Darby Bible
1 Corinthians 13:12
12For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
- New International Version (NIV)For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
Context of 1 Corinthians 13:12
10but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child. For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known. 13And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these [is] love.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13:12 word by word
βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι᾽ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.¶Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:12
- 2 Corinthians 3:18But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by [the] Lord [the] Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7(for we walk by faith, not by sight;)
- Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained [the prize], or am already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may get possession [of it], seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus].
- James 1:23For if any man be a hearer of [the] word and not a doer, he is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:
- Judges 14:12And Samson said to them, Let me now propound a riddle to you; if ye clearly explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty shirts, and thirty changes of garments.
- Ezekiel 17:2Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,
- Exodus 33:11And Jehovah spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. And he returned to the camp; but his attendant, Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, departed not from within the tent.
- Numbers 12:8Mouth to mouth do I speak to him openly, and not in riddles; and the form of Jehovah doth he behold. Why then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?
- Matthew 5:8Blessed the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Matthew 18:10See that ye do not despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you that their angels in [the] heavens continually behold the face of my Father who is in [the] heavens.
- Romans 8:18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the coming glory to be revealed to us.
- 1 John 3:2Beloved, now are we children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- Revelation 22:4and they shall see his face; and his name [is] on their foreheads.
- 1 Corinthians 13:9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:
- John 10:15as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Now we see through a glass, darkly - ' . Of these words some literal explanation is necessary. The word which we translate a glass, literally signifies a mirror or reflector, from , into, and , I look; and among the ancients mirrors were certainly made of fine polished metal. The word here may signify any thing by which the image of a person is reflected, as in our looking, or look in glass. The word is not used for a glass to look through; nor would such…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For now we see through a glass - Paul here makes use of another illustration to show the imperfection of our knowledge here. Compared with what it will be in the future world, it is like the imperfect view of an object which we have in looking through an obscure and opaque medium compared with the view which we have when we look at it “face to face.” The word “glass” here ( ̓ esoptron) means properly a mirror, a looking-glass. The mirrors of the ancients…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It is a grace, lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that of manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused notions of things, have children when compared with grown men! Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when we come to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The difference between now and the future is between this age and the coming age. Now, we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror. In Paul's time, mirrors were usually made of polished bronze, so the view was unclear. Our perception in this life is limited, and our understanding is incomplete. Then, when the end comes and Christ establishes his eternal kingdom, we will see everything clearly. At that time, the spiritual gifts that…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. now--in our present state. see--an appropriate expression, in connection with the "prophets" of seers (1Sa 9:9). through a glass--that is, in a mirror; the reflection seeming to the eye to be behind the mirror, so that we see it through the mirror. Ancient mirrors were made of polished brass or other metals. The contrast is between the inadequate knowledge of an object gained by seeing it reflected in a dim mirror (such as ancient mirrors were)…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 13:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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