1 Thessalonians 5 · Verse 19

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Quench not the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 5:19 in other translations

BSBDo not extinguish the Spirit.
WEBDon’t quench the Spirit.
ASVQuench not the Spirit;
YLTThe Spirit quench not;
DARBYquench not the Spirit;
BBEDo not put out the light of the Spirit;
WebsterQuench not the spirit.

What does 1 Thessalonians 5:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Quench not--the Spirit being a holy fire: "where the Spirit is, He burns" [Bengel] (Mt 3:11; Ac 2:3; 7:51). Do not throw cold water on those who, under extraordinary inspiration of the Spirit, stand up to speak with tongues, or reveal mysteries, or pray in the congregation. The enthusiastic exhibitions of some (perhaps as to the nearness of Christ's coming, exaggerating Paul's statement, 2Th 2:2, By spirit), led others (probably the presiding ministers, who had not always been treated with due respect by enthusiastic novices, 1Th 5:12), from dread of enthusiasm, to discourage the free utterances of those really inspired, in the Church assembly. On the other hand, the caution (1Th 5:21) was needed, not to receive "all" pretended revelations as divine, without "proving" them.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Quench not the Spirit. This language is taken from the way of putting out a fire; and the sense is, we are not to extinguish the influences of the Holy Spirit in our hearts; Possibly there may be an allusion here to fire on an altar, which was to be kept constantly burning. This fire may have been regarded as emblematic of devotion, and as denoting that that devotion was never to become extinct. The Holy Spirit is the source of true devotion, and hence the enkindlings of piety in the heart, by the Spirit, are never to be quenched. Fire may be put out by pouring on water; or by covering it with any incombustible substance; or by neglecting to supply fuel. If it is to be made to burn, it must be nourished with proper care and attention. The Holy Spirit, in his influences on the soul, is here compared with fire that might be made to burn more intensely, or that might be extinguished. In a similar manner the apostle gives this direction to Timothy, "I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up (αναζωπυρειν, kindle up, cause to burn) the gift of God,"2Ti 1:6. Anything that will tend to damp the ardour of piety in the soul; to chill our feelings; to render us cold and lifeless in the service of God, may be regarded as "quenching the Spirit." Neglect of cultivating the Christian graces, or of prayer, of the Bible, of the sanctuary, of a careful watchfulness over the heart, will do it. Worldliness, vanity, levity, ambition, pride, the love of dress, or indulgence in an improper train of thought, will do it. It is a great rule in religion that all the piety which there is in the soul is the fair result of culture. A man has no more religion than he intends to have; he has no graces of the Spirit which he does not seek; he has no deadness to the world which is not the object of his sincere desire, and which he does not aim to have. Any one, if he will, may make elevated attainments in the divine life; or he may make his religion merely a religion of form, and know little of its power and its consolations.

(f) "Quench" Eph 4:30

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Quench not the Spirit - The Holy Spirit is represented as a fire, because it is his province to enlighten and quicken the soul; and to purge, purify, and refine it. This Spirit is represented as being quenched when any act is done, word spoken, or temper indulged, contrary to its dictates. It is the Spirit of love, and therefore anger, malice, revenge, or any unkind or unholy temper, will quench it so that it will withdraw its influences; and then the heart is left in a state of hardness and darkness. It has been observed that fire may be quenched as well by heaping earth on it as by throwing water on it; and so the love of the world will as effectually grieve and quench the Spirit as any ordinary act of transgression. Every genuine Christian is made a partaker of the Spirit of God; and he who has not the spirit of Christ is none of his. It cannot be the miraculous gifts of the Spirit which the apostle means, for these were given to few, and not always; for even apostles could not work miracles when they pleased; but the direction in the text is general, and refers to a gift of which they were generally partakers.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

We are to rejoice in creature-comforts, as if we rejoiced not, and must not expect to live many years, and rejoice in them all; but if we do rejoice in God, we may do that evermore. A truly religious life is a life of constant joy. And we should rejoice more, if we prayed more. Prayer will help forward all lawful business, and every good work. If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want matter for thanksgiving in…

Read the full comment on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 →

1 Thessalonians 5:19 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.

τὸtoTheG3588
πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
μὴmēnotG3361
σβέννυτε·sbennutedo quench;G4570

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

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 5:19

  • Ephesians 4:30

    And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  • 2 Timothy 1:6

    Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

  • 1 Timothy 4:14

    Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

  • Isaiah 63:10

    But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

  • Psalms 51:11

    Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

  • Nehemiah 9:30

    Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

  • Genesis 6:3

    And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

  • Ephesians 6:16

    Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:30

    If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

  • Song of Solomon 8:7

    Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

  • 1 Samuel 16:4

    And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Beth–lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Quench.
So 8:7; Eph 4:30; 6:16
the Spirit.
Ge 6:3; 1Sa 16:4; Ne 9:30; Ps 51:11; Isa 63:10; Ac 7:51; 1Co 14:30
Eph 4:30; 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6

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

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18

    In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:19

    Quench not the Spirit.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:20

    Despise not prophesyings.

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 5:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No apaguéis el Espíritu.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		N’éteignez pas l’Esprit;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Den Geist löschet nicht aus;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Spiritum nolite extinguere.