English Standard Version
1 Thessalonians 5:8
8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
- New International Version (NIV)But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 5:8
6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 51 Thessalonians 5:8 word by word
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἡμέρας ὄντες νήφωμεν ἐνδυσάμενοι θώρακα πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης καὶ περικεφαλαίαν ἐλπίδα σωτηρίας·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- letνήφωnēphō · be soberG3525
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- who areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- of the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- putting onἐνδύωenduō · to put onG1746
- the breastplateθώραξthōrax · breastplateG2382
- of faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- for an helmetπερικεφαλαίαperikephalaia · helmetG4030
- the hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680
- of salvationσωτηρίαsōtēria · salvationG4991
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 5:8
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
- Romans 13:13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
- Ephesians 5:8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
- 1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
- 1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Isaiah 59:17He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
- Romans 13:12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
- Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
- Job 19:23"Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
- Psalms 42:5Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
- Psalms 43:5Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
- Lamentations 3:26It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
- Romans 5:2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- Romans 8:24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
- 1 Corinthians 13:13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 5:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Putting on the breastplate - We are not only called to Work, but we are called also to fight; and that we may not be surprised, we must watch; and that we may be in a condition to defend ourselves, we must be sober; and that we may be enabled to conquer, we must be armed: and what the breastplate and helmet are to a soldier's heart and head, such are faith, love, and hope to us. Faith enables us to endure, as seeing him who is invisible; love excites us…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8But let us, who are of the day, be sober - Temperate, as people usually are in the daytime. Putting on the breast-plate of faith and love - This is a favorite comparison of the apostle Paul; see it explained at length in the notes on Ephesians 6:14. And for an helmet, the hope of salvation - See the notes at Ephesians 6:17.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 Most of mankind do not consider the things of another world at all, because they are asleep; or they do not consider them aright, because they sleep and dream. Our moderation as to all earthly things should be known to all men. Shall Christians, who have the light of the blessed gospel shining in their faces, be careless about their souls, and unmindful of another world? We need the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8breastplate … helmet: (Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:11–17): These pieces of armor represent living a moral life (Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 10:3–5; 2 Timothy 2:3–4). The Christian "soldier" uses the equipment of the virtues of faith, love, and hope (see 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:6; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Faith, hope, and love, are the three pre-eminent graces (1Th 1:3; 1Co 13:13). We must not only be awake and sober, but also armed; not only watchful, but also guarded. The armor here is only defensive; in Ep 6:13-17, also offensive. Here, therefore, the reference is to the Christian means of being guarded against being surprised by the day of the Lord as a thief in the night. The helmet and breastplate defend the two vital parts, the head and the heart…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 5:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 5
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries