1 Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." The apostle Peter wrote it to Christians who were suffering for their faith. In context it finishes the sentence begun in verse 6, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so casting your cares on Him is part of humility: admitting you cannot carry everything and trusting God to. Care means anxiety or worry. Casting means throwing it off onto someone else. The reason is personal: God is not distant or indifferent; He cares for you.
Some verses are memorized because they are beautiful. 1 Peter 5:7 is memorized because people need it, often at two in the morning. But it is even richer in its setting. Peter wrote to scattered believers under pressure, and in five verses he tells them to be humble, to hand their worries to God, to stay alert against the devil, to stand firm, and to trust that their suffering will last only a while. Below is 1 Peter 5:7 in context, the meaning of its key words, and 12 KJV verses with plain notes. For a list of verses on worry, see Bible verses about anxiety; for Paul's companion passage, see Philippians 4:6-7 meaning.
Who Peter was writing to
Peter's first letter is addressed to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1), regions in what is now Turkey. They were mostly ordinary believers, some of them servants and some married to unbelievers, and they were being slandered, mocked and sometimes mistreated for following Jesus (1 Peter 4:12-16). Peter, who had once denied Jesus three times out of fear, wrote to steady them. Chapter 5 begins with a word to church elders to shepherd the flock willingly (1 Peter 5:1-4), then turns to everyone. The command to cast your care on God is not a stand-alone motivational line. It belongs to a letter about suffering well, staying humble, and holding on to the hope of glory.
Key words in 1 Peter 5:7
- Casting: throwing something onto someone else. The same Greek verb is used when the disciples threw their garments on the colt for Jesus to ride (Luke 19:35).
- All your care: every worry, not only the big ones. Care in 1611 English means anxiety. Modern versions translate it anxiety or anxieties.
- He careth for you: a different word in Greek, meaning He is concerned about you; it matters to Him what happens to you.
Casting all your care upon him (1 Peter 5:5-7)
1. 1 Peter 5:5
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."
Peter begins the passage with a call to humility for everyone in the church: be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Clothed may picture a servant tying on an apron, which is exactly what Peter had seen Jesus do at the Last Supper (John 13:4-5). The second half of the verse is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34. God resists the proud, standing against them like an opponent, but He gives grace to the humble. This matters for verse 7. Worry is often a form of carrying what only God can carry. Humility admits that we are not in control and opens the door for grace. See Bible verses about humility.
2. 1 Peter 5:6
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. The mighty hand of God in the Old Testament is the hand that brought Israel out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:8). It is strong enough both to discipline and to deliver. Peter tells suffering believers to bow under that hand rather than fight it, trusting that God will lift them up in due time, His time, not theirs. Verse 7 then continues the same sentence in Greek: humble yourselves... casting all your care upon him. The way we humble ourselves is by giving God our worries. Pride says I must handle this; humility says Lord, I hand this to You. See Bible verses about waiting on God.
3. 1 Peter 5:7
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
Here is the verse itself: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Casting is a decisive action, like throwing a heavy pack off your shoulders onto a cart. All your care leaves nothing out, from the small daily worries to the fears you have never said aloud. And the reason is beautifully simple: He careth for you. Peter does not say God will make every problem disappear by morning. He says God is personally concerned about you, so you do not have to carry the weight alone. Name each worry in prayer and hand it over, as often as it returns.
4. Psalms 55:22
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
Peter was almost certainly thinking of this psalm, which the Greek Old Testament words very much like his verse: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55 was written by David when a close friend had betrayed him (Psalm 55:12-14), and he describes his heart as sore pained and fearful. The promise is not that the burden disappears, but that God will sustain the one who carries it to Him. Sustain means hold up, support. Suffer means allow. God will not let the person who trusts Him be finally shaken. See Bible verses about stress.
Be sober, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8-11)
5. 1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
Right after telling believers to cast their cares on God, Peter tells them to stay alert: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Sober means clear-minded, not dulled. Vigilant means watchful. The two commands belong together. Trusting God with our worries does not mean becoming careless about sin or temptation. Anxiety can leave us exhausted and alone, which is exactly when temptation is strongest. Handing our cares to God frees us to think clearly and stand guard. See Bible verses about self-control.
6. 1 Peter 5:9
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
Whom resist stedfast in the faith. Resist means stand firm, not run or panic. Then he adds a comfort: knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Afflictions means sufferings. When you are struggling, it is easy to feel that no one else has ever faced what you face. Peter reminds his readers that believers everywhere share the same battles. You are part of a worldwide family, and many of them are praying even as you struggle. See Bible verses about spiritual warfare.
7. 1 Peter 5:10-11
"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. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
Peter ends the passage with a promise and a doxology: 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. Notice after that ye have suffered a while. Suffering is real, but it is temporary compared with eternal glory. The four verbs build on each other: make you perfect means restore and mend, as a fisherman mends nets; stablish means make firm; strengthen means give power; settle means set on a foundation. Verse 11 turns everything into praise: To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. See Bible verses about restoration.
8. James 4:7
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
James, writing around the same time, puts humility and resisting the devil side by side just as Peter does, and even quotes the same proverb about God giving grace to the humble (James 4:6). Then he says: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Submitting to God and resisting the devil are two sides of the same choice. When we hand our worries to God and refuse the lies that fear tells us, the enemy loses his grip. The promise is encouraging: the devil is not stronger than a believer who stands with God. He will flee. See Bible verses about surrender.
For he careth for you (cross-references)
9. Matthew 6:26
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
Jesus gave His own picture of what it means that God cares for you: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Fowls means birds. Jesus does not tell us to be lazy like birds; birds work hard all day. He tells us that God provides, and that we matter far more to Him than sparrows do. The whole passage (Matthew 6:25-34) repeats take no thought, meaning do not be anxious. The cure for worry Jesus gives is not willpower but a clearer view of the Father. See Bible verses about worrying.
10. Matthew 10:29-31
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
How much does God care? Jesus answered with the smallest example He could find: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. A farthing was a tiny coin; sparrows were the cheapest food in the market. Yet God notices each one. Then Jesus adds that the very hairs of your head are all numbered, and concludes, Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. He careth for you is not a vague idea. It is attention to the details of your life that no one else sees. See Bible verses about self-esteem.
11. Psalms 68:19
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."
Casting our cares on God is not a one-time event, because cares come back daily. This psalm answers with a daily promise: Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Loadeth us with benefits means fills our arms with good things. Some translations read that He daily bears our burdens, and both ideas fit: God carries what weighs us down and gives us good things in its place. Selah is probably a musical pause, a cue to stop and think. See Bible verses about gratitude.
12. Luke 10:41-42
"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Martha was busy serving Jesus while her sister Mary sat listening at His feet. When Martha complained, Jesus answered gently: Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Careful here means full of care, anxious, the same idea as 1 Peter 5:7. Jesus said her name twice, gently. He invited her to put first the one thing she was missing: time with Him. Often the best way to cast our cares on Him is simply to sit with Him and listen. See Bible verses about distraction.
A short prayer
Heavenly Father, I humble myself under Your mighty hand. You know every care I am carrying, the ones I talk about and the ones I keep hidden. Right now I cast them on You, one by one, because You care for me. Thank You that You notice every sparrow and number every hair on my head. Keep me sober and watchful, and help me stand firm against the enemy. When I suffer for a while, restore me, make me firm, strengthen me and settle me on Your foundation. To You be glory and dominion for ever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Write your cares down as prayers in the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Memorize 1 Peter 5:7 with Scripture memory cards · Print free Bible verse bookmarks
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of 1 Peter 5:7?
1 Peter 5:7 tells Christians to throw every worry onto God, because He personally cares about them. Care means anxiety, and casting means handing it over deliberately. In context it finishes the command in verse 6 to humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, so giving God your worries is an act of humility and trust. Peter wrote it to believers who were suffering, and he follows it with a call to stay alert and stand firm (verses 8-10).
Is it a sin to worry or have anxiety?
Anxious feelings are part of being human, and the Bible shows faithful people in distress, including David in Psalm 55 and Jesus Himself in Gethsemane. 1 Peter 5:7 is an invitation, not a scolding: bring your cares to God instead of carrying them alone. Ongoing anxiety can also have physical and emotional causes, and seeing a doctor or counselor is wise, not a lack of faith. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, in the US call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.
What does careth mean in 1 Peter 5:7?
Careth is the old English form of cares. For he careth for you means that God is concerned about you and that what happens to you matters to Him. The verse plays on two different Greek words: your care (anxiety, worry) and His caring (concern, attention). We hand Him our worry, and in exchange we receive His care. The King James wording, all your care and he careth, keeps that echo in English.
How do you cast your cares on God?
Many Christians find it helps to be specific: name each worry in prayer, tell God plainly how you feel, and ask Him to carry it (Psalm 55:22). Thank Him for His care, as Philippians 4:6 says, and put the next small step into His hands. Reading a short passage such as Matthew 6:25-34 can steady the mind. You may need to hand the same worry over many times; that is not failure but practice. Sharing it with a trusted friend or pastor helps too (Galatians 6:2).
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Anxiety · Philippians 4:6-7 meaning · Isaiah 26:3 meaning · Worrying · Stress · Matthew 11:28-30 meaning · Humility · Trusting God · What a Friend We Have in Jesus (lyrics)
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
