Ὁμοίως νεώτεροι ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις, πάντες δὲ ἀλλήλοις ὑποτασσόμενοι τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε· ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσι χάριν.
Imperative Address to the Young: Ὁμοίως νεώτεροι ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις
– Ὁμοίως: Adverb meaning “likewise” or “in the same way.”
– Indicates continuity with previous exhortations to elders (1 Peter 5:1–4).
– νεώτεροι: Nominative plural masculine adjective used substantivally—”you who are younger.”
– Addresses younger men or younger members of the church.
– ὑποτάγητε: Aorist passive imperative, 2nd person plural of ὑποτάσσω, “to submit” or “to subject oneself.”
– The passive voice has a reflexive nuance here—”be subject.”
– πρεσβυτέροις: Dative plural masculine of πρεσβύτερος, “elders.”
– Dative of indirect object—submission is rendered to the elders.
– Translation: “Likewise, you who are younger, submit yourselves to the elders.”
– This clause exhorts ordered humility within the ecclesial hierarchy.
Inclusive Ethical Call: πάντες δὲ ἀλλήλοις ὑποτασσόμενοι
– πάντες: Nominative plural—”all [of you].”
– δὲ: Coordinating conjunction—”and,” transitioning to a broader exhortation.
– ἀλλήλοις: Dative reciprocal pronoun—”to one another.”
– Emphasizes mutual submission across the congregation, not limited by age or role.
– ὑποτασσόμενοι: Present middle/passive participle, nominative plural masculine of ὑποτάσσω.
– Describes ongoing mutual deference among believers.
– Participial phrase sets the tone for the next command.
– The phrase calls the entire community to cultivate reciprocal humility, not hierarchical dominance.
Imperative of Clothing: τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε
– τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην: Accusative singular feminine noun with article—”humility.”
– Object of the imperative verb.
– ἐγκομβώσασθε: Aorist middle imperative, 2nd person plural of ἐγκομβόομαι, “to clothe oneself with,” “to tie around.”
– Rare verb referring to the tying of a servant’s apron.
– The middle voice indicates voluntary, deliberate action.
– Translation: “Clothe yourselves with humility.”
– The image evokes servanthood and intentional humility as spiritual attire.
Scriptural Justification: ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσι χάριν
– ὅτι: Conjunction—”because,” introducing a reason or scriptural citation.
– ὁ Θεὸς: Nominative singular—”God.”
– ὑπερηφάνοις: Dative plural adjective—”to the proud.”
– ἀντιτάσσεται: Present middle indicative, 3rd person singular of ἀντιτάσσομαι, “to oppose,” “to resist.”
– Middle voice emphasizes God’s active resistance.
– ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσι χάριν:
– ταπεινοῖς: Dative plural of ταπεινός, “humble.”
– δίδωσι: Present active indicative of δίδωμι, “he gives.”
– χάριν: Accusative singular of χάρις, “grace.”
– Together: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
– This citation (from Proverbs 3:34 LXX) provides a theological warrant for Peter’s ethical commands.
Ethics of Mutual Submission and Divine Favor in Early Christian Communities
The structure of 1 Peter 5:5 reflects an escalating ethical exhortation: from younger members to elders, then to all members of the community. The use of imperatives (ὑποτάγητε, ἐγκομβώσασθε) and participles (ὑποτασσόμενοι) signals both command and continuous behavior. The imagery of ἐγκομβώσασθε—clothing oneself with humility—is both vivid and profoundly theological, portraying humility as an essential Christian disposition, not merely an abstract virtue.
The reciprocal construction ἀλλήλοις intensifies the communal dimension of Christian ethics. Submission is not unidirectional; it is mutual, voluntary, and informed by the example of Christ himself (cf. 1 Peter 2:21–25).
The citation of Proverbs reinforces divine agency: God’s stance toward pride and humility is not neutral. The Greek construction—with balanced datives and present tense verbs—underscores that divine opposition and grace are active and ongoing. This frames humility not as passive self-negation but as the proper response to God’s moral order.
