2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 13

2 Thessalonians 3:13

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2 Thessalonians 3:13, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:13 in other translations

BSBBut as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
WEBBut you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.
ASVBut ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.
YLTand ye, brethren, may ye not be weary doing well,
DARBYBut ye, brethren, do not faint in well-doing.
BBEAnd you, my brothers, do not get tired of well-doing.
WebsterBut ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. be not weary--The oldest manuscripts read, "Be not cowardly in"; do not be wanting in strenuousness in doing well. Edmunds explains it: Do not culpably neglect to do well, namely, with patient industry do your duty in your several callings. In contrast to the "disorderly, not-working busybodies" (2Th 3:11; compare Ga 6:9).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. Marg., faint not. The Greek means, properly, to turn out a coward; then to be faint-hearted, to despond. The idea is, that they were not to be discouraged from doing good to the truly worthy and deserving, by the idleness and improper conduct of some who asked their assistance. They were, indeed, shiftless and worthless. They would not labour; they spent their time in intermeddling with the concerns of their neighbours, and they depended for their support on the charity of others. The tendency of this, as all persons who have ever been applied to by such persons for aid, is, to indispose us to do good to any. We almost insensibly feel that all who ask for aid are of the same character; or, not being able to discriminate, we close our hands alike against all. Against this the apostle would guard us, and he says that though there may be many such persons, and though we may find it difficult to distinguish the worthy from the unworthy, we should not become so disheartened as not to give at all. Nor should we be weary though the applications for assistance are frequent. They are indeed frequent. God designs that they should be. But the effect should not be to dishearten us, or to make us weary in well-doing, but to fill us with gratitude--for it is a privilege to be permitted to do good. It is the great distinguishing characteristic of God that he always does good. It was that which marked the character of the Redeemer, that he "went about doing good;" and whenever God gives us the opportunity and the means of doing good, it should be to us an occasion of special thanksgiving. A man ought to become "weary" of everything else sooner than of evincing benevolence. Comp. Gal 6:10.

(1) "be not" "faint not" (b) "weary" 1Cor 15:58

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Be not weary in well-doing - While ye stretch out no hand of relief to the indolent and lazy, do not forget the real poor - the genuine representatives of an impoverished Christ; and rather relieve a hundred undeserving objects, than pass by one who is a real object of charity.

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 3:13 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.

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
δέ,denow,G1161
ἀδελφοί,adelphoibrothers,G80
μὴmēnotG3361
ἐγκακήσητεegkakēsētemay grow wearyG1573
καλοποιοῦντες.¶kalopoiountes[in] well-doing.G2569

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

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:13

  • Galatians 6:9-10

    And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

  • Hebrews 12:3

    For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:1

    Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:16

    For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

  • Isaiah 40:29-31

    He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

  • Luke 18:1

    And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

  • Revelation 2:3

    And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 27:13

    I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

  • Zephaniah 3:16

    In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

  • Hebrews 12:5

    And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

  • Philippians 1:9

    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye.
Isa 40:30,31; Mal 1:13; Ro 2:7; 1Co 15:28; Ga 6:9,10; Php 1:9
1Th 4:1; Heb 12:3
be not weary. or, faint not.
De 20:8; Ps 27:13; Isa 40:29; Zep 3:16; *marg:
Lu 18:1; 2Co 4:1,16; Heb 12:5; Re 2:3

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:14

    And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vosotros, hermanos, no os canséis de hacer bien.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais vous, frères, ne vous lassez pas en faisant le bien.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ihr aber, Brüder, ermattet nicht im Gutestun.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vos autem, fratres, nolite deficere benefacientes.