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

11Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

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 want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.
• 1 Corinthians 10:1I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.
• 1 Corinthians 12:1Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.
• 2 Corinthians 1:8We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.
• 2 Peter 3:8But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:15We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:10Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
• 1 Kings 1:21If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died.”
• 1 Kings 2:10Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.
• Daniel 12:2Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
• Matthew 27:52and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.
• Luke 8:52The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”
• John 11:11Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
• Acts 7:60He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
• Acts 13:36This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.
• 1 Corinthians 15:6After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though 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

• 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