1 PET 2:2 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) Just like newborn babies long for pure milk so they’ll grow, you should cultivate a thirst for what’ll help you grow as people who are rescued,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 as newborn babies, long for the pure rational milk so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

UST Just as newborn babies strongly desire their mothers’ pure milk, so you should strongly desire to learn true things about God so that by learning them you may become spiritually mature. You must do this until the time when God saves you completely from this sinful world.

2:2 GOC, CT, and F35 includes in your salvation.

BLB like newborn babies, crave pure reasonable milk, so that by it you may grow up in respect to salvation,

AICNT like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow [into salvation],[fn]

2:2, into salvation: Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

OEB like newly born infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you may be enabled by it to grow until you attain salvation –

WEBBE as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

LSV as newborn babies, desire the reasonable, unspoiled milk, so that you may grow up to salvation,

FBV You should become like newborn babies who only want pure spiritual milk, so you can grow in salvation

TCNT Like newborn babies, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may [fn]grow,

2:2 grow ¦ grow into salvation ANT CT PCK

T4T Just like newborn babies long for their mothers’ pure milk [MET], you should long for God’s spiritual truth, so that by learning it you may become spiritually mature. You need to do this until the day when God will free you completely from all the evil in this world.

LEB like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

BBE Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation;

Moff Like newly-born children, thirst for the pure, spiritual milk to make you grow up to salvation.

Wymth Thirst, like newly-born infants, for pure milk for the soul, that by it you may grow up to salvation;

ASV as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

DRA As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

YLT as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

Drby as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation,

RV as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;
(as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye/you_all may grow thereby unto salvation; )

SLT As new born babes, long for the sincere milk pertaining to the word, that ye might be nourished with it:

Wbstr As new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

KJB-1769 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
(As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye/you_all may grow thereby: )

KJB-1611 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word, that ye may grow thereby,
(As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye/you_all may grow thereby,)

Bshps And as newe borne babes, desire ye ye milke of the worde, which is without deceipt: that ye may growe therby vnto saluatio
(And as new born babes, desire ye/you_all ye milk of the word, which is without deceit: that ye/you_all may grow thereby unto saluatio)

Gnva As newe borne babes desire that sincere milke of the woorde, that yee may growe thereby,
(As new born babes desire that sincere milk of the word, that ye/you_all may grow thereby, )

Cvdl & as new borne babes desyre that reasonable mylke, which is without corrupcion, that ye maye growe therin,
(and as new born babes desire that reasonable milk, which is without corruption, that ye/you_all may grow therein,)

TNT and as newe borne babes desyre that reasonable mylke which is with out corrupcion that ye maye growe therin.
(and as new born babes desire that reasonable milk which is with out corruption that ye/you_all may grow therein. )

Wycl as now borun yonge children, resonable, with out gile, coueite ye mylk, that in it ye wexe in to helthe; if netheles ye han tastid,
(as now born young children, resonable, with out guile, coueite ye/you_all milk, that in it ye/you_all wax/grow in to health; if nevertheless ye/you_all have tastid,)

Luth und seid gierig nach der vernünftigen lautern Milch als die jetzt gebornen Kindlein, auf daß ihr durch dieselbige zunehmet,
(and are gierig after the/of_the reasonableen loudern milk as the now/currently gebornen little_child, on/in/to that you(pl)/their/her through the_same zunehmet,)

ClVg sicut modo geniti infantes, rationabile, sine dolo lac concupiscite: ut in eo crescatis in salutem:[fn]
(like just/only geniti infants, rationabile, without trickery milk desirese: as in/into/on by_him crescatis in/into/on health: )

2.2 Sicut modo geniti. BEDA. Quia sic renati estis, et filii æterni facti, tales estote per studium bonæ conversationis, quales sunt infantes recenter nati per naturam ætatis. Rationabile. Estote infantes per malitiam remotam, rationabiles tamen per sapientiam: nec ratio aliqua ad versutias sæculi vos trahat, sed sine dolo sitis; unde: Estote prudentes sicut serpentes Matth. 10., etc. Lac concupiscite. BEDA. Tangit illos qui ad audiendas sacras lectiones fastidiosi adveniunt, ignari illius sitis et esuriei, de qua Dominus ait: Beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt justitiam Matth. 5.. Ideoque tardius ad perfecta salutis incrementa perveniunt, quo possint solido cibo verbi refici, id est, arcana cognoscere divina, vel majora facere bona. Ut in eo crescatis. Ut etiam bene discendo, per sacra Dominicæ incarnationis perveniatis ad contemplationem divinæ majestatis.

2.2 Like just/only geniti. BEDA. Because so renati you_are, and children eternal made, tales be through study/zeal good conversation, what_kind are infants recenter born through nature age. Rationabile. Estote infants through malice remotam, rationabiles nevertheless through wisdom: but_not ratio some to versutias of_the_world/of_the_ages you(pl) trahat, but without trickery thirsts; from_where/who: Estote prudentes like snakes Matth. 10., etc. Lac desirese. BEDA. It_touches those who/which to audiendas sacras lectiones fastidiosi adveniunt, ignari of_that thirsts and esuriei, from/about which Master he_said: Blessed who/which esuriunt and thirstunt justice Matth. 5.. Therefore/For_that_reasonque tardius to perfecta health growth they_arrive, where can solido with_food/feed words refici, that it_is, secrets to_know divine, or bigger to_do good(s). As in/into/on by_him crescatis. As also well discendo, through sacra Sunday incarnation arriveis to contemplationm divine majesty.

UGNT ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν,
(hōs artigennaʸta brefaʸ to logikon adolon gala epipothaʸsate, hina en autōi auxaʸthaʸte eis sōtaʸrian,)

SBL-GNT ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε ⸂εἰς σωτηρίαν⸃,
(hōs artigennaʸta brefaʸ to logikon adolon gala epipothaʸsate, hina en autōi auxaʸthaʸte ⸂eis sōtaʸrian⸃,)

RP-GNT ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη, τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε,
(hōs artigennaʸta brefaʸ, to logikon adolon gala epipothaʸsate, hina en autōi auxaʸthaʸte,)

TC-GNT ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη, τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ [fn]αὐξηθῆτε,
(hōs artigennaʸta brefaʸ, to logikon adolon gala epipothaʸsate, hina en autōi auxaʸthaʸte, )

2:2 αυξηθητε ¦ αυξηθητε εις σωτηριαν ANT CT PCK

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–12: Christ is the cornerstone and believers are his holy people

In this section Peter used illustrations from the Old Testament to describe how important Christ was and how holy Christians should be. Christ was like the most important stone in a building. Christians belong to him and so should live holy lives.

Some other headings for this section are:

Live as God’s Chosen People (GW)

A Living Stone and a Holy People (CEV)

2:2

Peter used the desire that newborn babies have for their mothers’ milk as an illustration. He told the believers to desire God’s word in the same way that babies desire their mothers’ milk. In this way they would continue to grow strong as Christians until they experienced the final salvation God had for them.

2:2a

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,

As new babies long/thirst for milk, so you should long/thirst for God’s pure word/message,
You should desire to hear/receive God’s truthful word/message just as a newborn baby wants to drink its mother’s milk.

Like newborn babies: This is a simile. Peter was saying that his readers should have a strong desire for God’s word, just as babies have a strong desire for their mother’s milk.

newborn babies: This is the only place in the New Testament where the Greek word that the BSB translates as newborn is used. Its use here probably implies that the babies in Peter’s illustration had no other food and wanted no other food. Those who are newborn babies are completely dependent on their mothers’ milk.

babies: The Greek word that the BSB translates as babies refers to very small children. Several English versions translate it as “infants.” For example, the NET says:

yearn like newborn infants for… (NET)

If your language has a word or expression referring to babies in the first few weeks of their life, you may be able to use it here. In that case it may not be necessary to translate newborn separately and explicitly.

crave pure spiritual milk: The phrase crave pure spiritual milk describes how Peter wanted his readers to be like newborn babies. The pure spiritual milk is a metaphor for God’s word. Peter wanted them to crave it.

crave: The Greek word that the BSB translates as crave is a command meaning “desire.” Other ways to translate this include:

Be…thirsty for (CEV)

long for (RSV)

yearn…for (NET)

The Greek text has a definite article that is not explicit in the BSB. Many English versions do make it explicit. For example, the RSV says:

long for the pure spiritual milk

Consider if it is natural in your language to make the definite article explicit in this context. In some language doing so may help show that the pure spiritual milk is a metaphor.

pure: The Greek adjective that the BSB translates as pure can means “sincere” or “without deceit.” As a description of milk, it can be translated as “unadulterated,” that is, not watered down. As a description of God’s word, it can be translated as:

truthfulIn English, there is a problem with translating this as “true.” The Greek word that precedes (lemma: logikos) is understood by some scholars to signal that this is figurative, being a metaphor, not literal. To say then that it is “true…milk” is potentially contradictory. For this reason, the suggestion in the Notes is for “truthful,” not “true.”

Consider if there is a word in your language that could cover both ideas. If not, you will have to choose between describing the metaphor (milk) or the topic the metaphor represents (God’s word).

spiritual milk: There is a play on words here. The Greek word that the BSB translates as spiritual is from a root meaning “word.” Peter was implying that the spiritual milk was a figure of speech referring to the word of God.See the footnote in the NET. Translations vary as to which aspect of the figure of speech they translate:(1) “spiritual” (BSB, NJB, NIV, RSV, GNT, REB, NET, NLT, CEV)(2) “of the word” (KJV, NASB, GW, NCV)

milk: Here, milk refers to a mother’s milk. It represents food that is nourishing and life-giving, and it is a metaphor for God’s word. If you make this explicit, you may want to consider how you translated “the word of God” and “the word of the Lord” at 1:23b and 1:25a. See the General Comment below for more information.

General Comment on 2:2a

In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit something of the meaning of the metaphor in 2:2a. There are various ways of doing this. For example:

Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. (GW)

As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching. (NCV)

2:2b

so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

so that by/through this word you may grow strong/mature and receive full salvation.
in order for it to nourish you until you are completely saved.
Then, by continuing to feed on it, you will thrive until God saves you from all sin.

so that by it you may grow up: Peter wanted his readers to desire God’s word (2:2a) so that they would continue to listen to it and/or read it. In this way they would receive spiritual nourishment and become strong and mature believers.

so that: The Greek preposition that the BSB translates as so that introduces the purpose for desiring (and therefore receiving) spiritual milk. Here is another way to translate this:

Then (GW)

by it: God’s word/teaching was to be the means by which Peter’s readers received their spiritual food. Peter was implying that because they desired God’s word, the believers would actually hear and read it. The GNT has made this explicit by including drinking as part of the milk metaphor:

so that by drinking it you may grow up (GNT)

you may grow up: The Greek word that the BSB translates as you may grow up is a form of a Greek verb that could mean grow or “increase” or “spread.” It can also be translated as “thrive.”E. G. Selwyn, in his commentary on the First Epistle of St. Peter, translates auxēthēte as “thrives,” page 156. For example:

so that you may thrive on it (REB)

Peter was not telling his readers that they would grow up and no longer need the milk of God’s word. In Peter’s metaphor, all Christians remain babies who continue to need the nourishment of this milk in order to grow. Peter wanted his readers to continue to feed on God’s word and grow until their final salvation.

The way you translate this may depend on what sounds natural in your language. Some ways to say this include:

you will drink it and grow

it will nourish you

that by continuing to drink it you will thrive

that will help you grow (CEV)

in your salvation: There are two ways of interpreting the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in your salvation:

It means “resulting in your salvation”; that is, towards the goal of receiving final salvation from God. For example:
grow and be saved (CEV) (GNT, NJB, REB, NET, CEV, NCV, RSV)
It means “in or in regards to your salvation,” that is, it refers to becoming a strong and mature believer. For example:
grow into a full experience of salvation (NLT) (BSB, NLT, NIV, NASB, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Peter was probably talking about the same salvation he referred to in 1:5. This is the salvation when God will deliver believers from all sin and suffering.

your salvation: In some languages it may be necessary to translate the abstract noun salvation as a verb:

you may…be saved (GNT)

God may/will save you

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε

like newborn babies (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τό λογικόν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν)

The point of this comparison is that Peter wanted his readers to desire knowledge of God’s word just as newborn babies desire milk. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent comparison or express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Just as babies long for their mother’s milk, so you must long for the pure rational milk]

ἐπιποθήσατε

long

Alternate translation: [desire intensely] or [yearn for]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τό λογικόν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν)

The word translated as rational could also be translated “pertaining to the word”; it refers to the word of God. Peter speaks of the word of God as if it were rational milk that nourishes children. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [God’s pure word]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

αὐξηθῆτε

˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_grown

Peter speaks of believers advancing in the knowledge of God and faithfulness to him as if they were children growing up. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you may mature in your faith]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς σωτηρίαν

for salvation

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of salvation, you can express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [until you are saved]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς σωτηρίαν

for salvation

Here, salvation refers to when Jesus returns and God completes the salvation of his people. Peter also uses this meaning for salvation in [1:5](../01/05.md). See how you translated salvation there. Alternate translation: [until God saves you completely]

Parallel 1 PET 2:2

Section 2:1–12: Christ is the cornerstone and believers are his holy people

2:2

2:2a

General Comment on 2:2a

2:2b

Parallel 1 PET 2:2