1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Original Language Analysis
οὗ
Who
G3739
οὗ
Who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 25
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τὰς
G3588
τὰς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ
his own self
G846
αὐτοῦ
his own self
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σώματι
body
G4983
σώματι
body
Strong's:
G4983
Word #:
9 of 25
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
αὐτοῦ
his own self
G846
αὐτοῦ
his own self
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐπὶ
on
G1909
ἐπὶ
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
11 of 25
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ξύλον
the tree
G3586
ξύλον
the tree
Strong's:
G3586
Word #:
13 of 25
timber (as fuel or material); by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance
ταῖς
G3588
ταῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀπογενόμενοι
being dead
G581
ἀπογενόμενοι
being dead
Strong's:
G581
Word #:
17 of 25
absent, i.e., deceased (figuratively, renounced)
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δικαιοσύνῃ
unto righteousness
G1343
δικαιοσύνῃ
unto righteousness
Strong's:
G1343
Word #:
19 of 25
equity (of character or act); specially (christian) justification
οὗ
Who
G3739
οὗ
Who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
21 of 25
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μώλωπι
stripes
G3468
μώλωπι
stripes
Strong's:
G3468
Word #:
23 of 25
probably akin to the base of g3433) and probably ?? (the face; from g3700); a mole ("black eye") or blow-mark
Cross References
Matthew 8:17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.Romans 6:11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.Revelation 22:2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.1 John 2:29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.James 5:16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.Hebrews 9:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.Romans 6:2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Isaiah 53:11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.Galatians 3:13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Colossians 3:3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Historical Context
Peter, eyewitness to Christ's crucifixion and post-resurrection appearances, writes with profound personal reflection on the cross's meaning. For first-century readers familiar with Roman crucifixion's horror, "the tree" carried visceral impact—a gruesome execution reserved for slaves and insurrectionists. Peter's quotation of Isaiah 53 (the Suffering Servant passage) demonstrates early Christian interpretation of Christ's death as prophetically predicted and divinely ordained substitutionary atonement, not tragic accident or martyrdom.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding Christ bearing your specific sins 'in his own body' deepen your gratitude and worship?
- What does it mean practically to 'live unto righteousness' as one who has died to sin, and where do you most struggle with this transformation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse presents the substitutionary atonement with remarkable clarity. Christ "bare our sins" (anēnegken tas hamartias)—the verb means to carry upward, used of sacrifices offered on the altar, indicating Christ bore sin's penalty as our substitute. The phrase "in his own body" emphasizes the incarnation's necessity: only the God-man could satisfy divine justice. "On the tree" (epi to xylon) deliberately uses Old Testament language for crucifixion, connecting Jesus to Deuteronomy 21:23's curse, quoted by Paul in Galatians 3:13. The purpose clause reveals two-fold transformation: "being dead to sins" (apogenomenoi tais hamartiais, having died to sins) describes positional justification through union with Christ's death, while "should live unto righteousness" expresses progressive sanctification—justified believers grow in holiness. The phrase "by whose stripes ye were healed" (tō mōlōpi iathēte) quotes Isaiah 53:5, with the aorist passive indicating completed action: believers were decisively healed at Calvary, primarily referring to spiritual healing from sin's corruption, though not excluding ultimate physical resurrection.