we can only know ourself

Bible > 1 Corinthians > Chapter 13 > Verse 12

◄ 1 Corinthians 13:12 ►

New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Study Bible
Now we see but a dim 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.

Berean Literal Bible
For presently we see through a glass in obscurity; but then, face to face. Presently, I know in part; but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

New American Standard Bible
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

New King James Version
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.

King James Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

Contemporary English Version
Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.

Good News Translation
What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete--as complete as God's knowledge of me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

International Standard Version
Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

NET Bible
For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.

New Heart English Bible
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Now we see as in a mirror, in an allegory, but then face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I shall know as I am known.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.

New American Standard 1977
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.

King James 2000 Bible
For now we see in a mirror dimly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

American King James Version
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.

American Standard Version
For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.

Douay-Rheims Bible
We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know I part; but then I shall know even as I am known.

Darby Bible Translation
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.

English Revised Version
For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I have been known.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
For the present we see things as if in a mirror, and are puzzled; but then we shall see them face to face. For the present the knowledge I gain is imperfect; but then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

World English Bible
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

Young's Literal Translation
for we see now through a mirror obscurely, and then face to face; now I know in part, and then I shall fully know, as also I was known;

Study Bible

Love
…11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways. 12Now we see but a dim 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. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.…

Berean Study Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 32:30
So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, "Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

Numbers 12:8
I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?"

Job 19:26
Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

Job 36:26
Indeed, God is great--beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

1 Corinthians 8:3
But the one who loves God is known by God.

1 Corinthians 13:9
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

James 1:23
For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Treasury of Scripture

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.

we see.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Philippians 3:12
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

darkly.

Judges 14:12-19
And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: …

Ezekiel 17:2
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

face.

Exodus 33:11
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Numbers 12:8
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

now.

1 Corinthians 13:9,10
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part…

John 10:15
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Lexicon

Now
ἄρτι (arti)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 737: Now, just now, at this moment. Adverb from a derivative of airo through the idea of suspension; just now.

we see
βλέπομεν (blepomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's Greek 991: (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.

but a dim reflection
αἰνίγματι (ainigmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 135: A riddle, an enigma. From a derivative of ainos; an obscure saying, i.e. obscureness.

as in
δι’ (di’)
Preposition
Strong's Greek 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

a mirror;
ἐσόπτρου (esoptrou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 2072: A mirror, looking-glass (made of highly polished metal). From eis and a presumed derivative of optanomai; a mirror.

then [we shall see]
τότε (tote)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

face
πρόσωπον (prosōpon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 4383: From pros and ops; the front, i.e. The countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's Greek 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

face.
πρόσωπον (prosōpon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 4383: From pros and ops; the front, i.e. The countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person.

Now
ἄρτι (arti)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 737: Now, just now, at this moment. Adverb from a derivative of airo through the idea of suspension; just now.

I know
γινώσκω (ginōskō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's Greek 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

in
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's Greek 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

part;
μέρους (merous)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

then
τότε (tote)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

I shall know fully,
ἐπιγνώσομαι (epignōsomai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular
Strong's Greek 1921: From epi and ginosko; to know upon some mark, i.e. Recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge.

even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 2532: And, even, also, namely.

as
καθὼς (kathōs)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 2531: According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.

I am fully known.
ἐπεγνώσθην (epegnōsthēn)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's Greek 1921: From epi and ginosko; to know upon some mark, i.e. Recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) For now--i.e., in this earthly life, the "for" connecting the previous statement with that which it illustrates.

Through a glass, darkly.--Better, through a mirror in a dark saying. The illustration here is from a mirror when the image appears far behind the mirror itself. If we remember the imperfect metal surfaces which formed the mirrors of those days, we can imagine how imperfect and enigmatical (the Greek word is "in an enigma") would the image appear; so that the Apostle says, "Like that image which you see when you look at an object in a mirror far off, with blurred and undefined outline, such is our knowledge here and now; but then (i.e., when this dispensation is at an end) we shall see as you see a man when you stand before him face to face. (See Numbers 12:7-8 for a similar thought, but a different illustration of it--"mouth to mouth.") The word for "glass" here is the same as in James 1:23, and must mean a mirror, and not, as some commentators suggest, a pane of transparent stone or horn, such as was then used, for which a quite different word would have been employed.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - Through a glass; rather, through (or, by means of) a mirror. Our "glasses" were unknown in that age. The mirrors were of silver or some polished metal, giving, of course, a far dimmer image than "glasses" do. The rabbis said that "all the prophets saw through a dark mirror, but Moses through a bright one." St. Paul says that no human eye can see God at all except as an image seen as it were behind the mirror. Darkly; rather, in a riddle. God is said to have spoken to Moses "by means of riddles" (Numbers 12:8; Authorized Version, "in dark speeches"), Human language, dealing with Divine facts, can only represent them indirectly, metaphorically, enigmatically, under human images, and as illustrated by visible phenomena. God can only be represented under the phrases of anthropomorphism and anthropopathy; and such phrases can only have a relative, not an absolute, truth. Then; i.e. "when the perfect is come." Face to face. Like the "mouth to mouth" of the Hebrew and the LXX. in Numbers 12:8. This is the beatific vision. "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). "Now we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Then shall I know even as also I am known; rather, then shall I fully know even as also I was fully known, viz. when Christ took knowledge of me at my conversion. Now, we do not so much "know" God, but "rather are known of God" (comp. 1 Corinthians 8:3).

1 Corinthians 13:12 Commentaries

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