1 Thessalonians 4 · Verse 4

1 Thessalonians 4:4

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
1 Thessalonians 4:4, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 4:4 in other translations

BSBeach of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
WEBthat each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,
ASVthat each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
YLTthat each of you know his own vessel to possess in sanctification and honour,
DARBYthat each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour,
BBESo that every one of you may keep his body holy and in honour;
WebsterThat every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. know--by moral self-control. how to possess his vessel--rather as Greek, "how to acquire (get for himself) his own vessel," that is, that each should have his own wife so as to avoid fornication (1Th 4:3; 1Co 7:2). The emphatical position of "his own" in the Greek, and the use of "vessel" for wife, in 1Pe 3:7, and in common Jewish phraseology, and the correct translation "acquire," all justify this rendering. in sanctification--(Ro 6:19; 1Co 6:15, 18). Thus, "his own" stands in opposition to dishonoring his brother by lusting after his wife (1Th 4:6). honour--(He 13:4) contrasted with "dishonor their own bodies" (Ro 1:24).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel. The word vessel here (σκευος) probably refers to the body. When it is so used, it is either because the body is frail and feeble, like an earthen vessel, easily broken 2Cor 4:7, or because it is that which contains the soul, or in which the soul is lodged. Lucret. Lib. iii. 441. The word vessel also, (Heb. Gr. σκευος,) was used by the later Hebrews to denote a wife, as the vessel of her husband Schcoettg. Hor. Heb. p. 827. Comp. Wetstein in loc. Many, as Augustine, Wetstein, Scheettgen, Koppe, Robinson (Lex.), and others, have supposed that this is the reference here. Comp. 1Pet 3:7. The word body, however, accords more naturally with the usual signification of the word, and as the apostle was giving directions to the whole church, embracing both sexes, it is hardly probable that he confined his direction to those who had wives. It was the duty of females; and of the unmarried among the males, as well as of married men, to observe this command. The injunction then is, that we should preserve the body pure. 1Cor 6:18-20.

In sanctification and honour. Should not debase or pollute it; that is, that we should honour it as a noble work of God to be employed for pure purposes. 1Cor 6:19.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 How to possess his vessel - Let every man use his wife for the purpose alone for which God created her, and instituted marriage. The word σκευοςanswers to the Hebrew כלי keli, which, though it signifies vessel in general, has several other meanings. That the rabbins frequently express wife by it, Schoettgen largely proves; and to me it appears very probable that the apostle uses it in that sense here. St. Peter calls the wife the weaker Vessel, 1Pet 3:7. Others think that the body is meant, which is the vessel in which the soul dwells. In this sense St. Paul uses it, 2Cor 4:7 : We have this treasure in earthen Vessels; and in this sense it is used by both Greek and Roman authors. There is a third sense which interpreters have put on the word, which I forbear to name. The general sense is plain; purity and continency are most obviously intended, whether the word be understood as referring to the wife or the husband, as the following verse sufficiently proves.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

To abide in the faith of the gospel is not enough, we must abound in the work of faith. The rule according to which all ought to walk and act, is the commandments given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification, in the renewal of their souls under the influences of the Holy Spirit, and attention to appointed duties, constituted the will of God respecting them. In aspiring after this renewal of the soul unto holiness…

Read the full comment on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 →

1 Thessalonians 4:4 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.

εἰδέναιeidenaito know
ἕκαστονhekastoneachG1538
ὑμῶνhumōnof you [how]G4771
τὸtotheG3588
ἑαυτοῦhe'autouhis ownG1438
σκεῦοςskeuosvesselG4632
κτᾶσθαιktasthaito controlG2932
ἐνeninG1722
ἁγιασμῷhagiasmōholinessG38
καὶkaiandG2532
τιμῇ,timēahonor,G5092

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

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 4:4

  • 1 Corinthians 7:9

    But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

  • Romans 12:1

    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

  • 1 Peter 3:7

    Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:15

    Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

  • Romans 6:19

    I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

    Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

  • Acts 9:15

    But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

  • Philippians 4:8

    Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

  • Romans 1:24

    Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

  • 2 Timothy 2:20-21

    But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
should.
Ro 6:19; 12:1; 1Co 6:15,18-20
his.
1Sa 21:5; Ac 9:15; Ro 9:21-23; 2Ti 2:20,21; 1Pe 3:7
honour.
Php 4:8; Heb 13:4

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

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3

    For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:4

    That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:5

    Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que cada uno de vosotros sepa tener su vaso en santificación y honor;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		que chacun de vous sache posséder son propre vase en sainteté et en honneur,
German
Elberfelder 1871		daß ein jeder von euch sein eigenes Gefäß in Heiligkeit und Ehrbarkeit zu besitzen wisse,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut sciat unusquisque vestrum vas suum possidere in sanctificatione, et honore: