God’s Word Translation
1 Thessalonians 5:2
2You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
- New International Version (NIV)for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 5:2
1Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. 4But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would.
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 51 Thessalonians 5:2 word by word
αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκριβῶς οἴδατε ὅτι ἡμέρα κυρίου ὡς κλέπτης ἐν νυκτὶ οὕτως ἔρχεται·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- yourselvesαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- perfectlyἀκριβῶςakribōs · exactlyG199
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- the dayὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- a thiefκλέπτηςkleptēs · thiefG2812
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the nightνύξnux · nightG3571
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 5:2
- Jeremiah 23:20The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has done everything he intends to do. In the last days you will understand this clearly.
- Matthew 24:42“Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return.
- Matthew 25:13“So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.
- Mark 13:34It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert.
- Luke 12:39“Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house.
- 2 Peter 3:10The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.
- Revelation 3:3So remember what you received and heard. Obey, and change the way you think and act. If you’re not alert, I’ll come like a thief. You don’t know when I will come.
- Revelation 16:15“See, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains alert and doesn’t lose his clothes. He will not have to go naked and let others see his shame.”
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 5:2
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For yourselves know perfectly - That is, they had been fully taught this. There could be no doubt in their minds respecting it. The day of the Lord so cometh - Of the Lord Jesus - for so the word “Lord” in the New Testament commonly means; see the notes, Acts 1:24. The “day of the Lord” means that day in which he will be manifested, or in which he will be the prominent object in view of the assembled universe. As a thief in the night - Suddenly and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Paul reminds them of the teachings they already received (3:3–4). the Day of the Lord: The day when God will judge humanity and save his people (Isaiah 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 2:21–32; 3:18; Zechariah 14). like a thief in the night: Compare Matthew 24:43–44; Luke 12:39–40; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. as a thief in the night--The apostles in this image follow the parable of their Lord, expressing how the Lord's coming shall take men by surprise (Mt 24:43; 2Pe 3:10). "The night is wherever there is quiet unconcern" [Bengel]. "At midnight" (perhaps figurative: to some parts of the earth it will be literal night), Mt 25:6. The thief not only gives no notice of his approach but takes all precaution to prevent the household knowing of it. So the Lord (Re…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 5:2
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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