MAT 16:17 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Now answering, Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in the heavens.

UST Jesus responded, “Simon, descendant of Jonah, God my Father, who rules from heaven, has blessed you. He has made known to you what you said. In fact, no human could have made it known to you.

BSB Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah![fn] For [this] was not revealed to you {by} flesh and blood, but [by] My Father in heaven.

MSB Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah![fn] For [this] was not revealed to you {by} flesh and blood, but [by] My Father in heaven.

BLB And Jesus answering, said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona! For flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in the heavens.

AICNT And Jesus answered and said [to him],[fn] “Blessed are you, Simon bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in the heavens.

16:17, to him: Absent from D(05).

OEB ‘Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah,’ Jesus replied. ‘For no human being has revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

WEBBE Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

WMBB Yeshua answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

MSG ^(17-18)Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

NET And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven!

LSV And Jesus answering said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to you, but My Father who is in the heavens.

FBV “You are truly blessed, Simon son of John,” Jesus told him. “For this wasn't revealed to you by human flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

TCNT And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are yoʋ, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to yoʋ, but my Father in heaven.

T4T Then Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, God is pleased with you. What you just said was not [SYN] revealed to you by any human. Instead, it was my Father who lives in heaven who revealed this to you.

LEB And Jesus answered and[fn] said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this[fn] to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

16:17 *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

16:17 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE And Jesus made answer and said to him, A blessing on you, Simon Bar-jonah: because this knowledge has not come to you from flesh and blood, but from my Father in heaven.

Moff Jesus answered him, "You are a blessed man, Simon Bar-jona, for it was my Father in heaven, not flesh and blood, that revealed this to you.

Wymth "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah," said Jesus; "for mere human nature has not revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven.

ASV And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

DRA And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

YLT And Jesus answering said to him, 'Happy art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.

Drby And Jesus answering said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed [it] to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.

RV And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou/you, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath/has not revealed it unto thee/you, but my Father which is in heaven. )

SLT And Jesus, having answered, said to him, Happy art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed to thee, but my Father, he in the heavens.

Wbstr And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon-Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

KJB-1769 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou/you, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath/has not revealed it unto thee/you, but my Father which is in heaven. )

KJB-1611 And Iesus answered, and said vnto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar Iona: for flesh and blood hath not reueiled it vnto thee, but my Father which is in heauen.
(And Yesus/Yeshua answered, and said unto him, Blessed art thou/you Simon Bar Yona: for flesh and blood hath/has not revealed it unto thee/you, but my Father which is in heaven.)

Bshps And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: happy art thou Simon Bar Iona, for flesh & blood hath not opened that vnto thee, but my father which is in heauen.
(And Yesus/Yeshua answered, and said unto him: happy art thou/you Simon Bar Yona, for flesh and blood hath/has not opened that unto thee/you, but my father which is in heaven.)

Gnva And Iesus answered, and saide to him, Blessed art thou, Simon, the sonne of Ionas: for flesh and blood hath not reueiled it vnto thee, but my Father which is in heauen.
(And Yesus/Yeshua answered, and said to him, Blessed art thou/you, Simon, the son of Yonas: for flesh and blood hath/has not revealed it unto thee/you, but my Father which is in heaven. )

Cvdl And Iesus answered, & saide vnto hi: Blessed art thou Symo ye sonne of Ionas, for flesh & bloude hath not opened yt vnto the, but my father yt is in heaue.
(And Yesus/Yeshua answered, and said unto him: Blessed art thou/you Symo ye/you_all son of Yonas, for flesh and blood hath/has not opened it unto them, but my father it is in heaven.)

TNT And Iesus answered and sayde to him: happy arte thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for fleshe and bloud hath not opened vnto the that but my father which is in heven.
(And Yesus/Yeshua answered and said to him: happy art thou/you Simon the son of Yonas for flesh and blood hath/has not opened unto the that but my father which is in heaven. )

Wycl Jhesus answeride, and seide to him, Blessid art thou, Symount Bariona; for fleisch and blood schewide not to thee, but my fadir that is in heuenes.
(Yhesus answered, and said to him, Blessed art thou/you, Simon Bariona; for flesh and blood showed not to thee/you, but my father that is in heavens.)

Luth Und JEsus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Selig bist du, Simon, Jonas Sohn; denn Fleisch und Blut hat dir das nicht offenbart, sondern mein Vater im Himmel.
(And Yesus replied and spoke to/for him: Blessed are you(sg), Simon, Yonas son; because/than flesh and blood has you/to_you(sg) the not revealed, rather my father in_the heaven.)

ClVg Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei: Beatus es Simon Bar Jona: quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in cælis est.[fn]
(Respondens however Yesus, he/she_said to_him: Blessed you_are Simon Bar Yona: because flesh/meat and blood not/no revelavit to_you, but Pater mine, who/which in/into/on the_heavens it_is. )

16.17 Respondens Simon Petrus. Ideo unus respondens, et uni respondetur pro omnibus ut unitas in omnibus observetur. Dei vivi. Ad distinctionem falsorum deorum, quos gentes vel de mortuis hominibus, vel de sensibili materia sibi instituerunt. Barjona. Bene filius columbæ, quia Dominum pia simplicitate sequebatur, vel quia plenus spirituali gratia erat. Filius Spiritus sancti dicitur, qui ostensus est in columba ab eo quem Filium Dei vivi vocaverat, et filio columbæ pater revelat, quia una est operatio Patris et Filii cum sancto Spiritu. Revelat, inquam, mysterium fidei, quia caro et sanguis non revelare potuit, id est, homines carnali sapientia inflati, qui non columbæ filii, et ideo a sapientia Spiritus alieni; de quibus supra: Alii Joannem Baptistam, alii autem Etiam, etc.

16.17 Respondens Simon Peter. Therefore/For_that_reason one responding, and one respondsur for to_all as unitas in/into/on to_all observetur. of_God alive. To distinction false of_the_gods, which people/nations or from/about dead to_humans, or from/about sensibili materia to_himself instituerunt. Baryona. Well son pigeons, because the_Master pious simplicity followed, or because full spiritual grace was. Son Spirit holy it_is_said, who/which ostensus it_is in/into/on dove away by_him which Son of_God alive vocaverat, and son pigeons father revelat, because together it_is operation Father's and Children when/with holy By_Spirit. Revelat, I_must_say, mystery of_faith, because flesh/meat and blood not/no revelare could, that it_is, people/men carnal wisdom inflati, who/which not/no pigeons children, and therefore/for_that_reason from wisdom Spirit strangers; from/about to_whom above: Others Yoannem Baptistm, others however Yes, etc.

UGNT ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ, μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι, ἀλλ’ ὁ Πατήρ μου, ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(apokritheis de ho Yaʸsous eipen autōi, makarios ei, Simōn Bariōna, hoti sarx kai haima ouk apekalupsen soi, all’ ho Pataʸr mou, ho en tois ouranois.)

SBL-GNT ⸂ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ⸃ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι ἀλλʼ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
(⸂apokritheis de⸃ ho Yaʸsous eipen autōi; Makarios ei, Simōn Bariōna, hoti sarx kai haima ouk apekalupsen soi allʼ ho pataʸr mou ho en tois ouranois;)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι, ἀλλ' ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(Kai apokritheis ho Yaʸsous eipen autōi, Makarios ei, Simōn Bariōna, hoti sarx kai haima ouk apekalupsen soi, all' ho pataʸr mou ho en tois ouranois.)

TC-GNT [fn]Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέ σοι, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
(Kai apokritheis ho Yaʸsous eipen autōi, Makarios ei, Simōn Bariōna, hoti sarx kai haima ouk apekalupse soi, all ho pataʸr mou ho en tois ouranois. )

16:17 και αποκριθεις ¦ αποκριθεις δε CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:13–20: Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ

In this section, Peter declared that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus agreed with Peter that he was the Messiah. But then he told the disciples that they must not yet tell this truth to other people. Jesus also described the community which he was creating—the church. And he told them that Peter would have a very important part in it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Peter’s Confession of Christ (NIV)

Peter declared his belief that Jesus is the Messiah

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 8:27–30 and Luke 9:18–22.

16:17a

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!

¶ Jesus replied, “Simon son of Jonah, God has blessed you,
¶ Then Jesus said to him, “Simon son of Jonah, you are favored by God.

Jesus replied: Jesus responded to Simon Peter’s answer. He did not answer a question. So in some languages, it will be more natural to use a different verb here. For example:

Jesus answered him (ESV)

Jesus said to him

Blessed are you: The word Blessed here refers to God doing good to someone or putting that person in a good position. Use the same word for Blessed here as you used in 5:3–11, 11:6 and 13:16a.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God has blessed you

You are favored

God has favored you

God has done good to you

Simon son of Jonah: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates literally as son of Jonah is transliterated in some English versions. For example:

Simon Bar-Jonah (ESV)

Most English versions translate this word as son of Jonah or “Bar-Jonah.” But the GNT and NLT translate this word as “son of John.” This is probably based on John 1:42. (The names Jonah and John are spelled similarly in the Greek.) It is recommended that you use the name Jonah.

In some languages, it will be more natural to put this name first in the quote in 16:17a. For example:

Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed

16:17b

For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,

because no human being showed this/that to you.
No one of this earth has made known this truth to you.

For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For indicates that 16:17b is the reason that Simon is blessed. The result is in 16:17a. In some languages, it may be more natural to put the reason before the result. For example:

^17bFlesh and blood has not revealed this to you. ^17aThat is why you are blessed.

this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood: The phrase flesh and blood is a figurative way of speaking about human beings. It implies that a spirit being like God revealed to Simon Peter that Jesus is the Christ. Human beings did not reveal it to him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

No human revealed this to you (GW)

no one of this earth showed that to you

no person taught you that (NCV)

this: The word this refers to Simon Peter’s words in 16:16a–b, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

this truth (GNT)

this understanding/knowledge

that I am the Christ

16:17c

but by My Father in heaven.

Rather/Instead, my Father in heaven showed it to you.
My heavenly Father did.

but: There is a contrast between who did not reveal this to Peter, and who did reveal it to him. The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

Here are some other ways to indicate this contrast:

instead

rather

In some languages, a conjunction is not needed to indicate this contrast.

by My Father in heaven: The words “revealed to you” from 16:17b are implied but not repeated here. In some languages, it may be more natural to repeat some or all of the words. For example:

my Father who is in heaven revealed this to you

it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven (GNT)

my heavenly Father showed you that I am the Christ

My Father in heaven: This phrase refers to God.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

my Father God in heaven

my heavenly Father

my Father who lives in heaven

General Comment on 16:17a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to state the positive clause (16:17c) first and the negative clause (16:17b) second. For example:

^17cMy Father who is in heaven revealed this to you. ^17bFlesh and blood did not.

In some languages, it may also be natural to put part of 16:17a (the result) at the end of the verse after 16:17b–c (the reason). For example:

^17aSimon son of Jonah, ^17cmy heavenly Father showed that to you. ^17bNo one of this earth showed it to you. ^17aSo you are blessed.

16:17a–c

(reordered) Jesus said, “Simon son of Jonah, my Father in heaven showed this to you. No human being showed this to you. That is why you are blessed.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ μακάριος Εἶ Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ ὅτι σάρξ καί αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψεν σοί ἀλλʼ ὁ Πατήρ μού ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

Here, the word But introduces the next thing that happened. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next event, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [Then]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι, ἀλλ’ ὁ Πατήρ μου, ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

blessed (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ μακάριος Εἶ Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ ὅτι σάρξ καί αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψεν σοί ἀλλʼ ὁ Πατήρ μού ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses since the last clauses gives the reason for the result that the first clause describes. Alternate translation: [Because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in the heavens, you are blessed, Simon Bar Jonah]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μακάριος εἶ

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: [God will bless you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

εἶ & σοι

Since Jesus is talking to Peter, the word you throughout this verse is singular.

Note 5 topic: translate-transliterate

Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ

Simon Barjonah

Bar is a word borrowed from Aramaic. You will need to decide if you will also borrow this word into your language or if you will translate the meaning. Either approach has broad support. If you borrow the word, you could spell it the way it sounds in your language and then put the translation in a footnote. Alternate translation: [Simon son of Jonah]

Note 6 topic: translate-names

Βαριωνᾶ

Barjonah

The word Jonah is the name of a man.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι, ἀλλ’ ὁ Πατήρ μου, ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

If your language would not naturally put the negative statement before the positive statement, you could reverse the two clauses here. Alternate translation: [my Father in the heavens revealed this to you, not flesh and blood]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν

This phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The words flesh and blood together identify what it means to be human. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning with an equivalent phrase that does not use and. Alternate translation: [humans did not reveal this] or [no human being revealed this]

Note 9 topic: writing-pronouns

οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι

not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ μακάριος Εἶ Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ ὅτι σάρξ καί αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψεν σοί ἀλλʼ ὁ Πατήρ μού ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

The pronoun this refers to Peter’s pronouncement in the previous verse that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer to that pronouncement more directly. Alternate translation: [did not reveal to you that I am the Christ] or [did not reveal to you what you just said]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλ’ ὁ Πατήρ μου, ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

but the Father (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ μακάριος Εἶ Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ ὅτι σάρξ καί αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψεν σοί ἀλλʼ ὁ Πατήρ μού ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

Jesus is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [but my Father in the heavens revealed it to you]

Note 11 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

ὁ Πατήρ μου

¬the the Father who_‹is› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀποκριθείς Δέ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ μακάριος Εἶ Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ ὅτι σάρξ καί αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψεν σοί ἀλλʼ ὁ Πατήρ μού ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)

Father is an important title that describes the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son.

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

¬the the who_‹is› in the heavens

Here, the phrase in the heavens identifies the location in which God the Father is specially present and from which he rules. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [who is in the heavens]

Parallel MAT 16:17

Section 16:13–20: Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ

16:17a

16:17b

16:17c

General Comment on 16:17a–c

16:17a–c