1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) - Casting All Your Care Upon Him

1 Peter 5:7 reads in the King James Version, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Peter writes this to scattered believers enduring fiery trials, and the verse is grammatically tied to the command of humility in verse 6. The participle "casting" in Greek is "epiripsantes" (from "epiripto"), which means to throw upon, to hurl, or to toss onto another as one would sling a heavy cloak or burden onto a pack animal. The same verb is used in Luke 19:35 when the disciples "cast" their garments on the colt that carried Jesus. The Greek noun for "care" is "merimna," a word rooted in the idea of being pulled in different directions, fractured by worry, or distracted by anxious thoughts. The final clause explains the reason God can be trusted with this transfer: "he careth for you" uses the verb "melei," meaning it matters to Him, He is concerned about you personally. Peter is quoting the spirit of Psalm 55:22, where David urges Israel to cast their burden on the Lord. The verse assumes anxiety is real and allowed, but it must not be hoarded. It is handed over, once and decisively, to a Father whose attention never drifts. The grammar binds trust to humility: pride clings to worry, humility releases it.

Chapter Context

The First Epistle of Peter was written around A.D. 62 to 64 to believers scattered across Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, regions in modern Turkey. These Christians faced social slander, economic pressure, and the first signs of Roman hostility. Chapter 5 shifts from suffering under the state to order within the church: elders must shepherd without lording, the younger must submit, and all must clothe themselves with humility. Verse 7 flows directly from verse 6, where believers are told to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. Peter frames anxiety as a symptom of resisting that hand, and casting care as the practical evidence of humility. The following verses warn of the adversary as a roaring lion, showing that unchecked anxiety is spiritual terrain the enemy exploits.

How to Apply This Verse

1. Name the specific worry out loud in prayer, then verbally hand it to God, refusing to carry it mentally a second time that day.
2. Pair the verse with humility by asking where pride, self-reliance, or control is fueling the anxiety, and repent of carrying what belongs to the Father.
3. Build a nightly rhythm of reviewing the day's cares and casting each one on God before sleep, trusting that His concern is active while you rest.