2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 11

2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2 Thessalonians 3:11, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:11 in other translations

BSBYet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
WEBFor we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.
ASVFor we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.
YLTfor we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working,
DARBYFor we hear that there are some walking among you disorderly, not working at all, but busybodies.
BBEFor it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.
WebsterFor we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies.

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. busy bodies--In the Greek the similarity of sound marks the antithesis, "Doing none of their own business, yet overdoing in the business of others." Busy about everyone's business but their own. "Nature abhors a vacuum"; so if not doing one's own business, one is apt to meddle with his neighbor's business. Idleness is the parent of busybodies (1Ti 5:13). Contrast 1Th 4:11.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. For we hear. It is not known in what way this was made known to Paul, whether by Timothy, or by some other one. He had no doubt of its truth, and he seems to have been prepared to believe it the more readily from what he saw when he was among them.

Which walk disorderly. 2Thes 3:6.

But are busybodies. Comp. 1Timm 5:13; 1Pet 4:15. That is, they meddled with the affairs of others--a thing which they who have nothing of their own to busy themselves about will be very likely to do. The apostle had seen that there was a tendency to this when he was in Thessalonica, and hence he had commanded them to "do their own business," 1Thes 4:11. The injunction, it seems, had availed little, for there is no class of persons who will so little heed good counsel as those who have a propensity to meddle with the affairs of others. One of the indispensable things to check this is, that each one should have enough to do himself; and one of the most pestiferous of all persons is he who has to do but to look after the affairs of his neighbours. In times of affliction and want, we should be ready to lend our aid. At other times, we should feel that he can manage his own affairs as well as we can do it for him; or if he cannot, it is his business, not ours. The Greek word used occurs only here, and in 1Timm 5:13. Comp. Php 2:4.

(f) "busy-bodies" 1Timm 5:13, 1Pet 4:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 For we hear that there are some - It is very likely that St. Paul kept up some sort of correspondence with the Thessalonian Church; for he had heard every thing that concerned their state, and it was from this information that he wrote his second epistle. Disorderly - Ατακτως· Out of their rank - not keeping their own place. Working not at all - Either lounging at home, or becoming religious gossips; μηδεν εργαζομενους, doing nothing. Busybodies - Περιεργαζομενους· Doing every thing they should not do - impertinent meddlers with other people's business; prying into other people's circumstances and domestic affairs; magnifying or minifying, mistaking or underrating, every thing; newsmongers and telltales; an abominable race, the curse of every neighborhood where they live, and a pest to religious society. There is a fine paronomasia in the above words, and evidently intended by the apostle.

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 3:11 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.

ἈκούομενAkouomenWe hearG191
γάρgarforG1063
τιναςtinassomeG5100
περιπατοῦνταςperipatountasare walkingG4043
ἐνenamongG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
ἀτάκτως,ataktōsidly,G814
μηδὲνmēdennot at allG3367
ἐργαζομένουςergazomenousworkingG2038
ἀλλὰallabutG235
περιεργαζομένους.¶periergazomenousbeing busybodies.G4020

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

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:11

  • 1 Timothy 5:13

    And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

  • 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;

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:6

    Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

  • 1 Peter 4:15

    But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
walk.
6
working.
1Th 4:11; 1Ti 5:13; 1Pe 4:15

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:12

    Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque oímos que andan algunos entre vosotros fuera de orden, no trabajando en nada, sino ocupados en curiosear.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car nous apprenons qu’il y en a quelques-uns parmi vous qui marchent dans le désordre, ne travaillant pas du tout, mais se mêlant de tout.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wir hören, daß etliche unter euch unordentlich wandeln, indem sie nichts arbeiten, sondern fremde Dinge treiben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Audivimus enim inter vos quosdam ambulare inquiete, nihil operantes, sed curiose agentes.