2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 8

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:

2 Thessalonians 3:8, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:8 in other translations

BSB	nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
WEB	neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you.
ASV	neither did we eat bread for nought at any man’s hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:
YLT	nor for nought did we eat bread of any one, but in labour and in travail, night and day working, not to be chargeable to any of you;
DARBY	nor have we eaten bread from any one without cost; but in toil and hardship working night and day not to be chargeable to any one of you:
BBE	And we did not take food from any man for nothing, but were working hard night and day not to be a trouble to any of you:
Webster	Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. eat any man's bread--Greek, "eat bread from any man," that is, live at anyone's expense. Contrast 2Th 3:12, "eat THEIR OWN bread." wrought--(Ac 20:34). In both Epistles they state they maintained themselves by labor; but in this second Epistle they do so in order to offer themselves herein as an example to the idle; whereas, in the first, their object in doing so is to vindicate themselves from all imputation of mercenary motives in preaching the Gospel (1Th 2:5, 9) [Edmunds]. They preached gratuitously though they might have claimed maintenance from their converts. labour and travail--"toil and hardship" (see on 1Th 2:9). night and day--scarcely allowing time for repose. chargeable--Greek, "a burden," or "burdensome." The Philippians did not regard it as a burden to contribute to his support (Php 4:15, 16), sending to him while he was in this very Thessalonica (Ac 16:15, 34, 40). Many Thessalonians, doubtless, would have felt it a privilege to contribute, but as he saw some idlers among them who would have made a pretext of his example to justify themselves, he waived his right. His reason for the same course at Corinth was to mark how different were his aims from those of the false teachers who sought their own lucre (2Co 11:9, 12, 13). It is at the very time and place of writing these Epistles that Paul is expressly said to have wrought at tent-making with Aquila (Ac 18:3); an undesigned coincidence.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought. We were not supported in idleness at the expense of others. We gave a fair equivalent for all that we received, and, in fact, laboured for our own support. 1Thes 2:9.

(++) "wrought" "worked" (c) "with labour" Acts 18:3, 20:34

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught - We paid for what we bought, and worked with our hands that we might have money to buy what was necessary. Labour and travail night and day - We were incessantly employed, either in preaching the Gospel, visiting from house to house, or working at our calling. As it is very evident that the Church at Thessalonica was very pious, and most affectionately attached to the apostle, they must have been very poor, seeing he was obliged to work hard to gain himself the necessaries of life. Had they been able to support him he would not have worked with labor and travail night and day, that he might not be burdensome to them; and, as we may presume that they were very poor, he could not have got his support among them without adding to their burdens. To this his generous mind could not submit; it is no wonder, therefore, that he is so severe against those who would not labor, but were a burden to the poor followers of God.

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 3:8 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.

οὐδὲoudenorG3761

δωρεὰνdōreanwithout paymentG1432

ἄρτονartonbreadG740

ἐφάγομενephagomendid we eatG5315

παράparafromG3844

τινος,tinosanyone,G5100

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἐνeninG1722

κόπῳkopōlaborG2873

καὶkaiandG2532

μόχθῳmochthōhardshipG3449

νυκτὸςnuktosnightG3571

καὶkaiandG2532

ἡμέραςhēmerasdayG2250

ἐργαζόμενοιergazomenoiworkingG2038

πρὸςprosin orderG4314

τὸto<the>G3588

μὴmēnotG3361

ἐπιβαρῆσαίepibarēsaito be burdensome toG1912

τιναtinaanyG5100

ὑμῶν·humōnof you;G4771

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

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
1 Thessalonians 2:9
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
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.
Acts 18:3
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
1 Corinthians 4:12
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
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 31:27
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
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.
Acts 20:34
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

eat.
12; Pr 31:27; Mt 6:11
but.
Ac 18:3; 20:34; 1Co 4:12; 2Co 11:9; 1Th 4:11
night.
1Th 2:9

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

Context

2 Thessalonians 3:7
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among 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:
2 Thessalonians 3:9
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Ni comimos el pan de ninguno de balde; antes, obrando con trabajo y fatiga de noche y de día, por no ser gravosos á ninguno de vosotros;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	ni n’avons mangé du pain chez personne gratuitement, mais dans la peine et le labeur, travaillant nuit et jour pour n’être à charge à aucun de vous;
German Elberfelder 1871	noch haben wir von jemand Brot umsonst gegessen, sondern wir haben mit Mühe und Beschwerde Nacht und Tag gearbeitet, um nicht jemand von euch beschwerlich zu fallen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	neque gratis panem manducavimus ab aliquo, sed in labore, et in fatigatione, nocte et die operantes, ne quem vestrum gravaremus.