1 PET 4:8 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]and more than anything, display genuine love to each other because love triumphs over many sins.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 above all, having the fervent love for one another, for love covers up a multitude of sins;

UST Most important of all, love each other sincerely, because if you love others, you will forgive them for many sins that they may commit against you.

BSB Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.[fn]

MSB Above all, love one another deeply, because love will cover over[fn] a multitude of sins.[fn]

4:8 CT and F35 covers over

4:8 See Proverbs 10:12.

BLB above all things, having fervent love among yourselves, because love covers over a multitude of sins,

AICNT [[But]][fn] Above all, maintain fervent love for one another, because love {covers}[fn] a multitude of sins.

4:8, But: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

4:8, covers: Later manuscripts read “will cover.” BYZ TR

OEB Above all things, let your love for one another be earnest, for “Love throws a veil over countless sins.”

WEBBE And above all things be earnest in your love amongst yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.

LSV Before all things, having earnest love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins;

FBV Most of all, you should love one another very deeply, for love covers many of the wrong things people do.

TCNT Above all, maintain a deep love for one another, because love [fn]will cover a multitude of sins.

4:8 will cover ¦ covers CT PCK

T4T Most important of all, love each other earnestly/wholeheartedly, because if we love others [PRS], we will just ignore many of the sinful things that they do to us.

LEB Above all, keep[fn] your love for one another constant, because love covers a large number of sins.

4:8 Literally “having”

BBE And most of all be warm in your love for one another; because in love there is forgiveness for sins without number:

Moff Above all, be keen to love one another, for love hides a host of sins.

Wymth Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

ASV above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:

DRA But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins.

YLT and, before all things, to one another having the earnest love, because the love shall cover a multitude of sins;

Drby but before all things having fervent love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins;

RV above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:
(above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth/covers a multitude of sins: )

SLT More than all having intent love among yourselves: for love shall cover a multitude of sins.

Wbstr And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity will cover a multitude of sins.

KJB-1769 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

KJB-1611 And aboue all things haue feruent charitie among your selues: for charity [fn]shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

4:8 Or, will.

Bshps But aboue all thynges, haue feruent loue among your selues: For loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
(But above all things, have fervent love among yourselves: For love shall cover the multitude of sins.)

Gnva But aboue all thinges haue feruent loue among you: for loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
(But above all things have fervent love among you: for love shall cover the multitude of sins. )

Cvdl but aboue all thinges haue feruent loue amonge you one to another. For loue couereth the multitude of synnes.
(but above all things have fervent love among you one to another. For love covereth/covers the multitude of sins.)

TNT But above all thinges have fervet love amonge you. For love covereth the multitude of synnes.
(But above all things have fervet love among you. For love covereth/covers the multitude of sins. )

Wycl bifore alle thingis haue ye charite ech to other in you silf algatis lastynge; for charite couerith the multitude of synnes.
(before all things have ye/you_all charity each to other in yourself algatis lasting; for charity coverith the multitude of sins.)

Luth So seid nun mäßig und nüchtern zum Gebet. Vor allen Dingen aber habt untereinander eine brünstige Liebe; denn die Liebe decket auch der Sünden Menge.
(So are now mäßig and sober for_the prayer. Before/In_front_of all/everyone things but have each_other a/one fervent/on_heate love(n); because/than the love(n) covers(v) also the/of_the sins(n) crowd(n).)

ClVg Ante omnia autem, mutuam in vobismetipsis caritatem continuam habentes: quia caritas operit multitudinem peccatorum.[fn]
(Ante everything however, mutuam in/into/on to_you(pl)metipsis charity continuam having: because caritas covers multitude of_sins/sinners. )

4.8 Charitatem continuam habentes. ID. Qui per charitatem proximum monet, increpat, etc., usque ad quamvis in publicum non semper ostendi, potest.

4.8 Charitatem continuam having. ID. Who through charity next_door advises, increpat, etc., until to although/however in/into/on publicum not/no always show, can.

UGNT πρὸ πάντων, τὴν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀγάπην ἐκτενῆ ἔχοντες, ὅτι ἀγάπη καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν;
(pro pantōn, taʸn eis heautous agapaʸn ektenaʸ eⱪontes, hoti agapaʸ kalupsei plaʸthos hamartiōn;)

SBL-GNT πρὸ ⸀πάντων τὴν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀγάπην ἐκτενῆ ἔχοντες, ὅτι ἀγάπη ⸀καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν·
(pro ⸀pantōn taʸn eis heautous agapaʸn ektenaʸ eⱪontes, hoti agapaʸ ⸀kaluptei plaʸthos hamartiōn;)

RP-GNT πρὸ πάντων δὲ τὴν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀγάπην ἐκτενῆ ἔχοντες, ὅτι ἀγάπη καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν·
(pro pantōn de taʸn eis heautous agapaʸn ektenaʸ eⱪontes, hoti agapaʸ kalupsei plaʸthos hamartiōn;)

TC-GNT πρὸ πάντων [fn]δὲ τὴν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀγάπην ἐκτενῆ ἔχοντες, ὅτι [fn]ἀγάπη [fn]καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν·
(pro pantōn de taʸn eis heautous agapaʸn ektenaʸ eⱪontes, hoti agapaʸ kalupsei plaʸthos hamartiōn; )

4:8 δε ¦ — CT

4:8 αγαπη ¦ η αγαπη ANT PCK SCR

4:8 καλυψει ¦ καλυπτει CT PCK

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:7–11: Good managers of God’s gifts

In this section, Peter said that the end of the world is near, and therefore Christians should be self-controlled and prayerful. They should love each other, be hospitable, and use their special abilities to help each other. In this way they would bring glory to God.

Some other headings for this section include:

Use God’s Gifts Wisely (NCV)

Your attitude in these last days

4:8a

Above all, love one another deeply,

Most important of all, love each other warmly/heartily,
It is vital that you love one another with all your hearts,

Above all: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Above all here means that what Peter is about to say is very important. He is not necessarily saying that what he is about to say is more important than what he has just said. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Most important of all (CEV)

love one another deeply: The Greek word translated as deeply intensifies the command to love each other. Peter wanted his readers to care a lot about one another. You could also translate this as:

warmly (GW)

sincerely (CEV)

fervently

This word also occurred in 1:22. See how you translated it there.

4:8b

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

because your love will cancel/remove many sins.
because if you love people, you will keep on forgiving their sins.

because: The Greek word that the BSB translates as because explains the reason why believers are to “love each other deeply” in 4:8b. This reason is stated here in this verse part. Connect 4:8b to 4:8a in a way that is natural in your language. Other ways that is word is translated include:

for (NLT)

Since (RSV)

love covers over a multitude of sins: This may be a proverb that was in common use in New `Testament times. See Proverbs 10:12 and James 5:20. In this context it can be interpreted in two ways:

If a person loves other people, he forgives and forgets the wrong they have done to him. For example:
NET footnote: “Christian love is patient and forgiving towards the offences of a fellow Christian.” (NET)
If you love one another, God will forgive your sins. This is perhaps implied by the NCV:
love will cause many sins to be forgiven (NCV)

Most English translations do not say explicitly who loves and whose sins are covered. However, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The person who loves a fellow Christian covers or forgives their sins. This is the view of the majority of modern commentators.See Achtemeier page 296; Grudem page 173; Best page 159; Davids; Michaels page 247 is somewhat different: He says that through Christian love “sin as a social phenomenon can be blotted out.”

covers over: In this context, covers over means “forgives.” A literal translation may suggest that sins are hidden, that is, concealed or kept secret. That is not what Peter meant here. A person who wishes his sins to be covered may first need to confess them to God and other people. Some other ways covers over has been translated are:

cancels (REB)

wipes away (CEV)

a multitude: The phrase a multitude means “many.” However, a literal translation may imply that there will be sins the believer can choose not to forgive. This is not the meaning here. In some languages, it may therefore be necessary to translate this as part of the verb, indicating that the one who loves forgives sins frequently or regularly. For example:

you will keep on forgiving their sins

Parallel 1 PET 4:8

Section 4:7–11: Good managers of God’s gifts

4:8a

4:8b

Parallel 1 PET 4:8