others. See the notes at Luke 14:7-11 . Compare Proverbs 15:33 ; Proverbs 18:12 ; Proverbs 22:4 ; Micah 6:8 ; Philippians 2:8 . Under the mighty hand of God - This refers probably to the calamities which he had brought upon them, or was about to bring upon them; represented here, as often elsewhere, as the infliction of his hand - the hand being that by which we accomplish anything.
Context in 1 Peter 5
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1 Peter 5 belongs to the closing movement of the book, especially the section often described as elders, humility, and final steadfastness. First Peter calls believers a holy people in exile, formed by Christ’s suffering and destined for glory. Read this chapter with the wider themes of exile, hope, and holiness in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on lowliness, modesty, the contrast between pride and humility, and the way God exalts those who humble themselves.
Warnings against pride, arrogance, and haughty spirits, and the Bible's consistent teaching that pride leads to destruction.
Passages on trusting God, receiving Christ, persevering without sight, and the relation between faith and lived obedience.
A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.
Bible verses about suffering and trials
Key passages on grief, endurance, lament, divine mystery, and the Christian claim that suffering is neither final nor meaningless.
Verses on the fear of the Lord, wise speech, practical judgment, teachability, and the difference between biblical wisdom and mere cleverness.