The quotation from Proverbs naturally leads to the thought expressed in this verse, namely, humility before God. This is the function of then (literally “therefore”); since it is true that God resists the proud and shows favor to the humble, then you must humble yourselves before God. Humble yourselves may have reference to the sufferings and difficulties being presently encountered by the readers of the letter; what they are being urged to do is accept these humbly as part of God’s plan for them; as such, they must submit to God in all humility (compare Barclay “Submit yourselves with no thought of self-assertion to the strong control of God”).
A literal translation of Humble yourselves could suggest either “debase yourself” or “depreciate yourself,” but neither of these meanings is intended. Humble yourselves may perhaps best be translated as “become humble before God,” or as in a figurative expression, “make yourself low before God.”
Under God’s mighty hand is a common Old Testament expression, primarily referring to the mighty act of God in delivering the Israelites from Egypt (Deut 3.24; 4.34; Exo 3.19; Dan 9.15). It could be that this thought is primary here; once again Peter takes a figure from the Israelite experience and uses it for the church, the new Israel. But perhaps, the action of God as the great judge is the one being emphasized (as in Ezek 20.34). At any rate, God’s mighty hand is not something to be dreaded by the Christians, but to be welcomed, as providing protection and final deliverance, as the rest of the verse shows.
A literal rendering of under God’s mighty hand may very well suggest a wrong connotation, namely, that God’s strong hand is oppressive and burdensome. Moreover, it may not be possible in some languages to use the figurative meaning of hand as a symbol of God’s power. Humble yourselves … under God’s mighty hand may therefore be expressed as “make yourselves humble before God who is strong to protect” or “… strong to help.”
He will lift you up (literally “exalt you”) expresses the result of humility before God. The Greek word includes the elements of bestowing honor, fame, position, power, fortune, and other blessings (compare Barclay “he will honor you”). Here it probably has reference to their eventual triumph over those giving them trouble, and more importantly, to their sharing in the divine glory (compare 5.1-4). In some languages he will lift you up may be expressed rather literally, for example, “he will cause you to be high” or “he will place you above others,” but more frequently the figurative expression of exaltation must be communicated in terms of honor or prestige or greatness, for example, “he will greatly honor you” or “he will cause you to be great.”
In his own good time is literally “in time,” with the word for time (kairos) also used in 1.5, for which see comments there. Here it may mean “the last time” (compare Matt 8.29; 1 Cor 4.5), referring to the time of Christ’s second coming. It is also possible that it refers to some other time which is left to the discretion of God. However, the eschatological tone of the whole letter argues for the former of these two alternatives. At any rate, God’s deliverance is not left to some indefinite future but is a certainty. In his own good time may be rendered as “on the day that he decides” or “at the time when God thinks it is right.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The First Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .