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

8Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nothing; but wrought with labour and toil night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example to you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

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

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• wereἦνēn · wasG2258
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youὑμᾶςhumas · youG5209
• thisτοῦτοtouto · thatG5124
• commandedπαραγγέλλωparaggellō · to orderG3853
• youὑμῖνhumin · to youG5213
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• anyεἴ τιςei tis · if anyG1536
• wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• notοὐou · noG3756
• workἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• neitherμηδέmēde · norG3366
• eatἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068

Cross-references for 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• Luke 24:44And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
• John 16:4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
• Acts 20:18And when they had come to him, he said to them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
• Genesis 3:19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou shalt return to the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return.
• Proverbs 13:4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
• Proverbs 20:4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
• Proverbs 21:25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
• Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

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