2 Thessalonians 3:10
8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
12 We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
- KJV
- For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
- WEB
- For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”
- ASV
- For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
- DARBY
- For also when we were with you we enjoined you this, that if any man does not like to work, neither let him eat.
- BLB
- For even when we were with you⁺, we were commanding you⁺ this, that “if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.”
- ÅB
- for da vi var hos dere, befalte vi dere jo og dette at hvis noen ikke vil arbeide, skal han heller ikke spise.
- OTB
- For selv da vi var hos dere, ga vi dere denne instruksjonen: hvis noen ikke vil arbeide, skal de ikke spise.
- B1930
- for da vi var hos eder, bød vi eder jo og dette at hvis nogen ikke vil arbeide, skal han heller ikke ete.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Read in context1 Thessalonians 4:11
and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
Read in contextProverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
Read in contextProverbs 20:4
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Read in contextProverbs 21:25
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Read in contextProverbs 24:30–34
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 3:4
Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.
Read in context