1 Thessalonians 2:17

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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,
• 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.

Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:17

15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, 16because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely. But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. 19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

1 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 5:26Elisha replied, “I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you. This is not the proper time to accept silver or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.
• Acts 17:10The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
• 1 Corinthians 5:3For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present.
• Colossians 2:5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:6But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you!
• Genesis 31:30Now I understand that you have gone away because you longed desperately for your father’s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?”
• Genesis 45:28Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”
• Genesis 48:11Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too.”
• 2 Samuel 13:39The king longed to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.
• Psalms 63:1O God, you are my God! I long for you! My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched 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 and sisters, that I often intended to come to you (and was prevented until now), so that I may have some fruit even among you, just as I already have among the rest of the Gentiles.
• Romans 15:23But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you
• Philippians 1:22Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer:

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

• Love

In the dictionaries

• Affectionately
• Bold
• Chargeable
• Cherish
• Desire
• Joy
• Corinth
• Endeavor
• Paul, the Apostle
• Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the

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