MAT 17:12 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.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]But I’m also telling you that in another way, Eliyah already came and they didn’t recognise him, but they mistreated him just however they wanted, and humanity’s child will suffer from their actions like that too.”

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 But I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way also, the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.”

UST Now here is what I want you to know: the prophet Elijah has been here already. However, people did not realize that it was Elijah. Instead, they treated him badly. Further, they are about to hurt me, the Son of Man, in similar ways.”

BLB But I say to you that Elijah already is come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they desired. Thus also, the Son of Man is about to suffer from them."

AICNT but I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished; so also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

OEB and I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people have not recognised him, but have treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at people’s hands.’

WEBBE but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognise him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

LSV and I say to you, Elijah already came, and they did not know him, but did with him whatever they would, so also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.”

FBV “but I tell you that Elijah has already come and yet people didn't recognize who he was. They did whatever they felt like to him. In the same way the Son of man will also suffer at their hands.”

TCNT But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. Even so the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.”

T4T But note this: Elijah’s representative has already come, and our leaders have seen him, but they did not recognize him as the one who would come before the Messiah. Instead, they treated him badly, just like they desired. And those same rulers will soon treat me, the one who came from heaven, in the same manner.”

LEB But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

BBE But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they had no knowledge of him, but did to him whatever they were pleased to do; the same will the Son of man undergo at their hands.

Moff Nay, I tell you Elijah has already come, but they have not recognized him — they have worked their will on him. And the Son of man will suffer at their hands in the same way."

Wymth But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way."

ASV but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

DRA But I say to you, that Elias is already come, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they had a mind. So also the Son of man shall suffer from them.

YLT and I say to you — Elijah did already come, and they did not know him, but did with him whatever they would, so also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.'

Drby But I say unto you that Elias has already come, and they have not known him, but have done unto him whatever they would. Thus also the Son of man is about to suffer from them.

RV but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they listed. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

SLT And I say to you, That Elias has already come, and they knew him not, but did by him whatever they would. So also the Son of man is about to suffer by them.

Wbstr But I say to you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done to him whatever they pleased: likewise will also the Son of man suffer by them.

KJB-1769 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
( But I say unto you, That Elias/Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. )

KJB-1611 But I say vnto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they listed: Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps But I say vnto you, that Elias is come alredy, and they knewe hym not, but haue done vnto hym, whatsoeuer they lusted.
(But I say unto you, that Elias/Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him, whatsoever they lusted.)

Gnva But I say vnto you that Elias is come alreadie, and they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they would: likewise shall also the Sonne of man suffer of them.
(But I say unto you that Elias/Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they would: likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. )

Cvdl But I saye vnto you: Elias is come all ready, & they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him what they wolde. Eue so shal also the sonne of man suffre of them.
(But I say unto you: Elias/Elijah is come all ready, and they knew him not, but have done unto him what they would. Eve so shall also the son of man suffer of them.)

TNT And I saye vnto you that Helyas is come alredy and they knewe him not: but have done vnto him whatsoever they lusted. In lyke wyse shall also the sonne of man suffre of the.
(And I say unto you that Elias/Elijah is come already and they knew him not: but have done unto him whatsoever they lusted. In likewise shall also the son of man suffer of them. )

Wycl And Y seie to you, that Elie is nowe comun, and thei knewen hym not, but thei diden in him what euer thingis thei wolden; and so mannus sone schal suffre of hem.
(And I say to you, that Elye/Elijah is now come, and they knew him not, but they did in him what ever things they wanted; and so man’s son shall suffer of hem.)

Luth Doch ich sage euch: Es ist Elia schon kommen, und sie haben ihn nicht erkannt, sondern haben an ihm getan, was sie wollten. Also wird auch des Menschen Sohn leiden müssen von ihnen.
(But I said you: It is Elia already coming, and they/she/them have him/it not recognised, rather have at/to him did, what/which they/she/them wanted. So becomes also the people son suffer must from to_them.)

ClVg Dico autem vobis, quia Elias jam venit, et non cognoverunt eum, sed fecerunt in eo quæcumque voluerunt. Sic et Filius hominis passurus est ab eis.
(Sayo however to_you(pl), because Elias already he_came, and not/no they_knew him, but they_did in/into/on by_him whatever they_wanted. So and Son of_man about_to_suffer it_is away to_them. )

UGNT λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, ὅτι Ἠλείας ἤδη ἦλθεν καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτὸν, ἀλλὰ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν. οὕτως καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπ’ αὐτῶν.
(legō de humin, hoti Aʸleias aʸdaʸ aʸlthen kai ouk epegnōsan auton, alla epoiaʸsan en autōi hosa aʸthelaʸsan. houtōs kai ho Huios tou Anthrōpou mellei pasⱪein hup’ autōn.)

SBL-GNT λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθεν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτὸν ἀλλὰ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν· οὕτως καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν.
(legō de humin hoti Aʸlias aʸdaʸ aʸlthen, kai ouk epegnōsan auton alla epoiaʸsan en autōi hosa aʸthelaʸsan; houtōs kai ho huios tou anthrōpou mellei pasⱪein hupʼ autōn.)

RP-GNT λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθεν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν· οὕτως καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπ' αὐτῶν.
(legō de humin hoti Aʸlias aʸdaʸ aʸlthen, kai ouk epegnōsan auton, alla epoiaʸsan en autōi hosa aʸthelaʸsan; houtōs kai ho huios tou anthrōpou mellei pasⱪein hup' autōn.)

TC-GNT λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι [fn]Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθε, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτόν, [fn]ἀλλὰ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν· οὕτω καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν.
(legō de humin hoti Aʸlias aʸdaʸ aʸlthe, kai ouk epegnōsan auton, alla epoiaʸsan en autōi hosa aʸthelaʸsan; houtō kai ho huios tou anthrōpou mellei pasⱪein hup autōn. )

17:12 ηλιας ¦ ηλειας WH

17:12 αλλα ¦ αλλ ANT NA²⁸ PCK TH TR

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 17:1–13: Three disciples saw Jesus’ glory

In this section, Jesus changed his appearance. He made his face and his clothes shine very brightly. He did this in front of Peter, James and John. At the same time, the disciples saw Moses and Elijah. Then they heard the voice of God. When the disciples saw and heard all this, they understood that Jesus was not an ordinary teacher. They better understood that he really was the Messiah.

This section immediately follow 16:28 which says, “Truly, I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” This section begins to fulfill that verse.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The disciples saw Jesus’ appearance change

Jesus’ glory was revealed on the mountain

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 9:2–12 and Luke 9:28–36.

17:12a

But I tell you that Elijah has already come,

But I tell you^(plur) this, Elijah has already come,
But I say to you^(plur) that Elijah already came,

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between Jesus’ agreement with the scribes that “Elijah does indeed come” (in 17:11a), and his statement here that “Elijah has already come.” The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

Elijah has already come: Here Jesus was speaking about John the Baptist. But the disciples did not yet understand it. John the Baptist came and prepared the way for the Messiah. He fulfilled the prophecy about Elijah coming and restoring all things. In that sense, Elijah has already come. The historical Elijah did not actually come.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Elijah already came

17:12b

and they did not recognize him,

and they did not know him.
but they did not realize who he was.

and: The Greek word that the BSB translates as and is the conjunction that usually joins the next event to the previous one. Since there is a mild contrast between 17:12a and 17:12b, some English versions connect these two parts with the conjunction “but.” For example:

But the people did not recognize him (CEV)

If it would be clearer in your language to make the contrast explicit, you can use your word for “but” here.

they: This pronoun refers to Jewish people in general, and to the Jewish leaders in particular.

Here are some other ways to translate this pronoun:

people (GNT)

the leaders

did not recognize him: The Greek word that the BSB translates as recognize also means “know.” People did not know that the prophecy about Elijah was fulfilled in John the Baptist. They did not understand what John’s ministry really was.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

did not know him (RSV)

did not realize who he really was

17:12c

but have done to him whatever they wished.

Instead/Rather, they did to him whatever they wanted to do.
They did the bad things that they wanted to do to him.

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but indicates a contrast. The contrast is between what the people did not do (recognize him) and what they actually did (badly treated him). Some English versions indicate this contrast with the word but, as the BSB does.

Here are some other ways to show this contrast:

instead

rather

In some languages, it will be more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

They did to him whatever they wanted to do. (NCV)

have done to him whatever they wished: These words imply that people did evil and hurtful things to John. This included killing him.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

treated him just as they pleased (GNT)

They did what they liked with him (JBP)

If people in your area will think that these words mean that the people did only good things to John, you may want to include some implied information. For example:

they did all the evil things that they wanted to do to him

they chose to abuse him (NLT)

17:12d

In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

In the same way, Son of Man will certainly suffer in/by their hands.”
Like that also, they will surely make me the Son of Man suffer.”

In the same way: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as In the same way indicates that people would treat the Son of Man “in the same way” as they treated John.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

So also (ESV)

Likewise/Similarly

the Son of Man: Jesus used this phrase to refer to himself. In some languages, this phrase by itself would refer to someone other than Jesus. If that is true in your language, consider translating it as:

I, the Son of Man

This same phrase occurs in 17:9d. You should translate it here as you did there.

will suffer at their hands: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as will suffer includes the ideas of:

the suffering will happen in the near future. The Son of Man will soon suffer.
God has decided that the suffering must happen. The Son of Man will certainly suffer, or must suffer.

Some English versions focus on (a). Other English versions focus on (b). Both are correct. For example:

the Son of Man is about to suffer (NRSV)

They will soon make the Son of Man suffer (CEV)

the Son of Man will certainly suffer (ESV)

at their hands: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as at their hands is more literally “by them.” This phrase indicates who will cause the Son of Man to suffer. It makes this clause a type of passive.

Here are some other ways to translate it as an active clause:

they’re going to make the Son of Man suffer (GW)

They will soon make the Son of Man suffer (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγω δέ ὑμῖν ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθεν καί οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτόν ἀλλά ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν Οὕτως καί ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν)

The word But introduces a contrast with what Jesus has said about how Elijah is going to come. Here, he indicates that Elijah has already come. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [However,] or [Even further,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἦλθεν

came

See how you translated “come” in [17:10](../17/10.md). Alternate translation: [appeared] or [did what he was predicted to do]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν & ἐποίησαν & αὐτῶν

not ˱they˲_knew & ˱they˲_did & them

The pronouns they, they, and them could refer to: (1) people in generally who did not recognize Elijah and who mistreated him. Alternate translation: [most people did not recognize … those people did … them] (2) the Jewish religious leaders. Alternate translation: [the religious leaders did not recognize … they did … those same leaders]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὅσα ἠθέλησαν

as_much_as ˱they˲_wanted

Here Jesus implies that what they wanted was to mistreat and harm this Elijah. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [whatever harmful things they wanted to do] or [any evil things they wanted to do]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου μέλλει

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγω δέ ὑμῖν ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθεν καί οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτόν ἀλλά ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν Οὕτως καί ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν)

Here Jesus speaks about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the first person. Alternate translation: [I, who am the Son of Man, am about]

Parallel MAT 17:12

Section 17:1–13: Three disciples saw Jesus’ glory

17:12a

17:12b

17:12c

17:12d