1 PET 1:12 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) It was shown to them that they weren’t just serving themselves, but were serving you as they declared all the same things that have been preached to you by the holy spirit who was sent from heaven. Even God’s messengers in heaven wanted to know more about those things.

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 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now were declared to you by the ones who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven—into which things angels desire to look.

UST God told these prophets that it was not for their own benefit that he was revealing these things to them, but that it was for your benefit. Those people who preached the good news to you now have declared these things to you by the Holy Spirit, whom God sent from heaven, enabling them to do that. Angels would like to know more about what these people declared to you.

BSB It was revealed to [them] that they were not serving themselves, but you, [when they foretold] the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by [the] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. [Even] angels long to look into [these things].

MSB It was revealed to [them] that they were not serving themselves, but you,[fn] [when they foretold] the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by [the] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. [Even] angels long to look into [these things].

BLB to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves, but you, in those things which now have been proclaimed to you by those having proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven, into which angels desire to look.

AICNT To whom it was revealed that not for themselves, but {for you},[fn] they were serving these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, into which things angels desire to look.

1:12, for you: Later manuscripts read “for us.”

OEB And it was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were acting as Ministers of the truths which have now been told to you, by those who, with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, have brought you the good news – truths into which even angels long to look.

WEBBE To them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

LSV to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering these, which now were told to you (through those who proclaimed good news to you), by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, to which things messengers desire to look into intently.

FBV It was explained to them that they were not doing this for themselves, but for you—since what they spoke about you've now learned from those who shared the good news with you by the Holy Spirit that heaven sent. Even the angels are eager to find out about all this!

TCNT It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but [fn]you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

1:12 you ¦ us TR

T4T It was revealed to {God told} them that it was not for their own sake that he was revealing these things to them, but that it was for your sake. It was these things that were proclaimed to you by those who told you the message about Christ {that those who told you the message about Christ proclaimed to you}. They proclaimed these things to you because the Holy Spirit whom God sent from heaven enabled them to do that. And even angels would like to know more about these truths about how God saves us.

LEB to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, _⌊things into which_⌋[fn] angels desire to look.

1:12 Literally “into which things”

BBE And it was made clear to those prophets that they were God's servants not for themselves but for you, to give you word of the things which have now come to your ears from the preachers of the good news through the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; things which even angels have a desire to see.

Moff to them it was revealed that they got this intelligence not for themselves but for you, regarding all that has now been disclosed to you by those who preached the gospel to you through the holy Spirit sent from heaven. The very angels long to get a glimpse of this!

Wymth To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, when they foretold the very things which have now been openly declared to you by those who, having been taught by the Holy Spirit which had been sent from Heaven, brought you the Good News. Angels long to stoop and look into these things.

ASV To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

DRA To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they ministered those things which are now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, the Holy Ghost being sent down from heaven, on whom the angels desire to look.

YLT to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering these, which now were told to you (through those who did proclaim good news to you,) in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, to which things messengers do desire to bend looking.

Drby To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves but to you they ministered those things, which have now been announced to you by those who have declared to you the glad tidings by [the] Holy Spirit, sent from heaven, which angels desire to look into.

RV To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Ghost sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

SLT To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were serving these things, which now have been again proclaimed to you by them having announced the good news in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; into which angels eagerly desire to stoop and creep.

Wbstr To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things which are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

KJB-1769 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

KJB-1611 Unto whome it was reuealed, that not vnto themselues, but vnto vs, they did minister the things which are now reported vnto you, by them that haue preached the Gospel vnto you, with the holy Ghost sent downe from heauen, which things the Angels desire to looke into.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Unto which prophetes it was also declared, that not vnto them selues, but vnto vs, they shoulde minister ye thinges which are nowe shewed vnto you of them, which by the holy ghost sent downe from heauen, haue in the Gospell preached vnto you, the thynges which the Angels desire to beholde.
(Unto which prophets it was also declared, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they should minister ye/you_all things which are now showed unto you of them, which by the holy ghost sent down from heaven, have in the Gospel preached unto you, the things which the Angels desire to behold.)

Gnva Vnto whome it was reueiled, that not vnto themselues, but vnto vs they shoulde minister the things, which are nowe shewed vnto you by them which haue preached vnto you the Gospell by the holy Ghost sent downe from heauen, the which things the Angels desire to beholde.
(Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they should minister the things, which are now showed unto you by them which have preached unto you the Gospel by the holy Ghost sent down from heaven, the which things the Angels desire to behold. )

Cvdl Vnto the which (prophetes) it was declared, that not vnto them selues, but vnto vs they shulde mynister the thinges which are now shewed vnto you, by them which thorow ye holy goost sent downe from heauen, haue preached vnto you the thinges which the angels delyte to beholde.
(Unto the which (prophets) it was declared, that not unto themselves, but unto us they should minister the things which are now showed unto you, by them which through ye/you_all holy ghost sent down from heaven, have preached unto you the things which the angels delight to behold.)

TNT vnto which Prophetes it was declared that not vnto them selves but vnto vs they shuld minister the thinges which are now shewed vnto you of them which by the holy goost sent doune from heven have preached vnto you the thinges which the angels desyre to beholde.
(unto which Prophets it was declared that not unto themselves but unto us they should minister the things which are now showed unto you of them which by the holy ghost sent down from heaven have preached unto you the things which the angels desire to behold. )

Wycl To which it was schewid, for not to hem silf, but to you thei mynystriden tho thingis, that now ben teld to you bi hem that prechiden to you bi the Hooli Goost sent fro heuene, in to whom aungelis desiren to biholde.
(To which it was showed, for not to himself, but to you they ministered those things, that now been told to you by hem that preached to you by the Holy Ghost sent from heaven, in to whom angelis desiren to biholde.)

Luth welchen es offenbaret ist. Denn sie haben‘s nicht sich selbst, sondern uns dargetan, welches euch nun verkündiget ist durch die, so euch das Evangelium verkündiget haben, durch den Heiligen Geist vom Himmel gesandt, welches auch die Engel gelüstet zu schauen.
(which_(ones) it revealed is. Because they/she/them have not itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself, rather us/to_us/ourselves dargetan, which you now announced is through that, so you the gospel announced have, through the saints/holy_ones spirit from_the heaven sent, which also the angel craved to/for look.)

ClVg quibus revelatum est quia non sibimetipsis, vobis autem ministrabant ea quæ nunc nuntiata sunt vobis per eos qui evangelizaverunt vobis, Spiritu Sancto misso de cælo, in quem desiderant angeli prospicere.[fn]
(to_whom revelatum it_is because not/no to_himselfmetipsis, to_you(pl) however served them which now nuntiata are to_you(pl) through them who/which evangelizaverunt to_you(pl), By_Spirit Holy sent from/about the_sky, in/into/on which they_desire messengers/angels prospicere. )

1.12 Vobis autem ministrabant. Hoc ideo dicit ut moneat illos curam gerere salutis oblatæ, quam sic amaverunt priores sancti. Spiritu sancto. BEDA. Spiritus in prophetis, spiritus in apostolis, ita apparet, quod prophetæ et apostoli eamdem salutem nuntient. Illi venturam, isti impletam. Una itaque Ecclesia, cujus pars præcessit adventum Christi, pars sequitur.

1.12 To_you(pl) however served. This therefore/for_that_reason he_says as moneat those care gerere health oblatæ, how so amaverunt previous holy. By_Spirit holy. BEDA. Spirit in/into/on prophets, spirit in/into/on apostles, so/thus appears, that the_prophets and apostles the_same health nuntient. Those to_comem, these filledm. Una therefore Assembly/Church, whose part precededt arrival Christi, part follows.

UGNT οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη, ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς, ὑμῖν δὲ διηκόνουν αὐτά, ἃ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν, διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, ἀποσταλέντι ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ; εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι.
(hois apekalufthaʸ, hoti ouⱪ heautois, humin de diaʸkonoun auta, ha nun anaʸngelaʸ humin, dia tōn euangelisamenōn humas Pneumati Hagiōi, apostalenti ap’ ouranou; eis ha epithumousin angeloi parakupsai.)

SBL-GNT οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς ὑμῖν δὲ διηκόνουν αὐτά, ἃ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ⸀ὑμᾶς πνεύματι ἁγίῳ ἀποσταλέντι ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ, εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι.
(hois apekalufthaʸ hoti ouⱪ heautois humin de diaʸkonoun auta, ha nun anaʸngelaʸ humin dia tōn euangelisamenōn ⸀humas pneumati hagiōi apostalenti apʼ ouranou, eis ha epithumousin angeloi parakupsai.)

RP-GNT Οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς, ὑμῖν δὲ διηκόνουν αὐτά, ἃ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ ἀποσταλέντι ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ, εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι.
(Hois apekalufthaʸ hoti ouⱪ heautois, humin de diaʸkonoun auta, ha nun anaʸngelaʸ humin dia tōn euangelisamenōn humas en pneumati hagiōi apostalenti ap' ouranou, eis ha epithumousin angeloi parakupsai.)

TC-GNT Οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς, [fn]ὑμῖν δὲ διηκόνουν αὐτά, ἃ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς [fn]ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ ἀποσταλέντι ἀπ᾽ οὐρανοῦ, εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι.
(Hois apekalufthaʸ hoti ouⱪ heautois, humin de diaʸkonoun auta, ha nun anaʸngelaʸ humin dia tōn euangelisamenōn humas en Pneumati Hagiōi apostalenti ap ouranou, eis ha epithumousin angeloi parakupsai. )

1:12 υμιν ¦ ημιν TR

1:12 εν ¦ — SBL TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:3–12: Peter praised God for the great hope that he has given us

In this section, Peter praised God for the new life that his readers had received because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He also praised God for the good things that God has made ready for his people in heaven (1:3–5). These blessings from God cause believers to rejoice, even in times of trouble. They have joy because they know that God is saving their souls (1:6–9). In the final paragraph, Peter reminded his readers of how the Old Testament prophets had earlier prophesied about this salvation. They had foretold that Christ would suffer in order to save people (1:10–12).

Some other headings for this section are:

The hope of eternal life (NLT)

Faith in Christ brings you joy (NET)

A real reason for hope (CEV)

Paragraph 1:10–12

Peter told his readers that they were privileged because they had heard the gospel. Peter’s readers understood the good news about how God saves people more clearly than did the prophets who lived before them. Peter’s readers were also privileged in that as Christians they knew from experience what it is like to have God save them. Even the angels do not know this.

1:12a

It was revealed to them

The Holy Spirit also showed/told them
However, the Holy Spirit caused the prophets to know

God caused the prophets to understand that their prophecies about Christ suffering and then receiving glory would not be fulfilled in their lifetime. Instead, future generations, after Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth, would benefit from knowing how God had fulfilled these prophecies through Jesus Christ. Peter wrote this letter at a time when many of these prophecies had been fulfilled and his readers had been taught to what events these prophecies referred.

It was revealed to them: This is a passive verb that does not specify who did the action. Your language may require you to say who revealed this to the prophets. In this paragraph, Peter mentioned the Holy Spirit twice as the agent sent from heaven. Here is a way you could translate this phrase:

The Holy Spirit revealed to them

Here is another way to translate it:

God revealed to them

revealed: In this context the Greek verb that the BSB translates as revealed means “told” or “made known.” The prophets did not actually see their prophecies about Christ fulfilled. You may be able to translate this as:

enabled the prophets to understand

In 1:11b, Peter wrote about the Holy Spirit communicating with the prophets. If you use a verb here in 1:12 that is similar to the verb you used in 1:11, then you may want to add “also” in 1:12. For example:

The Holy Spirit also told them

1:12b

that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things

that they spoke these prophetic messages not for their own benefit, but for yours.
that they were announcing these prophetic messages concerning Christ so that you would understand how he fulfilled them, not so that they could understand.

they were not serving themselves, but you: The phrase they were not serving themselves, but you means “the prophets were not helping/benefitting themselves but they were helping/benefitting you, my readers.” God did not give these prophecies to the prophets in order for the prophets to know exactly when they would be fulfilled. Instead, by telling the prophecies, the prophets benefitted people who lived much later, including Peter’s readers. At the time when Peter wrote this letter, his readers could know when and how God had made the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ happen. Another way to say this is:

not for their own benefit, but for yours (GNT)

they: The pronoun they refers to the Old Testament prophets who prophesied about Jesus Christ.

when they foretold: The BSB has supplied the words when they foretold in order to make the translation clearer and more natural English. The Greek text does not contain these words. Several other English translations contain similar phrases. For example:

delivering the message (NJB)

when they told (NCV)

the things: The phrase the things refers to the sufferings and glory of Christ mentioned in 1:11c.

1:12c

now announced by those who preached the gospel to you

The men who preached the gospel to you told you these things
Now you have heard these prophecies. The evangelists told them to you

now announced by those who preached the gospel to you: By the time Peter wrote this letter, these prophecies concerning Christ had been fulfilled. Christian teachers had announced these prophecies to people, including Peter’s readers, telling them how Jesus Christ had fulfilled the prophecies.

The verb announced is in the passive. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb:

that those who preached the gospel to you told you…

that the evangelists announced/declared to you….

now: In this verse, now refers to the time when Peter lived. Peter’s readers had heard the prophecies about Jesus Christ as Savior, and they had heard that these prophecies had been fulfilled.

announced: The Greek says literally “announced to you.” The BSB omits the phrase “to you” for brevity, but it may be necessary in your language to specify to whom something was announced. If so, you can say “to you” (plural). The verb that the BSB translates as announced is very general in meaning. Its basic meaning is to provide information. Other ways that you may be able to translate this Greek verb include:

reported (KJV)

informed

proclaimed

by those who preached the gospel to you: Peter identified the means by which his readers heard about the prophecies and how Jesus Christ had fulfilled them. They heard it from those, which refers to the people who had preached the gospel to them.

preached the gospel: The Greek word that the BSB translates as preached the gospel can also be translated as:

announced the Good News (GNT)

spread the Good News (GW)

brought…good news (NRSV)

the gospel: The examples above show that the gospel means the good news. If your language requires you to state the content of the good news, what the good news is about, then you may be able to say:

the good news about Jesus Christ

the good news about God saving people/you

1:12d

by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.

through the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
with the help of the Holy Spirit whom God/Christ sent.

by the Holy Spirit: The phrase by the Holy Spirit means “under the Holy Spirit’s direction/leading” or “with the Holy Spirit’s power.” Various ways of translating this include:

by the power of the Holy Spirit (GNT)

in the power of the Holy Spirit (REB)

with the help of the Holy Spirit (NCV)

the Holy Spirit sent from heaven: The Holy Spirit is the same as the Spirit of Christ mentioned in 1:2b.

sent from heaven: The phrase sent from heaven is passive. Peter does not say who sent the Holy Spirit, God or Christ. If your language requires you to specify who sent the Holy Spirit, you may supply either subject. If you have mentioned Christ as the one who sent the Spirit in 1:11b, then you may wish to repeat this. Otherwise, you may say:

by the Holy Spirit whom God sent from heaven

heaven: The word heaven is the name of the dwelling place of God. Saying sent from heaven is another way of saying “sent from God.” In some languages it may not be necessary to mention God and heaven separately and explicitly. See how you translated heaven in 1:4c.

1:12e

Even angels long to look into these things.

Even the angels are very interested in these things concerning our^(incl) salvation.
Even the holy angels greatly desire to comprehend God’s plan to save us^(incl).
These events/things that God has done to save us^(incl) are so remarkable/wonderful that even God’s holy angels are intrigued/fascinated by them.

Even angels long to look into these things: The angels do not need to be saved from sin and death. Even so, they want to understand God’s plan to save human beings. They are very interested in what God has done to deliver his people.

Even: The BSB has supplied the word Even. It is not explicit in the Greek text. However, it does express the emphasis here, and many other translations also supply this word, as you may wish to do as well.

angels: The Greek word that the BSB translates as angels here refers to the good spirit beings who serve God. It does not refer to the demons, the fallen angels who follow Satan. If just saying angels in your translation could be misunderstood to include demons, then you may need to make it clear which angels Peter was referring to. For example:

the holy/good angels.

God’s holy angels.

long: The Greek word that the BSB translates as long means “are strongly desiring.” Some other ways to translates this are:

eagerly (NLT)

greatly desire

to look into: The Greek verb that the BSB translates literally as look here means to try to “understand” or “comprehend” something. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

know more about (CEV)

these things: The phrase these things refers to the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah in his crucifixion and the glory of his resurrection. If a literal translation of things would refer to material objects, you may be able to say instead:

these events

these facts

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς ὑμῖν δέ διηκόνουν αὐτά ἅ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν διά τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ ἀποσταλέντι ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰς ἅ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [God revealed to them]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἃ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν, διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [which those who proclaimed the gospel to you have now declared to you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, ἀποσταλέντι ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ

˱by˲_˓the˒_Spirit Holy ˓having_been˒_sent_out from heaven

This phrase indicates the means by which the evangelists proclaimed the gospel to Peter’s readers. Peter uses the Holy Spirit here to refer specifically to the Holy Spirit’s work of giving those evangelists the ability or power to proclaim the gospel effectively. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [by means of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven enabling them to do so]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀποσταλέντι ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ

˓having_been˒_sent_out from heaven

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language, as in the UST.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς ἃ

into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οἷς ἀπεκαλύφθη ὅτι οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς ὑμῖν δέ διηκόνουν αὐτά ἅ νῦν ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν διά τῶν εὐαγγελισαμένων ὑμᾶς Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ ἀποσταλέντι ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰς ἅ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι)

Here, things refers to what God had revealed to the prophets and some evangelists had proclaimed to Peter’s readers. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [into which things God revealed to the prophets and which were declared to you]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

εἰς ἃ ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἄγγελοι παρακύψαι

Peter uses look to refer to getting a clearer understanding of what God has revealed about salvation. This does not mean that the angels do not understand salvation at all. If this might confuse your readers, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [things which angels desire to understand more clearly]

Parallel 1 PET 1:12