The Meaning of 1 Peter 4:5 Explained

1 Peter 4:5

KJV: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

YLT: who shall give an account to Him who is ready to judge living and dead,

Darby: who shall render account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

ASV: who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who  shall give  account  to him that is  ready  to judge  the quick  and  the dead. 

What does 1 Peter 4:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Peter reminded his readers that God would condemn their unsaved friends" behavior. Consequently they should not return to it. The Judge was already "ready" to judge (cf. Daniel 3:15 [1]; Acts 21:13; 2 Corinthians 12:14). Peter viewed those who slander Christians for their lifestyles as really slandering God, who called us out of darkness into the light.

Context Summary

1 Peter 4:1-11 - The New Life In Christ
The Apostle urges the disciples to make a clean break with sin. As our Lord's grave lay between Him and His earlier life, so there should be a clean break between our life as believers and the earth-bound life, which was dominated by lawless passions. Sometimes God employs the acid of persecution or suffering to eat away the bonds that bind us to our past. Let us accept these with a willing mind. The one condition of reigning with the enthroned Christ is to submit to His cross. Of course, we must die to animal instinct, to the blandishments of the world, and to the temptations of the evil one; but it is quite as important to die to our self-life, whether it be clothed in white or black!
We are summoned to a life of prayer. But in order to promote fervency in prayer we must be sober-minded and self-controlled, 1 Peter 4:7; loving, 1 Peter 4:8; and faithful to our stewardship of all God's entrusted gifts, 1 Peter 4:10. Let us cultivate the invariable habit of looking up from our service, of whatever kind, to claim the ability to do it for the glory of God, 1 Peter 4:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 4

1  He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12  and comforts them against persecution

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 4:5

Who shall give account [οι αποδωσουσιν λογον]
Future active indicative of αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi For this use with λογον — logon (account) see Matthew 12:36; Luke 16:2; Acts 19:40; Hebrews 13:17. For the sudden use of the relative οι — hoi see Romans 3:8. [source]
To him that is ready to judge [τωι ετοιμως κρινοντι]
Dative, “to the one readily judging,” correct text, not ετοιμως εχοντι κριναι — hetoimōs echonti krinai “to the one ready to judge,” which “softens the rugged original” (Hart). That is Christ apparently (1 Peter 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:10), but the Father in 1 Peter 1:17.The quick and the dead (ζωντας και νεκρους — zōntas kai nekrous). “Living and dead.” Those living at the time and those already dead (1 Thessalonians 4:15). [source]
The quick and the dead [ζωντας και νεκρους]
“Living and dead.” Those living at the time and those already dead (1 Thessalonians 4:15). [source]
That is ready [ἑτοίμως ἔχοντι]
Lit., having himself in readiness; there at God's right hand in heaven, whither he has gone (1 Peter 3:22). Implying, also, a near judgment. Compare 1 Peter 4:7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 4:5

Acts 10:42 To testify [διαμαρτυρασται]
First aorist middle infinitive. See note on Acts 2:40. Ordained (ωρισμενος — hrisōmenos). Perfect passive participle of οριζω — horizō old verb, to mark out, to limit, to make a horizon. Judge The same point made by Peter in 1 Peter 4:5. He does not use the word “Messiah” to these Gentiles though he did say “anointed” (εχρισεν — echrisen) in Acts 10:38. Peter‘s claim for Jesus is that he is the Judge of Jew and Gentile (living and dead). [source]
Acts 10:42 Judge [κριτης]
The same point made by Peter in 1 Peter 4:5. He does not use the word “Messiah” to these Gentiles though he did say “anointed” (εχρισεν — echrisen) in Acts 10:38. Peter‘s claim for Jesus is that he is the Judge of Jew and Gentile (living and dead). [source]
1 Peter 1:3 Lively [ζῶσαν]
Better, as Rev., literally rendering the participle, living: a favorite word with Peter. See 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 4:5, 1 Peter 4:6; and compare Acts 9:41, where Peter is the prominent actor; and Acts 10:42, where he is the speaker. [source]
1 Peter 1:3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [ο τεος και πατηρ του κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου]
This precise language in 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; and part of it in 2 Corinthians 11:31; Romans 15:6. See John 20:17 for similar language by Jesus.Great (πολυ — polu). Much.Begat us again First aorist active articular The Stoics used αναγεννησις — anagennēsis for παλινγενεσια — palingenesia (Titus 3:5). If ανωτεν — anōthen in John 3:3 be taken to mean “again,” the same idea of regeneration is there, and if “from above” it is the new birth, anyhow.Unto a living hope (εις ελπιδα ζωσαν — eis elpida zōsan). Peter is fond of the word “living” (present active participle of ζαω — zaō) as in 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 4:5, 1 Peter 4:6. The Pharisees cherished the hope of the resurrection (Acts 23:6), but the resurrection of Jesus gave it proof and permanence (1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17). It is no longer a dead hope like dead faith (James 2:17, James 2:26). This revival of hope was wrought “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (δια αναστασεως — dia anastaseōs). Hope rose up with Christ from the dead, though the disciples (Peter included) were slow at first to believe it. [source]
1 Peter 1:3 Begat us again [αναγεννησας ημας]
First aorist active articular The Stoics used αναγεννησις — anagennēsis for παλινγενεσια — palingenesia (Titus 3:5). If ανωτεν — anōthen in John 3:3 be taken to mean “again,” the same idea of regeneration is there, and if “from above” it is the new birth, anyhow.Unto a living hope (εις ελπιδα ζωσαν — eis elpida zōsan). Peter is fond of the word “living” (present active participle of ζαω — zaō) as in 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 4:5, 1 Peter 4:6. The Pharisees cherished the hope of the resurrection (Acts 23:6), but the resurrection of Jesus gave it proof and permanence (1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17). It is no longer a dead hope like dead faith (James 2:17, James 2:26). This revival of hope was wrought “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (δια αναστασεως — dia anastaseōs). Hope rose up with Christ from the dead, though the disciples (Peter included) were slow at first to believe it. [source]
1 Peter 1:3 Unto a living hope [εις ελπιδα ζωσαν]
Peter is fond of the word “living” (present active participle of ζαω — zaō) as in 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 4:5, 1 Peter 4:6. The Pharisees cherished the hope of the resurrection (Acts 23:6), but the resurrection of Jesus gave it proof and permanence (1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17). It is no longer a dead hope like dead faith (James 2:17, James 2:26). This revival of hope was wrought “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” Hope rose up with Christ from the dead, though the disciples (Peter included) were slow at first to believe it. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 4:5 mean?

who will give account to Him who ready is to judge [the] living and [the] dead
οἳ ἀποδώσουσιν λόγον τῷ ἑτοίμως ἔχοντι κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς

ἀποδώσουσιν  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
λόγον  account 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
τῷ  to  Him  who 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἑτοίμως  ready 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἑτοίμως  
Sense: readily, to be ready.
κρῖναι  to  judge 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
ζῶντας  [the]  living 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
νεκρούς  [the]  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.