God’s Word Translation
1 Thessalonians 4:13
13Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
- New International Version (NIV)Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 4:13
11Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you. 12Then your way of life will win respect from those outside ⌞the church⌟, and you won’t have to depend on anyone else for what you need. Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus. 15We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go ⌞into his kingdom⌟ ahead of those who have already died.
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 41 Thessalonians 4:13 word by word
Οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν κοιμωμένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- I wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- notοὐou · noG3756
- youσύsu · youG4771
- to be ignorantἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
- brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- concerningπερίperi · aboutG4012
- them which are asleepκοιμάωkoimaō · to sleepG2837
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ye sorrowλυπέωlupeō · to grieveG3076
- notμήmē · notG3361
- evenκαίkai · andG2532
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- othersλοιπόςloipoi · remainingG3062
- which haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 4:13
- Romans 1:13I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to visit you. However, until now I have been kept from doing so. What I want is to enjoy some of the results of working among you as I have also enjoyed the results of working among the rest of the nations.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors ⌞who left Egypt⌟ were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea.
- 1 Corinthians 12:1Brothers and sisters, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding concerning spiritual gifts.
- 2 Corinthians 1:8Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about the suffering we experienced in the province of Asia. It was so extreme that it was beyond our ability to endure. We even wondered if we could go on living.
- 2 Peter 3:8Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go ⌞into his kingdom⌟ ahead of those who have already died.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him.
- 1 Kings 1:21Otherwise, my son Solomon and I will be treated like criminals when you lie down in death with your ancestors.”
- 1 Kings 2:10David lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
- Daniel 12:2Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. Some will wake up to live forever, but others will wake up to be ashamed and disgraced forever.
- Matthew 27:52The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life.
- Luke 8:52Everyone was crying and showing how sad they were. Jesus said, “Don’t cry! She’s not dead. She’s just sleeping.”
- John 11:11After Jesus said this, he told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, and I’m going to Bethany to wake him.”
- Acts 7:60Then he knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” After he had said this, he died.
- Acts 13:36After doing God’s will by serving the people of his time, David died. He was laid to rest with his ancestors, but his body decayed.
- 1 Corinthians 15:6Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.)
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 4:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13I would not have you to be ignorant - Instead of , have, , wish, is the reading of ADEFG, many others, besides the Arabic, Ethiopic, Armenian, some of the Slavonian, the Vulgate, and Itala, with many of the Greek fathers. This is undoubtedly the true reading: Brethren, I would not wish you to be ignorant; or, I would not that you should be ignorant. This was probably one of the points which were lacking in their faith, that he wished to go to Thessalonica…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13But I would not have you to be ignorant - I would have you fully informed on the important subject which is here referred to. It is quite probable from this, that some erroneous views prevailed among them in reference to the condition of those who were dead, which tended to prevent their enjoying the full consolation, which they might otherwise have done. Of the prevalence of these views, it is probable the apostle had been informed by Timothy on his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 Here is comfort for the relations and friends of those who die in the Lord. Grief for the death of friends is lawful; we may weep for our own loss, though it may be their gain. Christianity does not forbid, and grace does not do away, our natural affections. Yet we must not be excessive in our sorrows; this is too much like those who have no hope of a better life. Death is an unknown thing, and we know little about the state after death; yet…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13those who sleep in death (literally those who have fallen asleep; also in 4:14): In Greek, Jewish, and Christian literature, sleep often means death (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 27:52). Personal existence continues after death (Luke 23:40–43; Acts 7:55–60; 2 Corinthians 5:6–10; Philippians 1:20–24; Revelation 6:9–11). Those who have died await the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:23). grieve like the rest, who are without hope: Ancient letters of comfort advised…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. The leading topic of Paul's preaching at Thessalonica having been the coming kingdom (Ac 17:7), some perverted it into a cause for fear in respect to friends lately deceased, as if these would be excluded from the glory which those found alive alone should share. This error Paul here corrects (compare 1Th 5:10). I would not--All the oldest manuscripts and versions have "we would not." My fellow labourers (Silas and Timothy) and myself desire that ye…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 4:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 4
- 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
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