New Living Translation
1 Thessalonians 5:2
2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, 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
1Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
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 diminish until it has finished all he has planned. In the days to come you will understand all this very clearly.
- Matthew 24:42“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
- Matthew 25:13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
- Mark 13:34“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
- Luke 12:39“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.
- 2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
- Revelation 3:3Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
- Revelation 16:15“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries