SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:5
¶ Igualmente, jvenes, sed sujetos a los ancianos de tal manera que seis todos sujetos unos a otros. Vestíos de humildad de nimo, porque Dios resiste a los soberbios, y da gracia a los humildes.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 5:5
Verse 5. Likewise, ye younger] newteroi probably means here inferiors, or those not in sacred offices; and may be understood as referring to the people at large who are called to obey them that have the rule over them in the Lord. In this sense our Lord, it appears, uses the word, Luke xxii. 26. Be subject one to another] Strive all to serve each other; let the pastors strive to serve the people, and the people the pastors; and let there be no contention, but who shall do most to oblige and profit all the rest.
Be clothed with humility] To be clothed with a thing or person is a Greek mode of speech for being that thing or person with which a man is said to be clothed. Be ye truly humble; and let your outward garb and conduct be a proof of the humility of your hearts. egkombwma, from the original word egkombwsasqe, signifies often an outward ornamental garment, tied in different places with knots or bows, probably ornamented all over with bows or knots of different coloured ribands, silk twist, &c. But it also signifies the outward garment worn by servants, slaves, girls, and shepherds, which was rather intended to be the guard of the other garments than an ornament to those thus dressed: and I am rather inclined to take it in this sense than in the former; for as the apostle calls upon them to be subject to each other, he desires them to put on humility, as the encomboma or servant's dress, that they may appear to be such as were ready to serve; and that he cannot refer to this article of clothing as an ornament the next words sufficiently prove: God resisteth the PROUD, and giveth grace to the HUMBLE-the proud, with all their ornaments, God resists; while those who are clothed with the humble garment he adorns.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Likewise ye younger , etc.] Not in office, as if inferior officers to bishops were here intended, who ought to be subject to them; for elders and pastors are the same with them, nor is there any other office but that of deacons; nor younger pastors and overseers, such an one as Timothy was; not but that a deference is to be paid, and proper respect had to such who are of greater age, and longer standing and experience, by younger brethren in the ministry; nor such as are only younger in years, who ought to rise up unto, and honour hoary hairs, which may be done where subjection is not required, as here; nor such as are young in grace and experience, since there are little children, young men, and fathers in the church; but all the members of churches in common are here intended, as distinguished from their officers; for as pastors and overseers were, for the most part, chosen from among those that were senior in age, so the members generally consisted of the younger sort; and besides, as it was usual to call chief men and rulers, whether in church or state, fathers, so those that were subjects, the younger; (see Luke 21:26). These the apostle exhorts as follows, submit yourselves unto the elder ; not merely in age, but in office, as before; for as he had exhorted the elders to a discharge of their work and office, he proceeds, in the next place, and which is signified by the word likewise, to stir up the members of the churches to their duty to their elders, or pastors, who had the oversight of them; and that is to submit themselves to them, as in ( Hebrews 13:17), which is done by attending constantly on the word preached by them, and receiving it, so far as it agrees with the Scriptures of truth; and by joining with them in all the ordinances of Christ, and their administrations of them; by being subject to the laws of Christ's house, as put in execution by them; by taking their counsel and advice, regarding and hearkening to their admonitions and reproofs, and taking them in good part, looking upon them, and behaving towards them, as their spiritual guides and governors. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, to your elders; such as were particularly set over them in the Lord, and had taken the care of them, for to no others are they obliged to submit themselves. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another ; that is, all the members of the churches should not only submit themselves to their pastors, but to their fellow members, as in ( Ephesians 5:21), they should submit to the superior judgments of one another, esteeming each other better than themselves, and not be tenacious of their own way of thinking and judging of things; yea, condescend to men of low estates and weaker minds, bear the infirmities of the weak, and take all admonitions and reproofs given in a friendly manner kindly; and cheerfully perform all offices of love, and by it serve one another in things temporal and spiritual; doing the meanest services for the good of each other, such as washing the feet of one another, in imitation of their Lord and master. And be clothed with humility ; without which there will be no subjection, either to the elders, or one another. This is a grace which shows itself in a man's thinking and speaking the best of others, and the worst of himself; in not affecting places and titles of eminence; in being content with the lowest place, and patiently bearing the greatest contempt; in not aspiring to things too high for him, always acknowledging his own meanness, baseness, and unworthiness, ascribing all he is, and has, to the grace and goodness of God, whether it be gifts of nature, providence, or grace: and this is a believer's clothing, not the robe of his justifying righteousness before God, but is a considerable part of his inward garment of sanctification, which is in the sight of God of great price; and makes a large show in his outward conversation garments before men, and renders him lovely and amiable: it is an ornament to him, which is precious with God, and recommends him to the esteem of men, and the religion and Gospel he professes, and his profession of it. Some think there is a metaphor in the words, taken from knots of ribbons, and such like things, wore by women on their heads, or breasts, for ornament; and that the apostle's advice to the saints is, that their breast knot, or ornament, should be humility. Others think it is taken from a sort of badge which servants wore over their garments, by which they were distinguished; and so saints are directed to put on this badge, by which they may be known to be the servants of Christ: the former seems more agreeable: but as the word signifies to bind, or fasten anything, by tying of knots, it may denote the retaining of this grace in constant exercise, so as never to be without it; and to be clothed or covered with it, is always to have it on, and in exercise, in every action of life, in all our deportment before God and men, in all public and religious worship, and throughout the whole of our conversation, in the family, in the world, or in the church. The phrase seems to be Jewish, and is to be met with in the writings of the Jews. It is said f101 , he that has fear, hwn[b bltnw , and is clothed with humility; humility is the most excellent, and is comprehended in all, as it is said, ( Proverbs 22:4). He who has the fear of God is worthy of humility, and everyone that hath humility is worthy of kindness or holiness.
And it is a saying of R. Meir f102 , he that loves God loves men; he that makes God glad makes men glad; and it (the law) hwn[ wtblm , clothes him with humility and fear. For he resisteth the proud ; or scorneth the scorners, as it is in ( Proverbs 3:34), from whence these words are taken: the Lord treats them as they treat others; as they despise all other men and things, he despises them; he is above them, in that they have dealt proudly, and has them in derision; he eludes all their artifices, and frustrates their schemes, and disappoints their ambitious views, and scatters them in the imagination of their hearts, and brings their counsels to confusion, and opposes himself to them, and as their adversary; and a dreadful thing it is for persons to have God stand up against them, and resist them. This is a reason dissuading from pride, and exciting to humility, as is also what follows: and giveth grace to the humble; that is, more grace; (see James 4:6). The first grace cannot be intended, for no man is truly humble before he has received the grace of God, it is that which makes him so; or it may design larger gifts of grace, which God bestows on those who acknowledge him to be the author and giver of what they have, and who make a proper use of them to his glory; when he takes away from the vain and ostentatious that which to themselves and others they seemed to have. Moreover, God grants his gracious presence to such as are of an humble, and of a contrite spirit; and at last he gives them glory, which is a free grace gift, and the perfection of grace; the poor in spirit, or humble souls, have both a right and meetness for, and shall enjoy the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-9 - Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches an societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To be humble, and subject to ou reconciled God, will bring greater comfort to the soul than the gratification of pride and ambition. But it is to be in due time; no in thy fancied time, but God's own wisely appointed time. Does he wait and wilt not thou? What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom, power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand Cast "all you care;" personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when the arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God. The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal. Firm belief that the Divine will an counsels are right, calms the spirit of a man. Truly the godly to often forget this, and fret themselves to no purpose. Refer all to God's disposal. The golden mines of all spiritual comfort and good ar wholly his, and the Spirit itself. Then, will he not furnish what is fit for us, if we humbly attend on him, and lay the care of providin for us, upon his wisdom and love? The whole design of Satan is to devour and destroy souls. He always is contriving whom he may insnar to eternal ruin. Our duty plainly is, to be sober; to govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance. To be vigilant suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, watchful an diligent to prevent his designs. Be stedfast, or solid, by faith. A ma cannot fight upon a quagmire, there is no standing without firm groun to tread upon; this faith alone furnishes. It lifts the soul to the firm advanced ground of the promises, and fixes it there. The consideration of what others suffer, is proper to encourage us to bea our share in any affliction; and in whatever form Satan assaults us, or by whatever means, we may know that our brethren experience the same.
Greek Textus Receptus
ομοιως 3668 νεωτεροι 3501 υποταγητε 5293 5649 πρεσβυτεροις 4245 παντες 3956 δε 1161 αλληλοις 240 υποτασσομενοι 5293 5746 την 3588 ταπεινοφροσυνην 5012 εγκομβωσασθε 1463 5663 οτι 3754 ο 3588 θεος 2316 υπερηφανοις 5244 αντιτασσεται 498 5731 ταπεινοις 5011 δε 1161 διδωσιν 1325 5719 χαριν 5485
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Be clothed with humility (thn tapeinofrosunhn egkombwsasqe). The last word is a very peculiar one, occurring only here. It is derived from kombov, a roll, band, or girth: a knot or roll of cloth, made in tying or tucking up any part of the dress. The kindred word ejgkombwma, from which the verb is directly formed, means a slave's apron, under which the loose garments were girt up. Compare Horace's "puer alte cinctus," a slave girt high. Hence the figure carries an exhortation to put on humility as a working virtue employed in ministry. This is apparent from the evident reminiscence of that scene in which Peter figured so prominently - the washing of the disciple's feet by the Lord, when he girded himself with a towel as a servant, and gave them the lesson of ministry both by word and act. Bengel paraphrases, "Put on and wrap yourselves about with humility, so that the covering of humility cannot possibly be stripped from you."
Resisteth (antitassetai). A strong and graphic word. Lit., setteth himself in array against, as one draws out a host for battle. Pride calls out God's armies. No wonder, therefore, that it "goeth before destruction." The proud (uperhfanoiv). See on pride, Mark vii. 22. Compare Jas. iv. 6. To the humble. See on Matt. xi. 29.
