2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 14

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.
2 Thessalonians 3:14, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:14 in other translations

BSBTake note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
WEBIf any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.
ASVAnd if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.
YLTand if any one do not obey our word through the letter, this one note ye, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed,
DARBYBut if any one obey not our word by the letter, mark that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed of himself;
BBEAnd if any man does not give attention to what we have said in this letter, take note of that man, and keep away from him, so that he may be shamed.
WebsterAnd if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. note that man--mark him in your own mind as one to be avoided (2Th 3:6). that he may be ashamed--Greek, "made to turn and look into himself, and so be put to shame." Feeling himself shunned by godly brethren, he may become ashamed of his course.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, Marg., or signify that man by an epistle. According to the marginal reading this would mean, "signify, mark out, or designate that man to me by an epistle." The difference is merely whether we unite the words "by the epistle" with what goes before, or what follows. The Greek would admit of either construction, (Winer, p. 93,) but it seems to me that the construction in the text is the correct one, for

(1.) the requirement was to proceed to discipline such a man by withdrawing from him;

(2.) in order to do this it was not necessary that the case should be made known to Paul, for there was no supposable difficulty in it, and the effect would be only needless delay;

(3.) Paul regarded the right of discipline as residing in the church itself, and did not require that cases should be referred to him to determine. 1Cor 5:2; 1Cor 5:3, 1Cor 5:4.

(4.) Though the Greek will admit of either construction, yet it rather favours this. See Oldshansen, in loc.

Note that man. The word here used, means to mark; to sign; to note with marks; and the idea is, set such a mark upon him that he shall be shunned; that is, withdraw all Christian fellowship from him.

And have no company with him. The Greek word here means, to mix up together; then to mingle together with; to have intercourse with. The idea is, that they were not to mingle with him as a Christian brother, or as one of their own number. They were not to show that they regarded him as a worthy member of the church, or as having a claim to its privileges. The extent of their discipline was, that they were to withdraw from him. 2Thes 3:6; Mt 18:17. Comp. 2Jn 1:10,11.

(2) "by this epistle" "signify that man by an epistle" (*) "man" "mark that man"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 If any man obey not - They had disobeyed his word in the first epistle, and the Church still continued to bear with them; now he tells the Church, if they still continue to disregard what is said to them, and particularly his word by this second epistle, they are to mark them as being totally incorrigible, and have no fellowship with them. Some construe the words δια της επιστολης with τουτον σημειουσθε· Give me information of that man by a letter - let me hear of his continued obstinacy, and send me his name. This was probably in order to excommunicate him, and deliver him over to Satan for the destruction of the body, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The words of the original will bear either construction, that in the text, or that given above.

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 3:14 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.

ΕἰEiIfG1487
δέdethenG1161
τιςtisanyoneG5100
οὐχouchnotG3756
ὑπακούειhupakoueiobeyG5219
τῷtōthisG3588
λόγῳlogōinstructionG3056
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἐπιστολῆς,epistolēsletter,G1992
τοῦτονtoutonof this [man]G3778
σημειοῦσθεsēmeiousthedo take noteG4593
μὴmēnotG3361
συναναμίγνυσθαιsunanamignusthaito mix withG4874
αὐτῷautōhimG846
ἵναinaso thatG2443
ἐντραπῇ·entrapēahe may be ashamed;G1788

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

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:14

  • Titus 3:10

    A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

  • 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 Corinthians 5:11

    But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

  • Psalms 83:16

    Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:8

    He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

  • Jeremiah 6:15

    Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

  • Proverbs 5:13

    And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

  • Philemon 1:21

    Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

  • Romans 16:17

    Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9

    I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

  • Zephaniah 3:2

    She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:15

    And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
obey.
De 16:12; Pr 5:13; Zep 3:2; 2Co 2:9; 7:15; 10:6; Php 2:12; 1Th 4:8
Phm 1:21; Heb 13:17
by this epistle, note that man. or, signify that man by anepistle.
6; Mt 18:17; Ro 16:17; 1Co 5:9,11; Tit 3:10
that he.
Nu 12:14; Ezr 9:6; Ps 83:16; Jer 3:3; 6:15; 31:18-20; Eze 16:61-63
Eze 36:31,32; Lu 15:18-21

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:15

    Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si alguno no obedeciere á nuestra palabra por carta, notad al tal, y no os juntéis con él, para que se avergüence.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si quelqu’un n’obéit pas à notre parole qui vous est adressée dans cette lettre, notez-le et n’ayez pas de commerce avec lui, afin qu’il en ait de la honte;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber jemand unserem Wort durch den Brief nicht gehorcht, den bezeichnet und habet keinen Umgang mit ihm, auf daß er beschämt werde;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quod si quis non obedit verbo nostro per epistolam, hunc notate, et ne commisceamini cum illo ut confundatur: