"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
— 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
1 Peter 5:10 is the "after you have suffered a little while" verse, Peter's promise to suffering believers that God himself will put them back together. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in 1 Peter 5, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about suffering, Bible verses about strength, and Bible verses about comfort.
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The verse
The King James reads: "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
"Grace" is charis (G5485). "Suffered" is pascho (G3958), and "a little while" is oligos (G3641), small or brief. Then come four promises. "Restore" (KJV "make you perfect") is katartizo (G2675), to mend or fit back together, the word used for mending nets. "Make you strong" (KJV "stablish") is sterizo (G4741), to set firmly. "Firm" (KJV "strengthen") is sthenoo (G4599), to give strength. "Steadfast" (KJV "settle") is themelioo (G2311), to lay a foundation.
Where it sits in 1 Peter 5
Peter wrote to believers scattered across Asia Minor who were facing hostility for their faith. Just before this verse he says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Then he warns, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:8-9). Verse 10 is the promise that follows, and verse 11 closes with praise: "To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
What the verse is saying
Peter does not pretend suffering is short in the moment. He sets it against "his eternal glory," and next to eternity it is "a little while." He also does not leave the repair to the sufferer. God "will himself" restore, strengthen, and settle them.
The four verbs build on each other: God mends what was broken, sets it firmly in place, gives it strength, and lays a foundation under it. Earlier in the letter Peter told the same readers, "do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you" (1 Peter 4:12). Paul makes a similar comparison: "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Questions people ask
What does 1 Peter 5:10 say?
In the NIV it says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." The KJV reads, "make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
What does "restore" mean in 1 Peter 5:10?
The Greek word katartizo means to mend or fit something back into working order. It is used in the Gospels for fishermen mending their nets.
Why does Peter say "a little while"?
He is comparing present suffering with God's "eternal glory." The pain may feel long, but measured against eternity it is brief.
Who was 1 Peter written to?
Peter addressed believers "scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" (1 Peter 1:1), Christians facing pressure and mistreatment for their faith.
What verse comes before 1 Peter 5:10?
Verses 8-9 warn about the devil prowling "like a roaring lion" and call believers to resist him, "standing firm in the faith." Just before that is 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
