2 Thessalonians 3:10

2 Thessalonians 3:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
• New International Version (NIV)For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

Context of 2 Thessalonians 3:10

8We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 11Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 word by word

καὶ γὰρ ὅτε ἦμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, τοῦτο παρηγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν ὅτι εἴ τις οὐ θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι μηδὲ ἐσθιέτω.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• we wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• we commandedπαραγγέλλωparaggellō · to orderG3853
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• notοὐou · noG3756
• workἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• neitherμηδέmēde · norG3366
• should he eatἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068

Cross-references for 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Luke 24:44Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
• John 16:4Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.
• Acts 20:18When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
• Proverbs 13:4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
• Proverbs 20:4Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
• Proverbs 21:25Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.
• Proverbs 24:30I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10If any would not work, neither should he eat - This is a just maxim, and universal nature inculcates it to man. If man will work, he may eat; if he do not work, he neither can eat, nor should he eat. The maxim is founded on these words of the Lord: In the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread. Industry is crowned with God's blessing; idleness is loaded with his curse. This maxim was a proverb among the Jews. Men who can work, and will rather support…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you - It would seem from this that the evil of which the apostle here complains had begun to operate even when he was with them. There were those who were disposed to be idle, and who needed the solemn command of an apostle to induce them to labor. That if any would not work, neither should he eat - That is, at the public expense. They should not be supported by the church. This was a maxim among the Jews…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-15Verses 6-15 Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained in idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which would consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted. Industry in our callings as men, is a duty required by our calling as Christians. But some expected to be maintained in idleness, and indulged a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10Work is the right way to earn a living (see Genesis 3:17–19; Psalm 128:2; Proverbs 10:4). Paul says the church is not responsible for feeding Christians who refuse to work.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. For even--Translate, "For also." We not only set you the example, but gave a positive "command." commanded--Greek imperfect, "We were commanding"; we kept charge of you. would not work--Greek, "is unwilling to work." Bengel makes this to be the argument: not that such a one is to have his food withdrawn from him by others; but he proves from the necessity of eating the necessity of working; using this pleasantry, Let him who will not work show himself…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Commandments
• Example
• Idleness
• Industry
• Labor
• Slothfulness

In the dictionaries

• Admonish
• Disorderly
• Lord
• Poor
• Salvation
• Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings