Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

1 PETER 3:6KJV
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1 Peter 3:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Peter 3:6 mean?

1 Peter 3:6 presents Sarah as an example for the wives addressed in the passage. Peter describes them as her “daughters” when they do what is good and do not give way to fear. The family image points to a shared pattern of conduct rather than a claim about physical ancestry.

Peter refers to Sarah’s response to Abraham, following the mention of women from earlier times in verse 5. Sarah called Abraham “lord” in Genesis 18:12, using a respectful form of address. Peter brings that detail into his instructions to wives, including those whose husbands did not believe the message about Jesus.

The Greek behind 1 Peter 3:6

  • “lord” — κύριος (kyrios): This word can mean “master” or serve as a respectful title. In Sarah’s address to Abraham, it expresses respect within their marriage.
  • “do well” — ἀγαθοποιέω (agathopoieō): This word carries the sense of doing what is good. Peter connects the image of being Sarah’s daughters with the women’s own actions.
  • “amazement” — πτόησις (ptoēsis): This word refers to fear or alarm. In the KJV, “amazement” here has the sense of being frightened, rather than merely surprised.

Why 1 Peter 3:6 matters

  • The verse joins respectful conduct with freedom from fear. Peter places “obeyed Abraham” alongside “do well” and “are not afraid,” rather than describing Sarah only by her relationship to her husband.
  • The image of Sarah’s daughters reaches beyond Sarah’s household. The letter addresses women in different places, yet describes them through their resemblance to Sarah’s conduct.

Where else these words appear

“Sara” Greek G4564 · used in 4 verses

  • Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
  • Romans 9:9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
  • Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

“well” Greek G15 · used in 10 verses

  • Mark 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
  • Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
  • 1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

“obeyed” Greek G5219 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
  • Acts 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
  • Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

“Abraham” Greek G11 · used in 69 verses

  • Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  • John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
  • Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.