Towards the end of the Apostle Peter’s exhortation to the exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, he shares this nugget. The amazing truth and beauty of this passage is somewhat obscured by the King James English, so let’s look at several different translations…
Casting all your care [3308] upon him; for he careth [3199] for you. (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7 NLT)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)
Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 GWT)
You see there are 2 different Greek words, which are both translated as “care” in English, but they mean completely different things…
- 3308. merimna
- mérimna (see 3307 merízō, “divide”) – properly, a part, separated from the whole; (figuratively) worry (anxiety), dividing and fracturing a person’s being into parts. See 3309 (merimnaō). –HELPS™ Word-studies
- 3199. meló
- mélō (the third person singular of melō, “to care, be concerned”) – to care about (be concerned with), especially paying attention (giving thought) to – i.e. “taking an interest” (L-S) with the “implication of some apprehension . . . ” –HELPS™ Word-studies
This is consistent with God. Who he is. What he does.
Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:5)
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
From the end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)
“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? “Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? “And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? “Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. (Matthew 6:25-33)
For deeper study:
Casting all your care upon him – Compare Psalm 55:22, from whence this passage was probably taken. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Compare, for a similar sentiment, Matthew 6:25-30. The meaning is, that we are to commit our whole cause to him. If we suffer heavy trials; if we lose our friends, health, or property; if we have arduous and responsible duties to perform; if we feel that we have no strength, and are in danger of being crushed by what is laid upon us, we may go and cast all upon the Lord; that is, we may look to him for grace and strength, and feel assured that he will enable us to sustain all that is laid upon us. The relief in the case will be as real, and as full of consolation, as if he took the burden and bore it himself. He will enable us to bear with ease what we supposed we could never have done; and the burden which he lays upon us will be light, Matthew 11:30. Compare the notes at Philippians 4:6-7. –Barnes’ Notes on the Bible