1 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

Passage

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "rendering", "evil", "railing", "contrariwise", "blessing", and "knowing". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "rendering", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Finally be ye all of one mind..." into verse 10's "For he that will love life and...", so "called" and "rendering" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "rendering" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.