2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 12

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.
2 Thessalonians 3:12, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:12 in other translations

BSBWe command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
WEBNow those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.
ASVNow them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
YLTand such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness working, their own bread they may eat;
DARBYNow such we enjoin and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working quietly they eat their own bread.
BBENow to such we give orders and make request in the Lord Jesus, that, working quietly, they get their living.
WebsterNow them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. by--The oldest manuscripts read, "IN the Lord Jesus." So the Greek, 1Th 4:1, implying the sphere wherein such conduct is appropriate and consistent. "We exhort you thus, as ministers IN Christ, exhorting our people IN Christ." with quietness--quiet industry; laying aside restless, bustling, intermeddling officiousness (2Th 3:11). their own--bread earned by themselves, not another's bread (2Th 3:8).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus, etc. A more solemn command and appeal to do what he had before enjoined on all of them, 1Thes 4:11. 1Thes 4:11.

(a) "they work, and eat" Eph 4:28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 With quietness they work - Μετα ἡσυχιας· With silence; leaving their tale-bearing and officious intermeddling. Less noise and more work! That - they work, and eat their own bread - Their own bread, because earned by their own honest industry. What a degrading thing to live on the bounty or mercy of another, while a man is able to acquire his own livelihood! He who can submit to this has lost the spirit of independence; and has in him a beggar's heart, and is capable of nothing but base and beggarly actions. Witness the great mass of the people of England, who by their dependence on the poor rates are, from being laborious, independent, and respect able, become idle, profligate, and knavish; the propagators and perpetrators of crime; a discredit to the nation, and a curse to society. The apostle's command is a cure for such; and the Church of God should discountenance such, and disown them.

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 3:12 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.

ΤοῖςTois<the>G3588
δὲdeNowG1161
τοιούτοιςtoioutoisto suchG5108
παραγγέλλομενparangellomenwe warnG3853
καὶkaiandG2532
παρακαλοῦμενparakaloumenwe exhortG3870
ἐνenbyG1722
κυρίῳkuriōLordG2962
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
ἵναinaso thatG2443
μετὰmetawithG3326
ἡσυχίαςhēsuchiasquietnessG2271
ἐργαζόμενοιergazomenoiworkingG2038
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἑαυτῶνhe'autōntheir ownG1438
ἄρτονartonbreadG740
ἐσθίωσιν.esthiōsinthey may eat.G2068

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

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:12

  • Ephesians 4:28

    Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

  • 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 3:8

    Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

  • Luke 11:3

    Give us day by day our daily bread.

  • Proverbs 17:1

    Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:6

    Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1

    Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

  • Genesis 49:14-15

    Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

  • 1 Timothy 2:2

    For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we.
6
that with.
Ge 49:14,15; Pr 17:1; Ec 4:6; Eph 4:28; 1Th 4:11; 1Ti 2:2
eat.
8; Lu 11:3

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:13

    But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y á los tales requerimos y rogamos por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que, trabajando con reposo, coman su pan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais nous enjoignons à ceux qui sont tels, et nous les exhortons dans le seigneur Jésus Christ, de manger leur propre pain en travaillant paisiblement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Solchen aber gebieten wir und ermahnen sie in dem Herrn Jesus Christus, daß sie, in der Stille arbeitend, ihr eigenes Brot essen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Iis autem, qui ejusmodi sunt, denuntiemus, et obsecramus in Domino Jesu Christo, ut cum silentio operantes, suum panem manducent.