Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Peter 5:4

"And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away." — 1 Peter 5:4 (ASV)

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear.—Or, And at the chief Shepherd’s appearing. The “and” treats it as a simple natural consequence of acting as just indicated. The beautiful word for “chief Shepherd” seems to have been invented by Saint Peter, and it has been apparently imitated in Hebrews 13:20. How could an office be more honored than by speaking of Christ as the chief bearer of that office?

“A crown of glory that fadeth not away.—It might perhaps be more closely, though less beautifully, represented by the glorious crown of amaranth, or the amaranthine crown of glory. Amaranth is the name of a flower which, like our immortelles, does not lose its color or form. Saint Peter immediately adds “of glory,” so that we do not think too literally of the wreath of immortelles.