1 TH 5:21 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Παντᾶ
2. pas
3. All things
4. -
5. 39560
6. S····ANP
7. all ‹things›
8. all ‹things›
9. S
10. Y54
11. 135856
1. δέ
2. de
3. -
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 135857
1. δοκιμάζετε
2. dokimazō
3. be approving
4. -
5. 13810
6. VMPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ approving
8. ˓be˒ approving
9. -
10. Y54; R135795
11. 135858
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y54
11. 135859
1. καλόν
2. kalos
3. good
4. good
5. 25700
6. S····ANS
7. good
8. good
9. -
10. Y54
11. 135860
1. κατέχετε
2. kateχō
3. be keeping
4. -
5. 27220
6. VMPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ keeping
8. ˓be˒ keeping
9. -
10. Y54; R135795
11. 135861

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:12–22: Paul gave more instructions about how to please God

In this section Paul gave a list of some very important instructions. He returned to the topic he had started in 4:12, the topic of how Christians should behave.

Paragraph 5:19–22

This paragraph deals with Paul’s instructions about how the Thessalonians should treat prophetic messages.

5:21a

but test all things.

Instead, evaluate all messages that people claim the Holy Spirit revealed to them.
But instead listen carefully to and discern all that is said in order to know whether or not the Holy Spirit truly revealed it.

but test all things: Commentators do not agree about what Paul was telling the Thessalonians to test. There are three possibilities:

He was telling them to test the prophetic messages he mentioned in 5:20. He was therefore saying that rather than treating prophecies with contempt, they should test them and check to see whether or not the message was from God. A number of English versions have made this connection clear by starting this verse with “but” (BSB, RSV, REB, NLT, NCV) or a similar word such as “instead” (GW). The punctuation of some other English versions suggests that they too support this interpretation (NIV, GNT, NJB).
Paul was telling them to test all gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Paul was telling them to test everything that affected what believers think and do.

In the context, it seems to make more sense to consider that in 5:21–22 Paul was still discussing prophecies. Therefore it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation.

all things: The emphasis in this command is on this word all things. See the note on 5:15b above. You should emphasize this in your translation in the way that is natural in your language.

5:21b

Hold fast to what is good.

If the words are true, accept them.
Accept the authentic messages and obey them.

Hold fast to what is good: Paul continued to tell the Thessalonians how they should treat prophetic messages. Once they had tested the prophecies, they should accept and obey those that were good, that is, those which came from God.

what is good: The emphasis in this command is on the phrase what is good. See the note on 5:15b above. You should emphasize this in your translation in the way that is natural in your language.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-textvariants

πάντα δοκιμάζετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ δοκιμάζετε τό καλόν κατέχετε)

Here, many ancient manuscripts read Test all things. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts read “But test all things.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πάντα δοκιμάζετε; τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ δοκιμάζετε τό καλόν κατέχετε)

Here Paul could be referring to: (1) the “prophecies” that he referred to in the previous verse (see [5:20](../05/20.md)). Alternate translation: [Test all prophecies. Hold fast to those that are good] (2) spiritual gifts, or how the Holy Spirit specially empowers each person. Alternate translation: [Test all spiritual gifts. Hold fast to those that do what is good] (3) anything people say and do. Alternate translation: [Test all things that people say and do. Hold fast to those that are good]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντᾶ δοκιμάζετε τό καλόν κατέχετε)

Here Paul speaks as if what is good were an object that the Thessalonians could grasp tightly. He means that they should believe and act based on whatever is good. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Adhere to what is good] or [Follow what is good]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 TH 5:21

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 5:12–22: Paul gave more instructions about how to please God

Paragraph 5:19–22

5:21a

5:21b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 TH 5:21

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 5:12–22: Paul gave more instructions about how to please God

Paragraph 5:19–22

5:21a

5:21b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 TH 5:21