New International VersionThough you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
New Living TranslationYou love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
English Standard VersionThough you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
Berean Standard BibleThough you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Berean Literal Biblewhom not having seen you love, on whom now believing though not seeing you also exult with joy inexpressible and filled with glory,
King James BibleWhom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
New King James Versionwhom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
New American Standard Bibleand though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
NASB 1995and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
NASB 1977and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Legacy Standard BibleAnd though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Amplified BibleThough you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy,
Christian Standard BibleThough you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,
Holman Christian Standard BibleYou love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,
American Standard Versionwhom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Contemporary English VersionYou have never seen Jesus, and you don't see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happy
English Revised Versionwhom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationAlthough you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don't see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words
Good News TranslationYou love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express,
International Standard VersionThough you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
NET BibleYou have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
New Heart English Biblewhom not having seen you love; in whom, though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory--
Webster's Bible TranslationWhom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory:
Weymouth New TestamentHim you love, though your eyes have never looked on Him. In Him, though at present you cannot see Him, you nevertheless trust, and triumph with a joy which is unspeakable and is crowned with glory, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThough you have not known Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
World English Biblewhom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionwhom, having not seen, you love, in whom, now believing [although] not seeing, you are glad with unspeakable joy and have been filled with glory,
Berean Literal Biblewhom not having seen you love, on whom now believing though not seeing you also exult with joy inexpressible and filled with glory,
Young's Literal Translation whom, not having seen, ye love, in whom, now not seeing and believing, ye are glad with joy unspeakable and glorified,
Smith's Literal TranslationWhom not having seen, ye love; in whom, now not seeing, but believing, ye are transported with joy unalterable, and highly valued: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified;
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor though you have not seen him, you love him. In him also, though you do not see him, you now believe. And in believing, you shall exult with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
New American BibleAlthough you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
New Revised Standard VersionAlthough you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhom you have not seen, but whom you yet love, and in whose faith you rejoice with exceeding joy that cannot be described;
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishHim whom you have not seen and yet you love, and in his faith you greatly rejoice with glorious joy which cannot be spoken, NT Translations Anderson New Testamentwhom, though you have not seen him, yet you love; on whom not now looking, but believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory,
Godbey New Testamentwhom you not seeing, love with divine love; on whom, not looking, but believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Haweis New Testamentwhom though ye have not seen, ye love; on whom, though ye have not as yet gazed, yet believing, ye exult with joy unutterable and glorious:
Mace New Testamentwhom though you have not seen, you love: and though he is not now the object of your view, yet you believe in him, and triumph with such a laudable transport, as cannot be express'd:
Weymouth New TestamentHim you love, though your eyes have never looked on Him. In Him, though at present you cannot see Him, you nevertheless trust, and triumph with a joy which is unspeakable and is crowned with glory,
Worrell New TestamentWhom, not having seen, ye love; on Whom, though now not seeing Him, yet believing, ye exult with joy unspeakable and full of glory;
Worsley New Testamentwhom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy ineffable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context A Living Hope… 7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seenHim,you love Him;and though you do not seeHimnow,you believein Himandrejoicewith an inexpressibleandgloriousjoy,9now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.…
Cross References John 20:29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
2 Corinthians 5:7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Romans 8:24-25For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? / But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
1 John 4:19We love because He first loved us.
John 16:22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
Romans 5:2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
1 John 4:20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
Hebrews 11:27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
2 Corinthians 4:18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Psalm 16:11You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Isaiah 25:9And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
Psalm 34:8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Treasury of Scripture Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: having. John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessedare they that have not seen, andyet have believed. 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seenare temporal; but the things which are not seenare eternal. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ye love. 1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believehe is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, Song of Solomon 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makestthy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? Song of Solomon 5:9,16 Whatis thy beloved more thananother beloved, O thou fairest among women? whatis thy beloved more thananother beloved, that thou dost so charge us? … believing. 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: Habakkuk 3:17,18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neithershall fruitbe in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, andthere shall be no herd in the stalls: … Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. unspeakable. John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanksbe unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. full. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Jump to Previous BelieveBelievingCrownedExaltedExultEyesFaithFilledFullGivesGloriousGloryGreaterGreatlyHimInexpressibleJoyLoveNeverthelessPresentRejoiceTriumphTrustUnspeakableUnutterableWordsJump to Next BelieveBelievingCrownedExaltedExultEyesFaithFilledFullGivesGloriousGloryGreaterGreatlyHimInexpressibleJoyLoveNeverthelessPresentRejoiceTriumphTrustUnspeakableUnutterableWords1 Peter 1 1.Peter praises God for his manifold spiritual graces;10.showing that the salvation in Christ the fulfillment of prophesy;13.and exhorts them accordingly to be holy.Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;This phrase highlights the faith of the early Christians who had not physically seen Jesus Christ, yet they loved Him deeply. This reflects the teaching of Jesus in John 20:29, where He blesses those who believe without seeing. The early church was composed of many Gentile believers who had come to faith through the testimony of the apostles and other witnesses. Their love for Christ was a response to the transformative power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This love is a fulfillment of the greatest commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind ( Matthew 22:37). and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him
The believers' faith is emphasized here, as they trust in Christ's promises and His presence in their lives despite His physical absence. This faith is rooted in the testimony of the apostles and the Scriptures, which testify to Christ's life, death, and resurrection.Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, which aligns with the believers' experience. Their belief is not based on sight but on the conviction of the truth of the Gospel and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
The joy described here is a profound and overwhelming response to the believers' relationship with Christ. It is a joy that transcends circumstances and is rooted in the hope of salvation and eternal life. This joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is often associated with the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). The term "inexpressible" suggests that this joy is beyond human words and understanding, reflecting the deep spiritual reality of the believers' union with Christ. The "glorious" aspect of this joy points to its divine origin and its connection to the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Persons / Places / Events 1. PeterThe apostle of Jesus Christ, traditionally believed to be the author of this epistle. He writes to encourage believers who are facing trials. 2. Jesus ChristThe central figure of Christianity, whom the recipients of the letter love and believe in, despite not having seen Him. 3. Recipients of the EpistleEarly Christians scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are experiencing persecution and trials. Teaching Points Faith Beyond SightTrue faith does not rely on physical sight but on spiritual conviction. Believers are called to trust in Christ's presence and promises, even when He is not visible to the eye. Love for ChristThe love for Jesus is a defining characteristic of a believer's life. This love is cultivated through a relationship with Him, nurtured by prayer, worship, and obedience to His teachings. Joy in BeliefThe joy described is "inexpressible and glorious," indicating a deep, spiritual joy that transcends circumstances. This joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a testimony to the world of the believer's hope in Christ. Endurance Through TrialsThe context of Peter's letter is one of suffering and persecution. Believers are encouraged to endure by focusing on their love and faith in Christ, which produces joy and hope. The Role of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit empowers believers to love and believe in Christ, providing the joy and strength needed to persevere in faith. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 1 Peter 1
How can your joy be made complete?
What does 'love each other deeply' mean?
Will the God of hope fill you with joy?
What does 'love covers a multitude of sins' mean?(8) Whom, having not seen.--Said in contrast to the word "revelation" in the last verse: "whom you love already, though He is not yet revealed, so that you have not as yet seen Him." There seems to be a kind of tender pity in the words, as spoken by one who himself had seen so abundantly ( Acts 4:20; Acts 10:41; 2Peter 1:16). In this and the following verse we return again from the sorrow to the joy, and to the true cause of that joy, which is only to be found in the love of Jesus Christ. There is another reading, though not so good either in sense or in authority, "whom, without knowing Him, ye love." Bengel remarks that this is intended for a paradox, sight and knowledge being the usual parents of love. Ye love.--The word of calm and divinely-given attachment, in fact the usual word in the New Testament, that which Christ used in questioning the writer (John 20:15), not the word of warm human friendship with which St. Peter then answered Him. In whom.--To be construed, not with "ye rejoice," but with "believing." The participles give thegrounds of the rejoicing: "because at present without seeing ye believe in Him none the less, therefore ye rejoice." The word "rejoice" takes us back to1Peter 1:6 : "ye greatly rejoice, I repeat." Notice, again, the stress laid on faith: we have already had it three times mentioned. St. Peter, whose own faith gained him his name and prerogative, is, at least, as much the Apostle of faith as St. Paul is, though his conception of it, perhaps, slightly differs from St. Paul's. The definition given by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:1) might have been, perhaps was, drawn from a study of St. Peter's writings. Our present verse gives us the leading thought of "faith" as it appears in both of these works addressed to Hebrews, viz., its being the opposite ofsight, "the evidence of things not seen," rather than as the opposite ofworks. And the main object of both these Epistles is to keep the Hebrews from slipping back from internal to external religion,i.e.,to strengthenfaith. (Comp.Hebrews 3:12.) The Apostle is full of admiration for a faith which (unlike his own) was not based on sight. (SeeJohn 20:29--an incident which may have been in the writer's mind.) . . . Verse 8. - Whom having not seen, ye love. Some ancient manuscripts read οὐκ εἰδότες, "although ye know him not:" but the reading ἰδόντες is best supported, and gives the better sense. The Christians of Asia Minor had not seen the gracious face of the Lord, as St. Peter had. But though they had never known him after the flesh, they knew him by the inner knowledge of spiritual communion, and, having learned to love him, had attained the blessing promised to those who had not seen, but yet had believed. St. Peter may possibly be thinking of his well-remembered interview with the risen Lord ( John 21:15-17). He has here the word ἀγαπᾶν, expressive of reverential love, which Christ had used in his first two questions; not the word of warm human affection ( φιλεῖν ) which he himself had employed in his three answers. In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The words, "in whom" ( εἰς ὅν, literally, "on whom now not looking, but believing"), are to be taken with the participles "seeing" and "believing," not with "ye rejoice." St. Peter insists on the necessity and blessedness of faith as earnestly as St. Paul does, though with him the antithesis is rather between faith and sight than between faith and works. As a tact, St. Peter's readers had never seen the Lord; now, though not seeing him with the outward eye, they realized his presence by faith, and in that presence they rejoiced. The verb is that used in ver. 6 - they rejoiced greatly, they exulted, and that though they saw him not. Human love needs the seen presence of the beloved one to complete the fullness of its joy (2 John 12); but their joy was even amid afflictions unspeakable - like all our deepest and holiest feelings, not to be expressed in words; and it was glorified by the unseen presence of Christ. His chosen behold even now, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, and, beholding, are changed into the same image from glory to glory. Joy in the Lord is a foretaste of the joy of heaven, and is irradiated by glimpses of the glory that shall be revealed. Others, as Huther and Alford, again give to the verb ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, "ye rejoice," a quasi-future sense. The word for "unspeakable" ( ἀνεκλαλητός) is found only here.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek [Though] you have not seenἰδόντες(idontes)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3708:Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.[Him],ὃν(hon)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.you love [Him];ἀγαπᾶτε(agapate)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 25:To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.[and though] you do not seeὁρῶντες(horōntes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3708:Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.[Him]ὃν(hon)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.now,ἄρτι(arti)Adverb
Strong's 737:Now, just now, at this moment. Adverb from a derivative of airo through the idea of suspension; just now.you believeπιστεύοντες(pisteuontes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4100:From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.in [Him]εἰς(eis)Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.rejoiceἀγαλλιᾶσθε(agalliasthe)Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 21:To exult, be full of joy. From agan and hallomai; properly, to jump for joy, i.e. Exult.with an inexpressibleἀνεκλαλήτῳ(aneklalētō)Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 412:Unspeakable. Not spoken out, i.e. unutterable.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.gloriousδεδοξασμένῃ(dedoxasmenē)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1392:To glorify, honor, bestow glory on. From doxa; to render glorious.joy,χαρᾷ(chara)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5479:Joy, gladness, a source of joy. From chairo; cheerfulness, i.e. Calm delight.
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NT Letters: 1 Peter 1:8 Whom not having known you love (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet) |
