New King James Version
1 Corinthians 13:12
12For 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Context of 1 Corinthians 13:12
10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 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. 13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- nowἄρτιarti · nowG737
- we seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- a glassἔσοπτρονesoptron · mirrorG2072
- ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- darklyαἴνιγμαainigma · obscure thingG135
- butδέde · thenG1161
- thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- I knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- inἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- partμέροςmeros · partG3313
- shall I knowἐπιγινώσκωepiginōskō · to come to knowG1921
- even asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:12
- 2 Corinthians 3:18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
- Philippians 3:12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
- James 1:23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
- Judges 14:12Then Samson said to them, “Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.
- Ezekiel 17:2“Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,
- Exodus 33:11So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
- Numbers 12:8I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”
- Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
- Matthew 18:10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
- Romans 8:18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- 1 John 3:2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
- Revelation 22:4They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
- 1 Corinthians 13:9For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
- John 10:15As the Father knows Me, even so 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries