1 PET 3:9 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) and not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, but rather be a blessing to others. You were called to do that so that you all can receive a blessing.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 not paying back evil in exchange for evil or insult in exchange for insult, but on the contrary, blessing, because to this you were called so that you might inherit a blessing.

UST When people do evil things to you or insult you, do not do the same to them. Instead, bless them, because that is what God has chosen you to do in order that he may bless you.

BLB not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult; but on the contrary blessing, because to this you were called, so that you should inherit blessing.

AICNT not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary, blessing, [[knowing]][fn] for to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.

3:9, knowing: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB never returning evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, blessing. It was to this that you were called – to obtain a blessing!

WEBBE not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

LSV not giving back evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing, having known that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing;

FBV Don't pay back evil for evil, or retaliate when you're abused, instead you should give a blessing—because that's what you were called to do, so you could gain a blessing yourself.

TCNT Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but, on the contrary, bless, [fn]knowing that to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.

3:9 knowing that 84.9% ¦ for CT 9%

T4T When people do evil things to you or insult you, do not ◄retaliate/repay them by► doing evil things to them or insulting them. Instead, ask God to bless them, because that is what you have been chosen by God {what God called you} to do, in order that you may receive a blessing from him.

LEB not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others, because for this reason you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing.

BBE Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.

Moff never paying back evil for evil, never reviling when you are reviled, but on the contrary blessing. For this is your vocation, to bless and to inherit blessing;

Wymth not requiting evil with evil nor abuse with abuse, but, on the contrary, giving a blessing in return, because a blessing is what you have been called by God to inherit.

ASV not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

DRA Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

YLT not giving back evil for evil, or railing for railing, and on the contrary, blessing, having known that to this ye were called, that a blessing ye may inherit;

Drby not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary, blessing [others], because ye have been called to this, that ye should inherit blessing.

RV not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
(not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye/you_all called, that ye/you_all should inherit a blessing. )

SLT Not returning evil for evil, or railing for railing: and on the contrary prayer; knowing that to this were ye called, that ye might inherit praise.

Wbstr Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but on the contrary, blessing; knowing that ye are called to this, that ye should inherit a blessing.

KJB-1769 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
(Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye/you_all are thereunto called, that ye/you_all should inherit a blessing. )

KJB-1611 Not rendring euill for euill, or railing for railing: but contrarywise blessing, knowing that yee are thereunto called, that ye should inherite a blessing.
(Not rendring evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrarywise blessing, knowing that ye/you_all are thereunto called, that ye/you_all should inherit a blessing.)

Bshps Not rendryng euyl for euyll, or rebuke for rebuke: but contrarywyse blesse, knowyng that ye are therevnto called, euen that ye shoulde be heyres of the blessyng.
(Not rendring evil for evil, or rebuke for rebuke: but contrarywyse bless, knowing that ye/you_all are therevnto called, even that ye/you_all should be heyres of the blessing.)

Gnva Not rendring euil for euill, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrarywise blesse, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should be heires of blessing.
(Not rendring evil for evil, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrarywise bless, knowing that ye/you_all are thereunto called, that ye/you_all should be heires of blessing. )

Cvdl Recopence not euell for euell, nether rebuke for rebuke: but cotrary wyse, blesse: and knowe that ye are called therto, euen yt ye shulde be heyres of ye blessynge.
(Recopence not evil for evil, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrary wise, bless: and know that ye/you_all are called thereto, even it ye/you_all should be heyres of ye/you_all blessing.)

TNT not redringe evyll for evyll nether rebuke for rebuke: but contrary wyse blesse remembringe that the are thervnto called even that ye shuld be heyres of blessinge.
(not redringe evil for evil neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrary wise bless remembringe that the are thervnto called even that ye/you_all should be heyres of blessing. )

Wycl not yeldinge yuel for yuel, nether cursing for cursing, but ayenward blessinge; for in this thing ye ben clepid, that ye welde blessinge bi eritage.
(not yeldinge evil for evil, neither cursing for cursing, but ayenward blessing; for in this thing ye/you_all been called, that ye/you_all weld blessing by heritage.)

Luth Vergeltet nicht Böses mit Bösem oder Scheltwort mit Scheltwort, sondern dagegen segnet und wisset, daß ihr dazu berufen seid, daß ihr den Segen erbet.
(Vergeltet not evil with evil/evil_personm or Scheltwort with Scheltwort, rather dagegen blesses and know, that you(pl)/their/her to_that/in_addition appointed are, that you(pl)/their/her the blessing erbet.)

ClVg non reddentes malum pro malo, nec maledictum pro maledicto, sed e contrario benedicentes: quia in hoc vocati estis, ut benedictionem hæreditate possideatis.[fn]
(not/no they_will_returnes evil for I_prefer, but_not cursetum for curse, but e on_the_contrary blessing: because in/into/on this called you_are, as blessing inheritance get_itatis. )

3.9 Non reddentes. Non solum cessetis reddere malum pro malo, sed etiam pro maledicto date benedictionem. Quia in hoc. BEDA. Quia prohibuerat malum pro malo reddere, etc., usque ad nos quoque pro ipsorum salute (quam precabamur) coronam accepturos. Ut benedictionem. Dicente judice: Venite, benedicti Patris mei, possidere regnum Matth. 25.. Vel intelligitur benedictio, qua sancti in futura vita benedicent Deum. Quod ergo quisque in futuro venire desiderat, hoc in præsenti meditari et agere satagat, conditorem et fratrem benedicat, et se dignum fraterna benedictione reddat.

3.9 Not/No they_will_returnes. Not/No only ceaseis to_return evil for I_prefer, but also for curse date blessing. Because in/into/on hoc. BEDA. Because prohibuerat evil for I_prefer to_return, etc., until to us too for their_own salute (quam precabamur) crown accepturos. As blessing. Sayente judge: Come, blessed Father's my/mine, to_possess kingdom Matth. 25.. Or understood blessing, which holy in/into/on the_future life they_will_bless God. That therefore everyone/whoever in/into/on future to_come desires, this in/into/on present meditari and to_act satagat, founderem and brother bless, and himself worthy brotherna blessing give_back.

UGNT μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ, ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας, τοὐναντίον δὲ εὐλογοῦντες; ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε, ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε.
(maʸ apodidontes kakon anti kakou, aʸ loidorian anti loidorias, tounantion de eulogountes; hoti eis touto eklaʸthaʸte, hina eulogian klaʸronomaʸsaʸte.)

SBL-GNT μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας τοὐναντίον δὲ ⸀εὐλογοῦντες, ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε.
(maʸ apodidontes kakon anti kakou aʸ loidorian anti loidorias tounantion de ⸀eulogountes, hoti eis touto eklaʸthaʸte hina eulogian klaʸronomaʸsaʸte.)

RP-GNT μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ, ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας· τοὐναντίον δὲ εὐλογοῦντες, εἰδότες ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε, ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε.
(maʸ apodidontes kakon anti kakou, aʸ loidorian anti loidorias; tounantion de eulogountes, eidotes hoti eis touto eklaʸthaʸte, hina eulogian klaʸronomaʸsaʸte.)

TC-GNT μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ, ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας· τοὐναντίον δὲ εὐλογοῦντες, [fn]εἰδότες ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε, ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε.
(maʸ apodidontes kakon anti kakou, aʸ loidorian anti loidorias; tounantion de eulogountes, eidotes hoti eis touto eklaʸthaʸte, hina eulogian klaʸronomaʸsaʸte. )

3:9 ειδοτες 84.9% ¦ — CT 9%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:8–22: God’s people may have to suffer for doing what is right

In this section Peter taught that Christians should always do good and act kindly towards others, even if they are mistreated and made to suffer. They should do this because it pleases God, and because that was how Jesus Christ behaved.

Some other headings for this section are:

Suffering for Doing Right (CEV)

Dedicate Your Lives to Jesus (GW)

3:9

This is similar to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:27–28. If a Christian is treated badly by someone, he must do good to that person. God expects his people to behave like that, and he will bless them if they do.

3:9a

Do not repay evil with evil

Do not do evil to someone who has done evil to you,
If anyone does evil to you, do not do evil to him in return.

Do not repay evil with evil: The phrase Do not repay evil with evil means “Do not do evil to someone in return for the evil they have done to you.” In some languages it may be natural to translate it as a conditional statement:

If someone does evil to you, do not do evil back to them

When someone harms you, do not take revenge

3:9b

or insult with insult,

and do not insult someone who insults you.
If anyone insults you, do not insult him in return.

or: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as or here introduces another thing that believers were not to do. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as:

and

insult with insult: There is some implied information here. The words “Do not repay” from 9a are implied at the beginning of this verse part. The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Do not repay insult with insult in this context means “Do not speak evil to someone in return for the evil they have spoken to you.” Some other ways this phrase has been translated are:

Do not pay back…cursing with cursing (GNT)

Do not repay…abuse with abuse (REB)

General Comment on 3:9a–b

In some languages it may be natural to combine verse parts 9a–b after the model of the CEV:

Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you.

3:9c

but with blessing,

Rather, give him a blessing.
But instead, ask God to do good to him.

but: The Greek conjunction de that the BSB translates as but introduces what believers were to do instead of returning evil for evil. Here is another way to translate this transition:

Instead (CEV)

with blessing: In some languages it may be natural to supply a verb here, probably the same verb that you used in 3:9a and 3:9b. The NCV has:

repay with a blessing

In other languages it may be natural to translate the noun blessing as a verb:

bless them (GW)

bless others (NET)

blessing: There are two ways of interpreting the word blessing here:

It means that Christians should ask God to bless their enemies. See Matthew 5:44.
It means that Christians should do good to their enemies. For example, the CEV says:
treat everyone with kindness (BSB, CEV, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV)

Most English versions are ambiguous. If you must choose between these two interpretations, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1), which has the support of most commentaries.

3:9d

because to this you were called

For this/that is what God has called you to do,
For God has called you to do this,

to this you were called: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as to this you were called:

It refers backward to 3:9c and means “God called you to bless others.” For example:
That is what you were called to do (NJB) (BSB, RSV, KJV, NLT, NCV, NIV, NJB)
It refers forward to 3:9e and means “God called you in order to bless you.” For example:
for a blessing is what God intends you to receive (REB) (NASB, REB, GNT, CEV, NET, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This agrees with 2:21, where the context is similar.

The phrase to this you were called is passive. God is the one who is doing the calling. In some languages it may be more natural to express this in an active form. For example:

to this God has called you

called: The word called in this context means “invited” or “summoned.” The CEV translates this phrase as:

You are God’s chosen ones (CEV)

3:9e

so that you may inherit a blessing.

so that you yourselves may receive a blessing.
in order that he may do good things for you.

so that: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as so that here introduces the reason/purpose why God called his people to bless others. See how you translated similar expressions in 2:21 (“that”) and 2:24b (“so that”).

you may inherit a blessing: The phrase you may inherit a blessing means “you will receive a blessing.” It is implied that it is God who will give the blessing. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit:

God will give you a blessing

God will bless you

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ, ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή ἀποδιδόντες κακόν ἀντί κακοῦ ἤ λοιδορίαν ἀντί λοιδορίας τοὐναντίον δέ εὐλογοῦντες ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε)

Peter uses paying back to refer to responding to the actions of another person as if one was returning money to that person for those actions. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [not doing evil to someone who does evil to you or insulting someone who insults you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

εὐλογοῦντες

blessing

Peter is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from earlier in the verse. Alternate translation: [blessing those who do evil to you or insult you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε

to this ˱you_all˲_˓were˒_called

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 called you to this]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε, ἵνα

to this ˱you_all˲_˓were˒_called in_order_that

Here, this could refer to: (1) blessing earlier in the verse. Alternate translation: [you were called to bless so that] (2) inherit a blessing later in the verse “to this you were called so that”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε

in_order_that blessing ˱you_all˲_˓may˒_inherit

Peter speaks of experiencing God’s blessing as if one is receiving an inheritance. If this might confuse your readers, you could express it plainly. Alternate translation: [so that you might experience God’s blessing as your permanent possession]

Parallel 1 PET 3:9