2 Thessalonians 3:10

2 Thessalonians 3:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
• New International Version (NIV)For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

Context of 2 Thessalonians 3:10

8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies. 12We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 word by word

καὶ γὰρ ὅτε ἦμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, τοῦτο παρηγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν ὅτι εἴ τις οὐ θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι μηδὲ ἐσθιέτω.Read the interlinear

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• whileὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• we wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• we gave you this commandπαραγγέλλωparaggellō · to orderG3853
• we gave you this commandοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• anyoneτιςtis · oneG5100
• is unwillingοὐou · noG3756
• is unwillingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to workἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• he shall not eatμηδέmēde · norG3366
• he shall not eatἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068

Cross-references for 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Luke 24:44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
• John 16:4But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
• Acts 20:18When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
• Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
• Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
• Proverbs 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
• Proverbs 24:30I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10If any would not work, neither should he eat - This is a just maxim, and universal nature inculcates it to man. If man will work, he may eat; if he do not work, he neither can eat, nor should he eat. The maxim is founded on these words of the Lord: In the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread. Industry is crowned with God's blessing; idleness is loaded with his curse. This maxim was a proverb among the Jews. Men who can work, and will rather support…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you - It would seem from this that the evil of which the apostle here complains had begun to operate even when he was with them. There were those who were disposed to be idle, and who needed the solemn command of an apostle to induce them to labor. That if any would not work, neither should he eat - That is, at the public expense. They should not be supported by the church. This was a maxim among the Jews…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-15Verses 6-15 Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained in idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which would consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted. Industry in our callings as men, is a duty required by our calling as Christians. But some expected to be maintained in idleness, and indulged a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10Work is the right way to earn a living (see Genesis 3:17–19; Psalm 128:2; Proverbs 10:4). Paul says the church is not responsible for feeding Christians who refuse to work.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. For even--Translate, "For also." We not only set you the example, but gave a positive "command." commanded--Greek imperfect, "We were commanding"; we kept charge of you. would not work--Greek, "is unwilling to work." Bengel makes this to be the argument: not that such a one is to have his food withdrawn from him by others; but he proves from the necessity of eating the necessity of working; using this pleasantry, Let him who will not work show himself…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Commandments
• Example
• Idleness
• Industry
• Labor
• Slothfulness

In the dictionaries

• Admonish
• Disorderly
• Lord
• Poor
• Salvation
• Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3

• 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
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings