Robertson Word Pictures - 1 Peter 3:7 - 3:7

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Robertson Word Pictures - 1 Peter 3:7 - 3:7


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Ye husbands likewise (hoi andres homoiōs). Probably “likewise” here refers to honouring all men (1Pe 2:17), not “likewise” of 1Pe 3:1.

Dwell with (sunoikountes). Present active participle of sunoikeō, old verb for domestic association, here only in N.T. Used as imperative here like the participle in 1Pe 2:18; 1Pe 3:1.

According to knowledge (kata gnōsin). “With an intelligent recognition of the nature of the marriage relation” (Vincent).

Giving honour unto the woman as unto the weaker vessel (hōs asthenesterōi skeuei tōi gunaikeiōi aponemontes timēn). Present active participle of aponemō, old verb, to assign, to portion out (or off), here only in N.T. Skeuos is an old and common word for vessel, furniture, utensil (Mat 12:29; 2Ti 2:20). Here both husband and wife are termed vessels or “parts of the furniture of God’s house” (Bigg). See Paul’s use of skeuos for ministers (2Co 4:7). Gunaikeiōi here is an adjective (female, feminine) from gunē (woman, wife). She is termed “the weaker” (tōi asthenesterōi), not for intellectual or moral weakness, but purely for physical reasons, which the husband must recognize with due consideration for marital happiness.

Joint-heirs of the grace of life (sunklēronomoi charitos zōēs). Late double compound found in an Ephesian inscription and the papyri, in N.T. only here, Rom 8:17; Eph 3:6; Heb 11:9. God’s gift of life eternal belongs to woman as well as to man. In the eyes of God the wife may be superior to the husband, not merely equal.

To the end that your prayers be not hindered (eis to mē egkoptesthai tas proseuchas humōn). Purpose clause with eis to and the present passive infinitive (with negative mē) of egkoptō, to cut in, to interrupt, late verb (Polybius), as in Rom 15:22, etc. Very vivid to us now with our telephones and radios when people cut in on us. Proseuchas (prayers) is the accusative of general reference. Husbands surely have here cause to consider why their prayers are not answered.