2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 10

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:10 in other translations

BSBFor even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
WEBFor even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”
ASVFor even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
YLTfor even when we were with you, this we did command you, that if any one is not willing to work, neither let him eat,
DARBYFor also when we were with you we enjoined you this, that if any man does not like to work, neither let him eat.
BBEFor even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food.
WebsterFor even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. 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 Bengel makes this to be the argument: not that such a one is to have his food withdrawn from him by others; but he proves from the necessity of eating the necessity of working; using this pleasantry, Let him who will not work show himself an angel, that is, do without food as the angels do (but since he cannot do without food, then he ought to be not unwilling to work). It seems to me simpler to take it as a punishment of the idle. Paul often quotes good adages current among the people, stamping them with inspired approval. In the Hebrew, "Bereshith Rabba," the same saying is found; and in the book Zeror, "He who will not work before the sabbath, must not eat on the sabbath."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. For 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 labour.

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, (see Wetstein, in loc.;) and the same sentiment may be found in Homer, Demosthenes, and Pythagoras. See Grotius, in loc. The maxim is founded in obvious justice, and is in accordance with the great law under which our Creator has placed us, Gen 3:19. That law, in the circumstances, was benevolent, and it should be our aim to carry it out in reference to ourselves and to others. The law here laid down by the apostle extends to all who are able to work for a living, and who will not do it, and binds us not to contribute to their support if they will not labour for it. It should be regarded as extending

(1.) to the members of a church--who, though poor, should not be supported by their brethren, unless they are willing to work in any way they can for their own maintenance.

(2.) To those who beg from door to door, who should never be assisted unless they are willing to do all they can do for their own support. No one can be justified in assisting a lazy man. In no possible circumstances are we to contribute to foster indolence. A man might as properly help to maintain open vice.

(e) "that if any" Gen 3:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 If 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 themselves by begging, should not get one morsel of bread. It is a sin to minister to necessities that are merely artificial.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

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…

Read the full comment on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 →

2 Thessalonians 3:10 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.

καὶkaiEvenG2532
γὰρgarforG1063
ὅτεhotewhenG3753
ἦμενēmenwe wereG1510
πρὸςproswithG4314
ὑμᾶς,humasyou,G4771
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
παρηγγέλλομενparēngellomenwe were commandingG3853
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
ὅτιhotithatG3754
εἴeiifG1487
τιςtisanyoneG5100
οὐounotG3756
θέλειtheleiis willingG2309
ἐργάζεσθαιergazesthaito workG2038
μηδὲmēdeneitherG3366
ἐσθιέτω.esthietōhe should eat.G2068

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

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:10

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:11

    And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

  • Proverbs 13:4

    The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

  • Proverbs 20:4

    The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

  • Proverbs 21:25

    The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

  • Proverbs 24:30-34

    I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: …

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:4

    For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
Lu 24:44; Joh 16:4; Ac 20:18
that.
Ge 3:19; Pr 13:4; 20:4; 21:25; 24:30-34; 1Th 4:11

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

Context

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:9

    Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:10

    For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:11

    For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque aun estando con vosotros, os denunciábamos esto: Que si alguno no quisiere trabajar, tampoco coma.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car aussi, quand nous étions auprès de vous, nous vous avons enjoint ceci: que si quelqu’un ne veut pas travailler, qu’il ne mange pas non plus.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn auch als wir bei euch waren, geboten wir euch dieses: Wenn jemand nicht arbeiten will, so soll er auch nicht essen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nam et cum essemus apud vos, hoc denuntiabamus vobis: quoniam si quis non vult operari, nec manducet.