English Standard Version
1 Thessalonians 2:17
17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,
1 Thessalonians 2:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
- New International Version (NIV)But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:17
15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 21 Thessalonians 2:17 word by word
Ἡμεῖς δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἀπορφανισθέντες ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν πρὸς καιρὸν ὥρας προσώπῳ οὐ καρδίᾳ, περισσοτέρως ἐσπουδάσαμεν τὸ πρόσωπον ὑμῶν ἰδεῖν ἐν πολλῇ ἐπιθυμίᾳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- being takenἀπορφανίζωaporphanizō · to orphanG642
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- youσύsu · youG4771
- forπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- a shortὥραhōra · hourG5610
- timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
- in presenceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- notοὐou · noG3756
- in heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
- endeavouredσπουδάζωspoudazō · be eagerG4704
- the more abundantlyπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
- to seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- faceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- desireἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 2:17
- 2 Kings 5:26But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?
- Acts 17:10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
- 1 Corinthians 5:3For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
- Colossians 2:5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—
- Genesis 31:30And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?"
- Genesis 45:28And Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
- Genesis 48:11And Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also."
- 2 Samuel 13:39And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
- Psalms 63:1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
- Luke 22:15And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
- Romans 1:13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
- Romans 15:23But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
- Philippians 1:22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Being taken from you for a short time - Through the persecution raised by the Jews, see Acts 17, he was obliged to leave Thessalonica, and yield to a storm that it would have been useless for him to have withstood. Being taken from you - in presence, not in heart - The apostle had compared himself to a parent or nurse, 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 1 Thessalonians 2:11; and the people he considered as his most beloved children; here he represents himself as…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17But we, brethren, being taken from you - There is more implied in the Greek word here rendered, “being taken from you “ - ̓́ aporphanisthentes- than appears from our translation. It properly has relation to the condition of an orphan (compare notes on John 14:18), or one who is bereaved of parents, or one who is bereaved of parentsThen it is used in a more general sense, denoting to be bereaved of; and in this place it does not mean merely that he was…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 17-20 This world is not a place where we are to be always, or long together. In heaven holy souls shall meet, and never part more. And though the apostle could not come to them yet, and thought he might never be able to come, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come; nothing shall hinder that. May God give faithful ministers to all who serve him with their spirit in the gospel of his Son, and send them to all who are in darknessRead the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17torn away: Paul talks about his unexpected departure from Thessalonica as depriving the new Christians of their spiritual parents (see Acts 17:10). However, this absence was not neglect. Paul's attempts to return to the church show the separation was not on purpose (compare Philippians 1:7; Colossians 2:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. But we--resumed from 1Th 2:13; in contrast to the Jews, 1Th 2:15, 16. taken--rather as Greek, "severed (violently, Ac 17:7-10) from you," as parents bereft of their children. So "I will not leave you comfortless," Greek, "orphanized" (Joh 14:18). for a short time--literally, "for the space of an hour." "When we had been severed from you but a very short time (perhaps alluding to the suddenness of his unexpected departure), we the more abundantly (the…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 2:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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