1 Peter 2:10

“you who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:10 · direct translation from the Greek

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Peter calls a "holy nation" those who once were not a peopleHoliness Those who were not a people are now God's peopleThe Church and Community

With the Greek beneath

you whoοἵonceποτεwerenotοὐa people,λαὸςbutδὲnowνῦνarethe peopleλαὸςof God;θεοῦwhoοἱhad notοὐκreceived mercy,ἠλεημένοιbutδὲnowνῦνhave received mercy.ἐλεηθέντες

Allusion · Hosea 1:6-10

Go to Hosea 1:6-10

Both texts play on “not my people” and “not shown mercy,” names of Hosea’s children, who become “people” and “shown mercy” again.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

λαὸςlaosG2992לֹאloH3818“people”
ἠλεημένοιēleēmenoiG1653אֲרַחֵםarajemH7355“have mercy”

1 Peter 2:10, word by word

onceποτεpote

once, formerly

Once, formerly; ever, at some time.

Where else “pote” appears

a peopleλαὸςlaos

people

A people, above all Israel, God's people.

Where else “laos” appears

of Godθεοῦtheou

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theou” appears

received mercyἠλεημένοιēleēmenoi

have mercy

Show mercy, take pity; in the passive, receive mercy.

Where else “ēleēmenoi” appears

Translation note

Recalls Hosea 1:6-10 and 2:23.

The context

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 · This verse (above)

11Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from the fleshly desires which wage war against the soul.

Read all of 1 Peter 2

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