MAT 16:23 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, orange:accusative/object, 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 But he, having turned, said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not considering the things of God, but the things of men.”

UST Then Jesus faced Peter. He said, “Do not try to stop me. You are behaving as Satan does! You are thinking about what humans care about instead of thinking about what God cares about. Because of that, you are trying to make me do what is wrong.”

BSB But [Jesus] turned [and] said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

BLB And having turned, He said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For your thoughts are not of the things of God, but the things of men."

AICNT But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan![fn] You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”

16:23, Satan: “Satan” is in the vocative indicating that Peter is being addressed.

OEB Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said, ‘Out of my way, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you look at things, not as God does, but as a person does.’

WEBBE But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

LSV and He having turned, said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to Me, for you do not mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

FBV Jesus turned to Peter, and told him, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a trap to trip me up,[fn] because you're thinking in a human way, and not as God thinks!”

16:23 Literally, a “stumbling block” or a “snare.”

TCNT But he turned around and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! Yoʋ are a stumbling block to me, for yoʋ are not thinking about the things of God, but the things of men.”

T4T Then Jesus turned to look at Peter, and he said to him, “Stop talking to me like that [MTY]! Stop saying what Satan [MET] would say, and stop trying to prevent from happening what God has planned! You are a hindrance to me, because you are not thinking like God thinks. Instead, you are thinking like people think!”

LEB But he turned around and[fn] said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a cause for stumbling to me, because you are not intent on the things of God, but the things of people!”

16:23 *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“turned around”) has been translated as a finite verb

BBE But he, turning to Peter, said, Get out of my way, Satan: you are a danger to me because your mind is not on the things of God, but on the things of men.

Moff But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, you Satan! You are a hindrance to me! Your outlook is not God's but man's."

Wymth But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Adversary; you are a hindrance to me, because your thoughts are not God's thoughts, but men's."

ASV But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.

DRA Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.

YLT and he having turned, said to Peter, 'Get thee behind me, adversary! thou art a stumbling-block to me, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but the things of men.'

Drby But turning round, he said to Peter, Get away behind me, Satan; thou art an offence to me, for thy mind is not on the things that are of [fn]God, but on the things that are of men.

16.23 Elohim

RV But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
(But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee/you behind me, Satan: thou/you art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou/you mindst not the things of God, but the things of men. )

SLT And having turned, he said to Peter, Retire behind me, Satan: thou art an offence, to me: for thou hast not in mind the things of God, but the things of men.

Wbstr But he turned, and said to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offense to me: for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men.

KJB-1769 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee/you behind me, Satan: thou/you art an offence unto me: for thou/you savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. )

KJB-1611 But he turned, and said vnto Peter, Get thee behind mee, Satan, thou art an offence vnto me: for thou sauourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee/you behind me, Satan, thou/you art an offence unto me: for thou/you savourst not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.)

Bshps But he turned hym about, and sayde vnto Peter: go after me Satan, thou art an offence vnto me: for thou sauerest not the thynges that be of God, but those that be of men.
(But he turned him about, and said unto Peter: go after me Satan, thou/you art an offence unto me: for thou/you saverest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.)

Gnva Then he turned backe, and said vnto Peter, Get thee behinde me, Satan: thou art an offence vnto me, because thou vnderstandest not the thinges that are of God, but the thinges that are of men.
(Then he turned back, and said unto Peter, Get thee/you behind me, Satan: thou/you art an offence unto me, because thou/you understandst not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men. )

Cvdl Neuertheles he turned him aboute, & sayde vnto Peter: Auoyde fro me Satha, thou hindrest me, for thou sauourest not ye thinges that be of God, but of men.
(Nevertheless he turned him about, and said unto Peter: Avoid from me Satan, thou/you hindrest me, for thou/you savourst not ye/you_all things that be of God, but of men.)

TNT Then tourned he aboute and sayde vnto Peter: come after me Satan thou offendest me because thou sauourest not godly thinges but wordly thinges.
(Then turned he about and said unto Peter: come after me Satan thou/you offendest me because thou/you savourst not godly things but wordly things. )

Wycl And he turnede, and seide to Petre, Sathanas, go after me; thou art a sclaundre to me; for thou sauerist not tho thingis that ben of God, but tho thingis that ben of men.
(And he turned, and said to Peter, Satan, go after me; thou/you art a sclaundre to me; for thou/you saverist not those things that been of God, but those things that been of men.)

Luth Aber er wandte sich um und sprach zu Petrus: Heb dich, Satan, von mir! Du bist mir ärgerlich; denn du meinest nicht, was göttlich, sondern was menschlich ist.
(But he turned itself/yourself/themselves around/by/for and spoke to/for Peter: Heb you/yourself, Satan, from to_me! You(sg) are to_me aggravationlich; because/than you(sg) my not, what/which divine, rather what/which human is.)

ClVg Qui conversus, dixit Petro: Vade post me Satana, scandalum es mihi: quia non sapis ea quæ Dei sunt, sed ea quæ hominum.[fn]
(Who turned_around, he/she_said Petro: Go after me Satana, scandal you_are to_me: because not/no sapis them which of_God are, but them which of_men. )

16.23 Vade. Supra: omnia illa gloriosa in futurum promissa sunt, non in præsenti data. Ædificabo Ecclesiam meam, et tibi dabo claves, etc. Quæ si statim dedisset, nunquam postea locum error invenisset in eo. Quia non. Non placet tibi, ut per mortem meam mundum redimam, quæ est voluntas Patris: sed carnaliter hæc sapis.

16.23 Go. Above: everything that gloriosa in/into/on future promises are, not/no in/into/on present data. Ædificabo assembly/church of_mine, and to_you I_will_give claves, etc. Which when/but_if immediately dedisset, never/certainly_not afterwards place error I_foundsset in/into/on by_him. Because non. Not/No please/it_seems_right to_you, as through death of_mine the_world redimam, which it_is will/desire(n) Father's: but carnally/sensually these_things sapis.

UGNT ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ, ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, Σατανᾶ! σκάνδαλον εἶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
(ho de strafeis eipen tōi Petrōi, hupage opisō mou, Satana! skandalon ei emou, hoti ou froneis ta tou Theou, alla ta tōn anthrōpōn.)

SBL-GNT ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ· Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, Σατανᾶ· σκάνδαλον ⸂εἶ ἐμοῦ⸃, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
(ho de strafeis eipen tōi Petrōi; Hupage opisō mou, Satana; skandalon ⸂ei emou⸃, hoti ou froneis ta tou theou alla ta tōn anthrōpōn.)

RP-GNT Ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ, Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, Σατανᾶ, σκάνδαλόν μου εἶ· ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
(Ho de strafeis eipen tōi Petrōi, Hupage opisō mou, Satana, skandalon mou ei; hoti ou froneis ta tou theou, alla ta tōn anthrōpōn.)

TC-GNT Ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπε τῷ Πέτρῳ, Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, Σατανᾶ, σκάνδαλόν [fn]μου εἶ· ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
(Ho de strafeis eipe tōi Petrōi, Hupage opisō mou, Satana, skandalon mou ei; hoti ou froneis ta tou Theou, alla ta tōn anthrōpōn. )

16:23 μου ει ¦ ει εμου CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:21–28: Jesus said that he would suffer and be killed

In the previous section, Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ (or Messiah). But Peter and the other disciples did not fully understand what it meant that Jesus was the Messiah. They probably had the same ideas as many other Jews at that time. They thought that the Messiah would be a fighting hero. He would defeat the enemies of Israel and establish a political kingdom.

In this section, Jesus began to try and teach them about the real work of Messiah. He did not come to lead armies and set up a kingdom like other countries. His work was to suffer and die and then be raised back to life again. He also told them that all those who want to follow him should prepare to suffer in the same way. He also promised that the true kingdom was coming very soon.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus foretold/predicted his death and resurrection

Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death (CEV)

Jesus Says that He Must Die (NCV)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 8:31–9:1 and Luke 9:22–27.

Paragraph 16:21–23

In this paragraph Jesus told his disciples what was going to happen to him. This probably happened soon after the events in the previous paragraph.

16:23a

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!

Jesus turned toward Peter and said, “Satan, get out of my way!
Jesus faced Peter and said to him, “You are like Satan. Depart out of my sight!

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as But often shows contrast. Here it introduces the words that Jesus said. These words show that he did not agree with what Peter has just said. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction.

Jesus turned and said to Peter: Peter may have started to rebuke Jesus while they walked side by side and away from the other disciples. Here, when Jesus wanted to rebuke/scold Peter, he turned and faced him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus turned to face Peter and said to him

Jesus faced Peter and said

Get behind Me, Satan!: This is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked Peter for saying things that came from Satan. Peter had tempted Jesus not to follow God’s will, and Jesus strongly rejected that idea.

These words do not mean that Jesus ordered Peter to go away. He told Peter not to stop him from following God’s will.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Get out of my way, Satan! (GW)

Out of my sight, Satan! (REB)

In some languages, it may be confusing for Jesus to call Peter Satan. If that is true in your language, you may need to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

You are like Satan. Get away from me.

That idea from Satan should go/be far from me!

What you are saying is from Satan. Get out of my way!

For help to translate the word Satan, see the Note at 4:10a.

16:23b

You are a stumbling block to Me.

You are an obstacle in my way,
You are blocking my path.
You are trying to stop me from following God’s path/plan for me.

You are a stumbling block to Me: The Greek word that the BSB translates as stumbling block more literally means “a trap” (as in the NLT). This refers to a stone or other thing that blocks a path or causes a person to stumble. Peter was a stumbling block because he was trying to stop Jesus from following God’s plan. It is sometimes translated in English as “hindrance” (as in the ESV). It is often used figuratively to refer to something that tempts a person into sin.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You are an obstacle in my way (GNT)

You are blocking my path

You are trying to stop me from following God’s plan/path

You are tempting me to sin (GW)

16:23c

For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

because you^[sing] are not thinking about this like God thinks, but/rather like a human thinks.”
Your thoughts are human thoughts. They are not God’s thoughts.”
The way that you are thinking is what humans want. It is not what God wants.”

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces the basis for the things that Jesus said in 16:23b. Peter was hindering Jesus (16:23b) for/because he was not thinking the way that God thinks (16:23c).

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

because (NJB)

The reason I say this is

Some English versions allow the context to indicate this connection. They do not explicitly translate this conjunction. Translate this connection in a natural way in your language.

you do not have in mind the things of God: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as have in mind means “think.” The words that Peter said in 16:22 came from his thoughts as a human being. They were not God’s thoughts or God’s will.

Peter thought that it was important for the Messiah to have a victory in the same way that people have victories. But God had a different plan.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You aren’t thinking the way God thinks (GW)

these thoughts of yours don’t come from God (GNT)

the way you are thinking, it is not what God wants

you: The pronoun you here refers to Peter. It does not refer to Satan. Be sure that this is clear in your translation. For example, you might say:

you, Peter

the things of God: In this context, the phrase the things of God refers to God’s thoughts, plans and will. It does not refer to physical things.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the way God thinks (GW)

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between “not thinking the things of God,” and “thinking the things of man.” Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive type of contrast. Here are some of the ways:

With the conjunction but.
With a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of contrast. For example:
rather
on the contrary
Instead
With no conjunction. For example:
You are not thinking the things of God. You are thinking the things of man.

the things of men: Some words from the previous clause are implied but not repeated here. In some languages, it may be more natural to repeat some of those words from the previous clause. For example:

you are thinking the way that humans think

these thoughts come from a human way of thinking

things of men: The Greek word that the BSB translates as men refers to “humans.” Here it does not refer only to males.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the way humans think (GW)

from a human point of view (NLT)

as people think

General Comment on 16:23c

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses and put the positive clause first. For example:

you think like everyone else and not like God (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ στραφείς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μού Σατανᾶ σκάνδαλον Εἶ ἐμοῦ ὅτι οὒ φρονεῖς τά τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀλλά τά τῶν ἀνθρώπων)

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: [After that,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

στραφεὶς

Matthew could be implying that Jesus turned: (1) to face Peter. Alternate translation: [having turned toward Peter] (2) away from Peter. Alternate translation: [having turned away from Peter]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου

Here Jesus speaks as if he wants Peter to Get behind him. He means that Peter should not rebuke him but should instead accept what Jesus says. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Do not stand in my way] or [Do not rebuke me]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

Σατανᾶ

Satan

Here, Jesus calls Peter Satan because Peter is acting like Satan by tempting Jesus to disobey God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use simile form or explain the metaphor. Alternate translation: [you who are acting like Satan] or [for you are tempting me as Satan does]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

σκάνδαλον εἶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων

˓a˒_temptation (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ στραφείς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μού Σατανᾶ σκάνδαλον Εἶ ἐμοῦ ὅτι οὒ φρονεῖς τά τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀλλά τά τῶν ἀνθρώπων)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses since the second clause gives the reason for the result that the first clause describes. Alternate translation: [Because you are not considering the things of God, but the things of men, you are a stumbling block to me]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σκάνδαλον εἶ ἐμοῦ

Here, Jesus speaks of someone who tempts others to sin as if that person were a stumbling block. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [You are tempting me to sin]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

εἶ & οὐ φρονεῖς

Since Jesus is talking to Peter, the words You and you are singular.

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων

If your language would not naturally put the negative statement before the positive statement, you could reverse the two clauses here. Alternate translation: [you are considering the things of men, not the things of God]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλὰ τὰ

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 you are considering the things]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τῶν ἀνθρώπων

¬the ˱of˲_humans

Although the term men is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [of human beings] or [of people]

Parallel MAT 16:23

Section 16:21–28: Jesus said that he would suffer and be killed

Paragraph 16:21–23

16:23a

16:23b

16:23c

General Comment on 16:23c