peace (inner peace)

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The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is usually translated into English as “peace,” when referring to one’s inner peace, is (back-) translated with a variety of idioms and phrases:

In American Sign Language it is signed with a compound sign consisting of “become” and “silent.” (Source: Yates 2011, p. 52)


“Peace” in American Sign Language (source )

See also peace (absence of strife) and this devotion on YouVersion and this one on Bible Gateway .

complete verse (1 Peter 3:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Peter 3:11:

  • Uma: “He must stop / let go of doing evil deeds and do good deeds. He must exert effort to seek harmony with other people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He should give up his bad doings and do good. He should strive for agreement/harmony with his companions.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He must abandon evil deeds and his customs must always be good. He must always seek for a peaceful relationship with his companions.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He must turn-his-back-on evil so that good is what he does, and he must also put-forth his efforts (lit. ability) to get-along-with his companions.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And as for evil doings, he must drop them now, and do wholly good. A good friendship/fellowship with his fellowman is what he is always to be striving for.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Depart from evil, do the good. Earnestly search how to be at peace with those who are angry with you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Psalm 34:12 – Psalm 34:16.

Translation commentary on 1 Peter 3:11

As verse 10 talks of verbal activity, this verse talks of action. Turn away from includes the idea of avoiding, not yielding to, ceasing (compare Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “stop doing bad”). Evil is the same word used in verse 10, but this time referring more to action rather than to words. For do good, see the similar concept in 2.12 and 2.15.

A literal rendering of turn away from evil could give the impression that one is trying to escape from evil circumstances or trouble. One can translate turn away from evil as simply “stop doing what is bad” or “refrain from sinning” or “no longer sin.”

The contrast between evil and good must be more carefully marked in some languages, for example, “rather than doing evil, he must do good” or “he must stop doing what is bad and must then do what is good.”

He must strive for peace with all his heart is literally “let him seek peace and pursue it.” “Seek” and “pursue” give the idea of diligent and persistent effort, not only to have something but to continue having it; the Good News Translation has captured this intensity by its translation (compare Barclay “the object of all his endeavor and his search”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “seek peace with all his might”). Peace is a word with many meanings in the New Testament; here it could either be right relationship with people (for example, Barclay “right relationships with his fellowmen”) or messianic salvation, that is, right relationship with God. Both possibilities fit this particular context very well.

In view of the fact that this context indicates a number of interpersonal relations, one may translate he must strive for peace as “he must try very hard to live at peace with others” or “… to live without fighting with others” or “… to live quietly with others.” If one wishes to introduce God as related to the experience of peace, then one may translate “he must try with all his heart to be at peace with God.” One of the difficulties involved in such a rendering is the fact that the act of reconciliation begins with God, and man is the goal of God’s activity.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 3:11

3:11a

This verse part is a quotation of Psalm 34:14a.

He must turn from evil and do good: The verb phrases in this verse part say the same thing in different ways.

turn from evil: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as turn from evil means to avoid evil, that is, to refrain from doing anything that is morally wrong.

Some other ways to translate this are:

Instead of doing evil, he must do what is right
-or-
Give up your evil ways and do right (Contemporary English Version)

3:11b

This verse part is a quotation of Psalm 34:14b.

he must seek peace and pursue it: This clause is also a poetic doublet. The Good News Translation combines the two verbs into one:

you must strive for peace with all your heart (Good News Translation)

he must seek peace: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he must seek peace means “he must work to make peace.” It is also possible to translate this as:

he must try to live peacefully

peace: Here, peace refers to peace with other people, that is, good relationships.

pursue it: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pursue it here means to make a strong effort to live in peace. Some other ways this phrase can be translated include:

work to maintain it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
strive for it

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