Artists for Israel International · Online Exhibit

The Book of 1 Kefa (Peter) & Yiddishkait Iggeret Kefa Rishonah — אִגֶּרֶת כֵּיפָא הָרִאשׁוֹנָה

Kefa's letter to the elect exiles of the Golus scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia — a living hope kept in Shomayim, a chosen people built as living stones on the Even HaRosh Pinah, suffering that follows the pattern of the Eved Adonai, and shepherds who guard the flock in anivut until the Rosh HaRo'im appears — read through its Yiddishkait vocabulary across five chapters, then set beside the Greek NT interlinear itself.

Soaked in Tanakh: Four Threads

1 Kefa is a pastoral letter of chizuk (strengthening) to a scattered kehillah facing nisyonot from the surrounding olam, and it is steeped from its first lines in the vocabulary of the Golus, the Beit HaMikdash, and the Eved Adonai of Yeshayahu. Kefa insists that the believer's tikvah is not fragile but living, that the kehillah itself is a spiritual Beit HaMikdash of living stones, that suffering for tzedek follows the very pattern Moshiach set, and that the zekeinim must shepherd the flock in anivut until the Rosh HaRo'im (Chief Shepherd) appears.

Tikvah Chayah v'Nachalah Shmurah

  • Believers are elect exiles, born again to a tikvah chayah (living hope) through the techiyah of Moshiach from the mesim, unto a nachalah (inheritance) kept in Shomayim (1:3-5).
  • Emunah tested by nisyonot is more precious than gold refined by fire, and results in tehillah, kavod, and tiferet at the giluy (revealing) of Moshiach.
  • You were redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious dahm of Moshiach, like an unblemished and spotless Seh Pesach (Pesach lamb), foreknown before the foundation of the olam (1:18-20).

Even HaRosh Pinah: A Mamlechet Kohanim

  • Come to the living Even (stone) rejected by men but chosen and precious to God, and be built up yourselves as living stones into a spiritual Beit HaMikdash (2:4-5).
  • The stone the builders rejected has become the Rosh Pinah (chief cornerstone) — a stone of stumbling to those who disobey the dvar.
  • You are a chosen generation, a Mamlechet Kohanim (kingdom of priests), a holy nation, a treasured possession — once not a people, now the Am Elohim (2:9-10).

Eved Adonai: Suffering in the Pattern of Moshiach

  • Moshiach suffered for us, leaving an example, so that we should follow in His footsteps — He committed no sin, no guile found in His mouth (2:21-22).
  • When reviled, He did not revile back; He bore our sins in His body upon the eitz, that we, having died to sin, might live to tzedakah — by His stripes we were healed (2:23-24).
  • It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, if that should be the ratzon of God, for Moshiach also suffered once for chatta'im, the tzaddik for the resha'im (3:17-18).

Anivut, Zekeinim & the Aryeh HaSho'eg

  • Zekeinim are exhorted to shepherd the flock of God willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, and not as lording it over the mishpachah but as mofsim (examples) to the tzon (5:1-3).
  • All are to clothe themselves with anivut toward one another, humbling themselves under the yad chazakah of God, casting every da'agah (anxiety) upon Him, for He cares for you (5:5-7).
  • The adversary, the satan, prowls like a roaring Aryeh (lion) seeking whom to devour; resist him, firm in emunah, knowing the achim throughout the olam share the same suffering (5:8-9).

Reading Key — Living Hope, Living Stones & the Shepherd's Anivut

This exhibit reads 1 Kefa as a letter of chizuk to a suffering, scattered kehillah: a tikvah chayah that cannot be shaken, a kehillah built as a spiritual Beit HaMikdash, a suffering that walks in the footsteps of the Eved Adonai, and zekeinim who shepherd in anivut until the Rosh HaRo'im appears.

➤ Tikvah Chayah (ch. 1) — Election, new birth to a living hope, nisyonot that refine emunah, and redemption by the precious dahm of the Seh Pesach.

➤ Even HaPinah (ch. 2) — Living stones, a Mamlechet Kohanim, honorable conduct among the Goyim, and the Eved Adonai's suffering example.

➤ Anivut u'Savlanut (ch. 3) — Wives, husbands, unity of lev, suffering for tzedek, and Moshiach's proclamation in the days of Noach.

➤ Sof HaKol Karov (ch. 4) — Arming with Moshiach's mindset, love that covers sins, stewardship of gifts, and the fiery nisayon that tests the mishpachah.

➤ Ro'im v'Anivut (ch. 5) — Zekeinim as shepherds, anivut under the yad chazakah, the roaring Aryeh, and the Elohei Kol Chesed who establishes His own.

I. Tikvah Chayah Election, New Birth & the Refining of Emunah (ch. 1)

  1. 1Greeting — Kefa, sholi'ach of Moshiach, to the elect exiles of the Golus scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia 1Pe 1:1-2Chosen according to the foreknowledge of Avinu, set apart by the Ruach, unto obedience and the sprinkling of the dahm of Moshiach.
  2. 2Blessed be the Elohim v'Avi of Moshiach, who caused us to be born again to a living hope through the techiyah, unto a nachalah kept in Shomayim 1Pe 1:3-5A nachalah incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, guarded by the koach of God through emunah for a yeshuah ready to be revealed.
  3. 3Rejoice, though grieved by various nisyonot, for the testing of your emunah is more precious than gold that perishes, though tried by fire 1Pe 1:6-9Refiner's Fire TypologyEmunah proved like tzeruf (refining) of gold, ending in the yeshuat nafshoteichem (salvation of your souls).
  4. 4The neviim searched diligently, inquiring what the Ruach HaKodesh of Moshiach in them was predicting — the sufferings and the glories to follow 1Pe 1:10-12Even the malachim (angels) long to look into these things now announced through the mevasrei besorah.
  5. 5Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, set your tikvah fully on the chen to be brought at the giluy of Moshiach; be kadosh as He who called you is kadosh 1Pe 1:13-16Called to walk kadosh b'chol derachim (holy in all your ways), no longer conformed to former ta'avot.
  6. 6Call on Avinu who judges impartially according to each one's ma'aseh; you were redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious dahm of Moshiach, an unblemished Seh Pesach 1Pe 1:17-19Pesach Lamb TypologyRedemption by the Dahm HaSeh (blood of the lamb), not by kesef or zahav, from the futile derech inherited from the avot.
  7. 7Moshiach was foreknown before the foundation of the olam, but manifested in these acharit hayamim for your sake, who through Him have emunah and tikvah in God 1Pe 1:20-21A tzefunah (hidden) plan of Elohim revealed only in the acharit hayamim, His raising and glorifying of Moshiach the ground of your bitachon.
  8. 8Having purified your neshamot by obedience to the emes, love one another fervently; you were born again through the living and abiding dvar Elohim, for all flesh is like grass 1Pe 1:22-25Not born again of zera nishchat (perishable seed) but of the imperishable dvar Elohim, which endures l'olam va'ed.

II. Even HaPinah Living Stones, a Chosen Nation & the Suffering Example (ch. 2)

  1. 9Put away all malice, guile, chanufah, kin'ah, and lashon hara; long for the pure sincere milk of the dvar like newborn babes, for you have tasted that Adonoi is tov 1Pe 2:1-3Craving the chalav ruchani (spiritual milk) that grows the neshamah toward yeshuah.
  2. 10Come to Him, the living Even rejected by bnei adam but chosen and precious to God, and be built up yourselves as living avanim, a Beit HaMikdash ruchani, a holy kehunah 1Pe 2:4-5Living avanim assembled into a spiritual Beit HaMikdash, offering zevachim ruchaniyim acceptable through Moshiach.
  3. 11For it is written: "Behold, I lay in Tziyon a Rosh Pinah, chosen and precious" — a stone of stumbling to those who disobey the dvar 1Pe 2:6-8Even Rosh Pinah TypologyThe rejected Even Ma'asu HaBonim (stone the builders rejected) becomes the head of the pinah, and a michshol to the unbelieving.
  4. 12You are a chosen generation, a Mamlechet Kohanim, a holy nation, a treasured am segulah; once not a people, now the Am Elohim 1Pe 2:9-10Mamlechet Kohanim TypologyCalled out of choshech into His marvelous ohr, an am segulah proclaiming His tehillot.
  5. 13As geirim v'toshavim, abstain from fleshly ta'avot that war against the neshamah; keep your conduct honorable among the Goyim 1Pe 2:11-12Living as geirim v'toshavim (strangers and pilgrims) whose good ma'asim silence the accusations of the nations.
  6. 14Submit yourselves to every human institution for Adonoi's sake — melech and moshlim; live as bnei chorin, yet as avdei Elohim; fear God, honor the melech 1Pe 2:13-17Freedom held not as cover for ra but as avdut l'Elohim (servanthood to God) within the civic order.
  7. 15Servants, be submissive to your masters, even the harsh ones; it is chesed if for conscience toward God one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly 1Pe 2:18-20Suffering endured for rachmanut and conscience' sake is what finds chen before God.
  8. 16For to this you were called, because Moshiach also suffered for us, leaving an example; He committed no sin, no guile found in His mouth 1Pe 2:21-23Eved Adonai TypologyThe pattern of the Eved Adonai: reviled, He did not revile back; suffering, He did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to the Righteous Shofet.
  9. 17He Himself bore our chata'im in His body upon the eitz, that we might live to tzedakah; by His stripes you were healed — for you were like sheep going astray, now returned to the Ro'eh 1Pe 2:24-25Yeshayahu 53 Typology"By His chavurot (stripes) we are healed" — now returned to the Ro'eh u'Mashgi'ach (Shepherd and Overseer) of your neshamot.

III. Anivut u'Savlanut Wives, Husbands & Suffering for Righteousness (ch. 3)

  1. 18Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the dvar, they may be won without a word by the derech eretz of their wives 1Pe 3:1-2A silent kiddush Hashem lived out before an unbelieving husband, without a word spoken.
  2. 19Let your adornment not be outward — braided hair, gold jewelry, fine clothing — but the hidden person of the lev, a gentle and quiet ruach precious before God 1Pe 3:3-4Beauty measured not by outward tachshitim but by an anivut ruach hidden within the lev.
  3. 20So the kadoshot women who hoped in God once adorned themselves, submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Avraham, calling him adon 1Pe 3:5-6Sarah v'Avraham TypologySarah Imeinu's obedience held up as the model — her daughters are those who do tov and fear no terror.
  4. 21Husbands likewise, live with your wives according to da'as, honoring her as the weaker vessel, as heirs together of the nachalah of chayim, so your tefillot not be hindered 1Pe 3:7A wife honored as yoreshet chayim (co-heir of life), lest din'ei tefillah themselves be blocked.
  5. 22Finally, all of you be of one mind, having sympathy, ahavat achim, a rachaman and anav lev, not repaying ra for ra or reviling for reviling 1Pe 3:8-9A kehillah marked by achdut (unity) and rachamim rather than tit-for-tat.
  6. 23Whoever loves chayim, let him keep his lashon from ra and his lips from mirmah; the eynei Adonoi are on the tzaddikim and His ears open to their tefillah 1Pe 3:10-12A tehillim-shaped word: the eynei Adonoi watching over the tzaddik, His face against evildoers.
  7. 24If you suffer for tzedek's sake, you are blessed; sanctify Moshiach as Adon in your levavot, always ready to give an apologia for the tikvah within you, with anivut and yirah 1Pe 3:13-17A ready hitnatzlut (apologia/defense) for the tikvah, offered with anivut rather than fear of men.
  8. 25Moshiach suffered once for chata'im, the tzaddik for the resha'im, to bring us to God; He was put to death in the flesh, made alive in the Ruach — proclaiming to the ruchot in prison, disobedient in the days of Noach 1Pe 3:18-20Noach v'HaMabul TypologyThe yemei Noach recalled while the teivah was prepared, eight nefashot brought safely through the mayim.
  9. 26Corresponding to this, mikveh mayim now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh but the appeal of a tov conscience toward God, through the techiyah of Moshiach, who has gone into Shomayim, at the right hand of God 1Pe 3:21-22Tevilah (immersion) as the pledge of a good conscience, malachim, resh iyot, and kochot made subject to Him.

IV. Sof HaKol Karov Suffering as a Believer & Stewards of Chesed (ch. 4)

  1. 27Since Moshiach suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same machashavah, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from chet 1Pe 4:1-2Suffering in the flesh becomes a kind of severing from the old chet, no longer ruled by human ta'avot.
  2. 28Enough time has passed doing the ratzon of the Goyim — sensuality, ta'avot, drunkenness, orgies, avodah zarah; they are surprised you no longer run with them, and they malign you 1Pe 4:3-4The old chevrah bewildered — and unkind — at a life no longer given to avodah zarah and excess.
  3. 29They will give a din v'cheshbon to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead; for this reason the besorah was preached even to the dead 1Pe 4:5-6A din v'cheshbon (accounting) owed to the Shofet of the living and the dead, from which none stand exempt.
  4. 30The ketz hakol has drawn near; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for tefillot; above all, keep loving one another earnestly, for ahavah covers a rov chata'im 1Pe 4:7-8Watchfulness for the ketz hakol (end of all things) paired with an ahavah that covers a multitude of wrongs.
  5. 31Show hachnasat orchim to one another without murmuring; as each has received a matanah, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the manifold chesed of God 1Pe 4:9-11Every matanah (gift) — speech or service — held in stewardship, that God be glorified through Moshiach.
  6. 32Do not be surprised at the fiery nisayon among you, as though something strange were happening; rejoice as you share in the suffering of Moshiach 1Pe 4:12-13Fiery Nisayon TypologyThe nisayon shel eish (fiery trial) reframed not as an intruder but as a sharing in Moshiach's own sufferings.
  7. 33If you are reviled for the Name of Moshiach, you are blessed, for the Ruach HaKavod rests upon you; let none of you suffer as a murderer, ganev, or evildoer 1Pe 4:14-16The Ruach HaKavod (Spirit of Glory) resting on the one reviled for bearing Moshiach's Name and nothing else.
  8. 34Din begins at the Beit Elohim; if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who disobey the Besorah? Let those who suffer entrust their nefashot to a faithful Boreh while doing tov 1Pe 4:17-19A sobering din that starts at Beit Elohim itself, ending in trust placed in the faithful Boreh (Creator).

V. Ro'im v'Anivut Elders, the Roaring Adversary & the Eternal Kavod (ch. 5)

  1. 35Kefa exhorts the zekeinim among you, a fellow zaken and ed of Moshiach's suffering, to shepherd the tzon of God willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, as mofsim to the flock 1Pe 5:1-3Rosh HaRo'im TypologyZekeinim called to ri'ah (shepherd) rather than dominate, awaiting the atarah unfading from the Rosh HaRo'im (Chief Shepherd).
  2. 36When the Rosh HaRo'im appears, you will receive the unfading atarah shel kavod; you who are younger, be subject to the zekeinim, clothing yourselves with anivut toward one another 1Pe 5:4-5God opposes the ge'im (proud) but gives chen to the anavim.
  3. 37Humble yourselves under the yad chazakah of God, that He may exalt you in His time, casting all your da'agot upon Him, because He cares for you 1Pe 5:6-7Every da'agah (anxiety) surrendered under the yad chazakah (mighty hand) of a God who cares.
  4. 38Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the satan prowls about like a roaring aryeh, seeking whom he may devour; resist him, firm in emunah, knowing your achim in the olam endure the same suffering 1Pe 5:8-9Aryeh Sho'eg TypologyThe satan pictured as an aryeh sho'eg (roaring lion), resisted not alone but alongside a scattered brotherhood.
  5. 39The Elohei Kol Chesed, who called you to His eternal kavod in Moshiach, after you have suffered a while, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you; to Him be dominion l'olam va'ed 1Pe 5:10-11The Elohei Kol Chesed (God of all grace) pledged to restore what suffering has worn down.
  6. 40By Sila, a faithful brother, Kefa has written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true chesed of God; greetings from her who is in Bavel, and from Markos my son — greet one another with a neshikah shel ahavah; shalom to all in Moshiach 1Pe 5:12-14A closing neshikah shel ahavah (kiss of love) and shalom sent to a scattered but united mishpachah.

Read the Greek Text Itself

All five chapters of 1 Kefa, word for word, at the AFII Greek NT interlinear.

1Pe chp 1 chp 2 chp 3 chp 4 chp 5