1 Thessalonians 4:13

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

11to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you. 12In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need. Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 15For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

1 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 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.
• 1 Corinthians 10:1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,
• 1 Corinthians 12:1With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
• 2 Corinthians 1:8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.
• 2 Peter 3:8Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:15For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.
• 1 Kings 1:21If a decision is not made, when my master the king is buried with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be considered state criminals.”
• 1 Kings 2:10Then David passed away and was buried in the city of David.
• Daniel 12:2Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake – some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.
• Matthew 27:52And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised.
• Luke 8:52Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.”
• John 11:11After he said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to awaken him.”
• Acts 7:60Then he fell to his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he died.
• Acts 13:36For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay,
• 1 Corinthians 15:6Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

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

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Bereavement
• Death
• Immortality

In the dictionaries

• Asleep
• Hope
• Immortality
• Peter, Second Epistle of
• Quiet
• Rise
• Sleep
• Trump
• Baldness
• Bible, the

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