1 Peter 1:16

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Because {G1360} it is written {G1125}, Be ye {G1096} holy {G40}; for {G3754} I {G1473} am {G1510} holy {G40}.

Complete Jewish Bible

since the Tanakh says,

“You are to be holy because I am holy.”

Berean 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Peter 1:16 encapsulates a foundational biblical truth: the divine command for God's people to live a life of holiness, rooted in and motivated by the very character of God Himself. Peter, drawing directly from Old Testament scripture, reminds scattered believers that their identity as God's chosen people necessitates a distinct separation from the world's unholy practices, reflecting the moral purity and consecrated nature of the Almighty. This verse serves as a concise theological anchor, establishing the imperative for sanctification as a direct response to God's inherent holiness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Peter's opening exhortations to scattered believers, following his magnificent portrayal of their salvation, hope, and the glorious inheritance awaiting them ([1 Peter 1:3-12](/1_peter/1-3-12 "1 Peter 1:3-12 - A Living Hope")). Having established the profound spiritual realities of their new birth and redemption, Peter transitions to the practical implications of such a salvation. The preceding verses ([1 Peter 1:13-15](/1_peter/1-13-15 "1 Peter 1:13-15 - Call to Holiness")) call believers to "gird up the loins of your mind," be sober, hope fully, and be obedient children, not conforming to former lusts. Verse 16, "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy," provides the divine authority and ultimate reason for these commands, grounding the call to holiness directly in God's revealed character and Old Testament law. It sets the stage for further instructions on living a distinct, Christ-like life in a hostile world.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Peter's letter is addressed to "elect exiles of the Dispersion" in various Roman provinces of Asia Minor ([1 Peter 1:1](/1_peter/1-1 "1 Peter 1:1 - Peter's Greeting")). These early Christians, often converts from paganism, found themselves as a minority in a dominant Greco-Roman culture rife with idolatry, immorality, and social practices antithetical to Christian values. They were "strangers" or "sojourners," implying a temporary status and a call to live distinctly from the surrounding society. The reminder "Be ye holy; for I am holy" would have resonated deeply with Jewish converts familiar with the Levitical commands, but it also served as a critical instruction for Gentile believers, emphasizing that the God they now served demanded a new way of life, one set apart from their former unholy ways. This call to holiness was not merely a moral suggestion but a fundamental aspect of their new identity and witness in a pagan world.

* **Key Themes:** The primary theme in [1 Peter 1](/1_peter/1 "1 Peter 1 - A Living Hope") is the **living hope** of believers, rooted in God's grace and Christ's resurrection, leading to an **imperishable inheritance**. Flowing from this hope is the overarching theme of **holiness and sanctification**. Peter emphasizes that because believers have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed by Christ's Blood")), they are called to live lives that reflect the character of God who called them. This theme of holiness is intrinsically linked to **God's character**, specifically His absolute purity and distinctness from all evil. It also underscores the **continuity of God's covenant demands** across the Old and New Testaments, showing that the call for God's people to be set apart is an eternal principle. The verse also subtly introduces the theme of **obedience**, as holiness is not merely a state but an active pursuit in response to divine command.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **written (Greek, _gráphō'_):** This verb signifies "to grave" or "to write," and figuratively, "to describe." In this context, it specifically refers to the act of inscribing or recording divine revelation. The use of the perfect passive participle ("it is written") indicates a completed action with ongoing results, emphasizing the enduring authority and established nature of the command. It points directly to the Old Testament scriptures, asserting their continued relevance and divine origin for New Testament believers.
* **Be ye (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This verb, often translated as "to become" or "to come into being," is used here in the imperative mood. It's not merely a passive state but an active, dynamic process of transformation. It implies a command to actively pursue and embody holiness, to "become" holy in one's conduct and character. This highlights that holiness is not just an imputed status but a lived reality that believers are commanded to cultivate through God's power.
* **holy (Greek, _hágios'_):** Derived from a root meaning "an awful thing," this word conveys the idea of being sacred, consecrated, or set apart. It encompasses both ceremonial purity and moral blamelessness. When applied to God, it describes His absolute transcendence, His moral perfection, and His utter separation from all that is common, defiled, or sinful. When applied to believers, it means being set apart *by* God and *for* God, distinct from the world's values and practices, and actively pursuing moral purity and devotion that reflects His character.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because it is written,"**: This opening phrase establishes the divine authority for the command that follows. Peter is not introducing a new concept but reiterating an ancient, foundational truth from God's revealed word. It points directly to the Old Testament, specifically multiple passages in Leviticus (e.g., [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy"), [Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy"), [Leviticus 20:7](/leviticus/20-7 "Leviticus 20:7 - Sanctify Yourselves and Be Holy")), demonstrating the continuity of God's character and His expectations for His people across covenants.
* **"Be ye holy;"**: This is a direct imperative, a command from God to His people. It's not an option or a suggestion, but a divine mandate. The "ye" refers to all believers, indicating a universal call to sanctification. As explored in "Key Word Analysis," "be ye" implies an active process of becoming and living out this state of set-apartness and moral purity, reflecting God's nature in their daily lives, thoughts, and actions.
* **"for I am holy."**: This clause provides the ultimate reason and motivation for the command. God's own intrinsic holiness is the standard, the source, and the power for human holiness. It signifies that human holiness is not arbitrary but flows from the very nature of the God with whom believers are in covenant relationship. Because God is utterly separate from sin and perfectly pure, His people are called to emulate that character, distinguishing themselves from the world and dedicating themselves entirely to Him.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in [1 Peter 1:16](/1_peter/1-16 "1 Peter 1:16 - Be Ye Holy") is **Quotation**, specifically a direct citation from the Old Testament. By prefacing the command with "Because it is written," Peter immediately establishes the divine, unchallengeable authority of the statement. This technique grounds the New Testament call to holiness in the ancient, unchanging character of God revealed in the Law, providing continuity between the covenants. Furthermore, the verse utilizes the **Imperative Mood** ("Be ye holy"), which conveys a direct command, underscoring the non-negotiable nature of this divine expectation. Finally, there is a clear use of **Divine Grounding**, where God's own nature ("for I am holy") serves as the foundational reason and motivation for the human imperative. This establishes a profound theological link: human holiness is not an arbitrary demand but a necessary reflection of the God who calls His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological weight of [1 Peter 1:16](/1_peter/1-16 "1 Peter 1:16 - Be Ye Holy") is immense, serving as a bedrock principle for Christian living. It asserts that holiness is not merely a moral aspiration but an essential attribute of God Himself, which He graciously extends as a command and a calling to His redeemed people. This verse connects the Old Testament understanding of God's distinctness and purity to the New Testament reality of believers being set apart in Christ. It underscores the truth that sanctification is a response to divine grace and an outflow of a transformed identity. As God is separate from all sin and dedicated to righteousness, so too are His people called to be separate from the world's defilement and dedicated wholly to His purposes. This call to holiness is not a means to earn salvation, but a necessary consequence and evidence of it, reflecting the character of the One who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Hebrews 12:14](/hebrews/12-14 "Hebrews 12:14 - Pursue Peace and Holiness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The command "Be ye holy; for I am holy" is profoundly challenging yet deeply empowering for the believer. It calls us to a radical reorientation of our lives, not merely to avoid certain sins, but to actively pursue a life consecrated to God, reflecting His moral purity and distinctness in every facet of our being. This means examining our thoughts, words, actions, relationships, and even our motivations, asking how they align with God's perfect character. It compels us to consider what we consume (media, entertainment), how we spend our time and resources, and how we interact with the world around us. Holiness is not a legalistic burden but a joyful response to the One who saved us, a desire to honor Him by living in a way that truly sets us apart as His own. It is a lifelong journey of progressive sanctification, empowered by the Holy Spirit, as we strive to become more like the One who is perfectly holy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life do I need to more intentionally "be holy" and set apart for God?**
* **How does understanding God's own holiness motivate me to pursue personal holiness, rather than viewing it as a mere obligation?**
* **What practical steps can I take this week to align my thoughts, words, or actions more closely with God's holy character?**
* **How does the pursuit of holiness impact my witness to the world around me?**

### FAQ
**What does "holy" truly mean in this context, and is it achievable for humans?**

Answer: In [1 Peter 1:16](/1_peter/1-16 "1 Peter 1:16 - Be Ye Holy"), "holy" (Greek: _hágios_) primarily means "set apart" or "consecrated." When applied to God, it describes His absolute moral purity, His transcendence, and His utter separation from sin and all that is common or defiled. When applied to humans, it means being set apart *by* God and *for* God, distinct from the world's unholy values and practices, and actively pursuing moral purity and devotion that reflects His character. While perfect, sinless holiness is only achievable by God and ultimately by believers in glorification, the command to "be holy" is a call to progressive sanctification—a lifelong process of growing in Christ-likeness, empowered by the Holy Spirit, where believers increasingly reflect God's character in their thoughts, words, and deeds. It is a journey, not a destination achieved in this life, but one we are commanded to pursue earnestly.

**How can we "be holy" if only God is truly holy and we are still sinners?**

Answer: The command to "be holy" is not a call to achieve divine perfection on our own, but rather a call to live consistently with the new identity we have in Christ. Believers are declared holy (justified and set apart) by God through faith in Jesus Christ ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Offering")). This is our positional holiness. From this foundation, we are then commanded to live out our practical holiness (sanctification). This process is made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers us to put off the old self and put on the new, created in righteousness and true holiness ([Ephesians 4:22-24](/ephesians/4-22-24 "Ephesians 4:22-24 - Put On the New Self")). While we continue to struggle with sin in this life ([Romans 7:15-20](/romans/7-15-20 "Romans 7:15-20 - The Struggle Within")), the pursuit of holiness is a genuine and ongoing endeavor, motivated by God's character and enabled by His grace.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The command to "Be ye holy; for I am holy" finds its ultimate fulfillment and enablement in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of perfect holiness, the very image of the invisible God, utterly separate from sin yet fully human. Christ's life perfectly demonstrated what it means to be holy, living in complete obedience and devotion to the Father. More profoundly, through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus makes it possible for unholy sinners to be declared righteous and set apart for God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Made Sin for Us")). We are sanctified "through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Offering")). Furthermore, the indwelling Holy Spirit, given to believers through Christ, empowers us to live out this practical holiness, transforming us from the inside out to reflect Christ's character ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, Christ is not only the standard of holiness but also the means and the power by which we can obey this divine command, becoming "holy and blameless before Him in love" ([Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen to Be Holy")). Our holiness is both a gift from Him and a lifelong journey of becoming more like Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Amos 3:3

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?