MAT 16:18 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, 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 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

UST I also want you to know that I will make you become like your name, Peter, which means ‘rock.’ I will make you like a foundation stone on which I will construct a building, which represents everyone who believes in me. Even when those people die, that will not destroy them.

BLB And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades not will prevail against it.

AICNT And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

OEB Yes, and I say to you, your name is “Peter” – a Rock, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail over it.

CSB And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

NLT Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

NIV And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

CEV So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.

ESV And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

NASB “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

LSB And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

2DT So I say to you, that you are the Rock [Petros] and on this rock [petra] I will form my assembly, and the gates of Hadēs will not prevail over it.

WEBBE I also tell you that you are Peter,[fn] and on this rock [fn] I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades[fn] will not prevail against it.

16:18 Peter’s name, Petros in Greek, is the word for a specific rock or stone.

16:18 Greek, petra, a rock mass or bedrock.

16:18 or, Hell

WMBB I also tell you that you are Peter,[fn] and on this rock [fn] I will build my assembly, and the gates of Sheol[fn] will not prevail against it.

16:18 Peter’s name, Petros in Greek, is the word for a specific rock or stone.

16:18 Greek, petra, a rock mass or bedrock.

16:18 or, Hell

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 I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

LSV And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Assembly, and [the] gates of Hades will not prevail against it;

FBV I also tell you that you are Peter,[fn] and on this rock I will build my church and the powers of death[fn] won't overcome it.

16:18 Peter means “a stone,” in contrast to the word for solid rock also used in this verse.

16:18 Literally, “gates of Hades.”

TCNT And I tell yoʋ that yoʋ are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

T4T I will also tell you this: You are Peter, which means rock. You are like a rock. What you and your fellow apostles teach (OR, what you do) will be like a foundation on which I will create congregations of people who believe in me. And the demons [PRS], who live where the dead people who lived evil lives are, will not be able to come and prevent [MET] me from doing that.”

LEB And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!

NRSV And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

NKJV And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

NAB And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

BBE And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock will my church be based, and the doors of hell will not overcome it.

Moff Now I tell you, Peter is your name and on this rock I will build my church; the powers of Hades shall not succeed against it.

Wymth And I declare to you that you are Peter, and that upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the might of Hades shall not triumph over it.

ASV And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

DRA And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

YLT 'And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it;

Drby And I also, I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and hades' gates shall not prevail against it.

RV And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
(And I also say unto thee/you, that thou/you art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. )

SLT And I say to thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not overcome her.

Wbstr And I say also to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

KJB-1769 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
( And I say also unto thee/you, That thou/you art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. )

KJB-1611 And I say also vnto thee, that thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke I will build my Church: and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps And I say also vnto thee, that thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke I wyll buylde my congregation: And the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it.
(And I say also unto thee/you, that thou/you art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my congregation: And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.)

Gnva And I say also vnto thee, that thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke I will builde my Church: and ye gates of hell shall not ouercome it.
(And I say also unto thee/you, that thou/you art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church: and ye/you_all gates of hell shall not overcome it. )

Cvdl And I saie to ye: Thou art Peter, & vpo this rocke wil I builde my cogregacion: and ye gates of hell shal not preuayle agaynst it.
(And I say to ye/you_all: Thou/You art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my congregation: and ye/you_all gates of hell shall not prevail against it.)

TNT And I saye also vnto the that thou arte Peter: and apon this rocke I wyll bylde my congregacion. And the gates of hell shall not prevayle ageynst it.
(And I say also unto the that thou/you art Peter: and upon this rock I will bylde my congregation. And the gates of hell shall not prevayle ageynst it. )

Wycl And Y seie to thee, that thou art Petre, and on this stoon Y schal bilde my chirche, and the yatis of helle schulen not haue miyt ayens it.
(And I say to thee/you, that thou/you art Peter, and on this stone I shall build my church, and the gates of hell should not have might against it.)

Luth Und ich sage dir auch: Du bist Petrus, und auf diesen Felsen will ich bauen meine Gemeinde, und die Pforten der Hölle sollen sie nicht überwältigen.
(And I said you/to_you(sg) also: You(sg) are Peter, and on/in/to this rock will I build my Gemeinde, and the Pforten the/of_the hell should they/she/them not overwhelm.)

ClVg Et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram ædificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portæ inferi non prævalebunt adversus eam.[fn]
(And I I_mean/say to_you, because you(sg) you_are Peter, and over this a_rock I_will_build assembly/church of_mine, and gates hell not/no they_will_prevail against her. )

16.18 Tu es. Non dico vocaberis, sed tu es Petrus ob fortitudinem fidei et confessionis constantiam. Petrus. A me petra, ita tamen ut mihi retineam dignitatem fundamenti: tu super me ordinabis lapides mundos, et abjicies leprosos. Sicut lumen et cætera nomina, ut: Vos estis sal terræ, a Domino sortiti sunt, apostoli, sic Simoni a se nomen Petri dedit. Et portæ. Portæ inferi sunt peccata, minæ, blandimenta, hæreses, quibus infirmi ruunt in mortem, qui non vere supra petram, sed super arenam domum professionis suæ credendi sunt ædificavisse, id est, non simplici et vera intentione Christum sequi, sed ob terrenam quamlibet causam habitum prætendisse. Qui enim in intimo cordis amore fidem Christi percipit, quidquid ingruit extra, facile vincit.

16.18 You(sg) you_are. Not/No I_mean/say you_will_be_called, but you(sg) you_are Peter because strength/courage of_faith and confession constantiam. Peter. From me rock, so/thus nevertheless as to_me retineam dignity fundamenti: you(sg) over me ordinabis stones to_the_worlds, and abyicies leprosos. Like the_light and the_rest names, as: You(pl) you_are salt of_the_earth/land, from Master sortiti are, apostles, so Simon from himself name Petri he_gave. And gates. Gates hell are sins, minæ, blandimenta, heires, to_whom sick ruunt in/into/on death, who/which not/no really/truly above a_rock, but over arenam house/home professionis his/her_own believendi are I_builtsse, that it_is, not/no simple and true intention Christ/Messiah to_follow, but because earthly however cause dressm beforetendisse. Who because in/into/on intimo of_the_heart with_love faith of_Christ percipit, whatever ingruit outside, facile to_be_defeatedt.

UGNT κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω, ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾍδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς.
(kagō de soi legō, hoti su ei Petros, kai epi tautaʸ taʸ petra oikodomaʸsō mou taʸn ekklaʸsian, kai pulai Haidou ou katisⱪusousin autaʸs.)

SBL-GNT κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾅδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς·
(kagō de soi legō hoti su ei Petros, kai epi tautaʸ taʸ petra oikodomaʸsō mou taʸn ekklaʸsian, kai pulai hadou ou katisⱪusousin autaʸs;)

RP-GNT Κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω, ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾍδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς.
(Kagō de soi legō, hoti su ei Petros, kai epi tautaʸ taʸ petra oikodomaʸsō mou taʸn ekklaʸsian, kai pulai Haidou ou katisⱪusousin autaʸs.)

TC-GNT Κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω, ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾍδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς.
(Kagō de soi legō, hoti su ei Petros, kai epi tautaʸ taʸ petra oikodomaʸsō mou taʸn ekklaʸsian, kai pulai Haidou ou katisⱪusousin autaʸs. )

Key for above GNTs: 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.

16:18a

And I tell you that you are Peter,

Me, I tell you that your name is Peter,
I declare to you that you are Peter the rock.

And I tell you that: Peter had said something important about Jesus (16:16). Here Jesus said something important to him. The pronoun I is emphasized in the Greek. If there is a way to emphasize the pronoun in your language here, you may want to do so. Here is an example in English:

And I, I tell you

you are Peter: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Peter means “rock.” Jesus named Simon “Rock” (Peter) when he first met him (in John 1:42). Here Jesus used the meaning of the name as a basis for his metaphor in 16:18b.

This word probably refers to a large rock or a rock that no one can move. In the following metaphor, Jesus talked about building his church upon this rock. A stone that a person can throw or move is probably not meant.

In the next clause (16:18b), Jesus used the meaning of the word. So you should make the connection between the name Peter (16:18a) and its meaning rock (16:18b) clear. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Use both the name Peter and the word “rock” to explain the meaning of the name in your translation. For example:
you are Peter, the Rock (REB)
Use the name Peter and explain in a footnote that the name means “rock.” For example:
you are named Peter
your name is Peter A sample footnote on Peter is:
The meaning of the word translated Peter is “rock/boulder.”

16:18b

and on this rock I will build My church,

the flat rock on whom I will build/establish my group of followers,
Just like a man builds his house on a rock foundation to make it strong, I will use you, Peter the rock, to help my group of believers be strong.

and on this rock I will build: Here the word rock refers to a large rock on which a person can build a house. Building a house on a rock foundation makes the house strong and prevents it from falling down.

Christians have different opinions about who or what the phrase this rock refers to. Here are the three main interpretations:

It refers to Peter.
It refers to Peter’s confession in 16:16a–b that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God.
It refers to Jesus.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the interpretation that most modern commentators follow.This interpretation is followed by France, page 622; Blomberg, page 252; Hagner, page 470; Osborne, page 627; Davies and Allison, page 627; Turner, pages 404–405; and Wilkins, page 564. God used Peter to lead the early church and help it to grow and become established.

I will build My church: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compared the establishing of his group of Christian believers to the building of a building. He was talking about “building up” or “increasing” the number of believers and making them strong in their faith.

Jesus was not referring to building a literal church building. Remember that in the New Testament, the word “church” refers to a group of believers. It does not refer to a building.

Here are some other ways to translate this entire clause:

and on this rock foundation I will build my church (GNT)

the flat rock on whom I will build my group of believers

In some languages, it will not be possible to say that Jesus “will build his group of believers.” In such languages, the challenge will be to find expressions for build and church that will go together.

One way to do this is to change the metaphor to a simile and make some parts of it more explicit. For example:

Like a man builds his house on a rock foundation, I will make you the foundation/support for my group of followers

Just like people build on a rock foundation to make a building strong, I will use you, Peter the rock, to help my group of believers be strong.

16:18c

and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

and even the power of death will not defeat it.
Satan will not have victory over my group.

gates of Hades: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as gates of Hades is a figure of speech. It refers to “the power of death” or “death” itself. For example:

the power of death (NCV)

death (GNT)

This phrase can also refer to the person who rules over death. For example:

Satan

power of Satan

evil powers

will not prevail against it: The Greek word that the BSB translates as prevail against refers to winning a victory over something, or defeating it.

The pronoun it refers to the church of Jesus. The church which Jesus will build will never be defeated or destroyed.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will not overcome it (NIV)

will not be able to defeat it (NCV)

will not conquer it (NLT)

will not win a victory over the church

UTN uW Translation Notes:

κἀγὼ & σοι λέγω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: κἀγώ Δέ σοί λέγω ὅτι σύ εἶ Πέτρος καί ἐπί ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μού τήν ἐκκλησίαν καί πύλαι ᾍδου οὒ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς)

Jesus uses the clause I also say to you this to emphasize what he is telling the Peter. Use a natural form in your language for emphasizing the truth and importance of a statement. Alternate translation: [I also want you to know]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σοι & σὺ

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

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σὺ εἶ Πέτρος

The name Peter means “rock.” You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [you have the name Peter, which means “rock”]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ

Here Jesus could be referring to this rock in order to: (1) describe Peter, whose name means “rock,” as solid foundation, a rock, for the church. Alternate translation: [upon you, who are like a rock,] or [upon you] (2) refer to what Peter said about Jesus (that he is the Christ) as a solid foundation or rock for the church. Alternate translation: [upon your confession, which is like a rock,] or [upon your confession]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν

˱I˲_˓will_be˒_building (Some words not found in SR-GNT: κἀγώ Δέ σοί λέγω ὅτι σύ εἶ Πέτρος καί ἐπί ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μού τήν ἐκκλησίαν καί πύλαι ᾍδου οὒ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς)

Jesus here speaks as if his church were a building that someone could build. With this metaphor, he refers to making the church become stronger and more mature, just like the one who builds a house makes it strong and complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I will strengthen my church as if I were building it] or [I will make my church strong]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πύλαι ᾍδου

˓the˒_gates ˱of˲_Hades

Here, Jesus could be referring to the gates of Hades in order to: (1) speak about how, when people enter through the gates of Hades, they have died. Alternate translation: [death] or [the power of death] (2) speak about evil powers that come out through the gates of Hades. Alternate translation: [the powers of hell] or [evil powers]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτῆς

˱against˲_it

The pronoun it refers to my church. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer more directly to the church. Alternate translation: [my church]

Parallel MAT 16:18

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

16:18a

16:18b

16:18c