OET interlinear 1 PET 2:9

2:9a

But you are: The Greek words that the BSB translates as But you are mark a contrast between the fate of unbelievers and the honor that God gives believers. Other ways you may be able to show this contrast include:

But as for you, you are…

But you are different from them. You who believe are…

a chosen people: The Greek word that the BSB translates as people often refers to a distinct large group of people who are related to each other by a blood relationship. Believers are not literally one race, but they are spiritually brothers and sisters, in that God is their heavenly Father.

Many English versions have translated people as “race.” For example:

a chosen race (RSV)

chosen: The Greek word that the BSB translates here as chosenPeter used a form of eklektos in 1:1, but the context is different. is also found at 2:4b and 2:6c. It is a passive verb. If in your language you must use an active verb and say who did the choosing, then you may make it explicit that it is God who chooses his people. For example:

But you are God’s chosen…people. (CEV)

You, however, are the people God has chosen.

But you are different. God chose you.

2:9b

a royal priesthood: The Greek word that the BSB translates as royal may be translated as:

1. an adjective, meaning royal, or belonging to the king. For example:

   the King’s priests (GNT) (BSB, GW, NCV, CEV, KJV, NASB, NET, NIV, REB, RSV, GNT)

2. a noun, meaning kingdom. The believers are priests who together form a nation ruled by a king. For example:

   a kingdom of priests (NJB) (NLT, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) as most English versions do. The priesthood is royal in the sense that it belongs to or serves the king, who is God.

priesthood: The Greek word that the BSB translates here as priesthood occurs in only one other place in the New Testament, at 2:5b. See how you translated it there. It is recommended that you also translate it here in a way that shows that the believers together form a priesthood.

2:9c

a holy nation: Peter continued to describe the church in terms borrowed from the Old Testament. Like the people of Israel in the Old Testament, all believers in Christ together form a holy nation.

holy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as holy here means “set apart for God” or “dedicated to God.” God chose believers to be in fellowship with him, dedicated to serve him willingly. See how you translated holy in 1:15 and 1:16. Here is another way to translate this word:

dedicated (REB)

nation: The Greek word that the BSB translates as nation is different from the one translated as “people” or “race” in 2:9a. However, these two Greek words had a similar meaning. A nation was a group of people linked or united by language or culture or race.

2:9d

a people for God’s own possession: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as a people for God’s own possession is literally “a people for possession.” The BSB has supplied the word God in order to make the meaning clear. Some English translations simply supply the pronoun “his”:

a people of his own (NET)

a people: The Greek word that the BSB translates as a people is similar in meaning to the words translated as “people” in 2:9a and “nation” in 2:9c. You should use the word in your language that is most accurate and natural, even if it is one of the words that you have already used in this verse.

2:9e

to: The Greek word that the BSB translates as to introduces the purpose for which God chose Christians to be his own holy people. Some ways to translate this include:

in order that… (NRSV)

You were chosen to… (NCV)

so that… (NET)

proclaim the virtues of Him: God chose the believers and made of them a priesthood and holy nation for a purpose. He intended them to tell other people the wonderful things that God has done.

proclaim: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as proclaim can also be translated as:

make known

declare (NIV)

tell (CEV)

Your language may require you to say to whom the believers were to make these things known. In that case you may be able to say:

for you to make known to people

for you to tell other people

the virtues of Him: There are several ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the virtues of Him:

1. It refers to the wonderful things that God has done. For example:

   the wonderful acts of God (GNT) (CEV, NCV, RSV, REB, GNT)

2. It refers to the virtues or excellencies of God, the attributes of God. For example:

   the excellent qualities of God (GW) (BSB, NASB, NLT, NET, GW)

3. It refers to the words of praise spoken about God by his people. For example:

   the praises of God (NJB) (KJV, NIV, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which has the support of leading commentaries.

2:9f

who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Peter was referring to God. God is the one who called Peter’s readers out of darkness and into…light. This is one of the wonderful deeds for which Peter’s readers were to praise him. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. You may want to begin a new sentence here:

For God called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

called: If in your language a verb like called is unnatural in this context, then you may be able to say something like:

brought (CEV)

summoned

led

darkness: Here, darkness is a metaphor representing the miserable condition of unbelievers because of their sinfulness. Peter’s readers were in that darkness before they became reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. By believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they moved out of the darkness of sin and into the light of God. Another way to translate this is:

spiritual darkness

marvelous: Other ways to translate the Greek word that the BSB translates as marvelous include:

wonderful (NIV)

amazing (JBP)

light: Here, light is a metaphor for the goodness, purity and truth that come from God. Another way to translate this is:

spiritual light