1 Thessalonians 2:7

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

1 Thessalonians 2:7, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 2:7 in other translations

BSB	On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
WEB	But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
ASV	But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:
YLT	But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may cherish her own children,
DARBY	but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children.
BBE	But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones:
Webster	But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

What does 1 Thessalonians 2:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. we were--Greek, "we were made" by God's grace. gentle--Greek, "mild in bearing with the faults of others" [Tittmann]; one, too, who is gentle (though firm) in reproving the erroneous opinions of others (2Ti 2:24). Some of the oldest manuscripts read, "we became little children" (compare Mt 18:3, 4). Others support the English Version reading, which forms a better antithesis to 1Th 2:6, 7, and harmonizes better with what follows; for he would hardly, in the same sentence, compare himself both to the "infants" or "little children," and to "a nurse," or rather, "suckling mother." Gentleness is the fitting characteristic of a nurse. among you--Greek, "in the midst of you," that is, in our intercourse with you being as one of yourselves. nurse--a suckling mother. her--Greek, "her own children" (compare 1Th 2:11). So Ga 4:19.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. But we were gentle among you, etc. Instead of using authority, we used only the most kind and gentle methods to win you and to promote your peace and order. The word here rendered "nurse" may mean any one who nurses a child, whether a mother or another person. It seems here to refer to a mother, 1Thes 2:11; and the idea is, that the apostle felt for them the affectionate solicitude which a mother does for the child at her breast.

(*) "cherisheth" "nursing mother"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 But we were gentle among you - Far from assuming the authority which we had, we acted towards you as a tender nurse or parent does to a delicate child. We fed, counselled, cherished, and bore with you; we taught you to walk, preserved you from stumbling, and led you in a right path. Instead of ηπιοι, gentle, many MSS., and several versions and fathers, have νηπιοι, young children. But this never can be considered the original reading, the scope of the place being totally opposed to it. It is the Thessalonians whom the apostle considers as young children, and himself and fellow laborers as the nurse; he could with no propriety say that he was among them as a little child, while himself professed to be their nurse.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honour, serve, and please God, and to seek to be worthy of him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Thessalonians 2:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽[7] ButG235

ἐγενήθημενegenēthēmenwe wereG1096

νήπιοιnēpioiinfantsG3516

ἐνeninG1722

μέσῳmesō[the] midstG3319

ὑμῶν,humōnof you,G4771

ὡςhōsasG5613

ἐὰνeanmaybeG1437

τροφὸςtrophosa nursing motherG5162

θάλπῃthalpēshall cherishG2282

τὰta<the>G3588

ἑαυτῆςhe'autēsher ownG1438

τέκνα,teknachildren,G5043

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 2:7

Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
2 Timothy 2:24-25
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
1 Thessalonians 2:11
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
Isaiah 49:23
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
2 Corinthians 10:1
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Ezekiel 34:14-16
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
1 Corinthians 2:3
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
Matthew 11:29-30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

we.
Ge 33:13,14; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:14-16; Mt 11:29,30; Joh 21:15-17
1Co 2:3; 9:22; 2Co 10:1; 13:4; Ga 5:22,23; 2Ti 2:24,25; Jas 3:17
as.
11; Nu 11:12; Isa 49:23; 66:13; Ac 13:18; *marg:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Thessalonians 2:6
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:7
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
1 Thessalonians 2:8
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Antes fuimos blandos entre vosotros como la que cría, que regala á sus hijos:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	mais nous avons été doux au milieu de vous. Comme une nourrice chérit ses propres enfants,
German Elberfelder 1871	sondern wir sind in eurer Mitte zart gewesen, wie eine nährende Frau ihre eigenen Kinder pflegt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Cum possemus vobis oneri esse ut Christi apostoli: sed facti sumus parvuli in medio vestrum, tamquam si nutrix foveat filios suos.