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parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL JOB YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
1Th 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, about those who’ve died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope,
OET-LV Not but we_are_wanting you_all to_be_not_knowing, brothers, concerning the ones being_fallen_asleep, in_order_that not you_all _may_be_being_sorrowed, as also the rest, the ones not having hope.
SR-GNT Οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν κοιμωμένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε, καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ, οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα. ‡
(Ou thelomen de humas agnoein, adelfoi, peri tōn koimōmenōn, hina maʸ lupaʸsthe, kathōs kai hoi loipoi, hoi maʸ eⱪontes elpida.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, magenta:vocative, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning the ones sleeping, so that you may not grieve just as also the rest, the ones not having hope.
UST Also, our fellow believers in the Messiah, we want you to be aware about what will happen to believers in the Messiah who are dead. You should not be like the rest of humanity, which does not believe in the Messiah. They are deeply sad because they do not confidently expect that people will resurrect after death.
BSB § Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death,[fn] so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
4:13 Literally those who have fallen asleep, as in verses 14 and 15
BLB But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those having fallen asleep, so that you should not be grieved, just as also the rest, those having no hope.
AICNT But {we}[fn] do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who {are asleep},[fn] so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
4:13, we: Later manuscripts read “I.” TR
4:13, are asleep: Later manuscripts read “have fallen asleep.” BYZ TR
OEB We don’t want you to be ignorant, friends, about those who have passed to their rest. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope.
CSB We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
NIV Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
CEV My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope.
ESV But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
NASB But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
LSB But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
2DT We don’t want you to be uninformed, siblings, about those who are “sleeping” so you may not be pained as are the remaining not having hope.
WEBBE But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
WMBB (Same as above)
MSG The Master’s Coming
(13-14) And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.
NET Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.
LSV And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, that you may not sorrow, as also the rest who have no hope,
FBV We don't want you to be confused about what happens when people die,[fn] brothers and sisters, so that you won't grieve like others who don't have any hope.
4:13 Literally, “fall asleep.”
TCNT But [fn]we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who [fn]have fallen asleep, so that you may not be grieved like others who do not have hope.
T4T My fellow believers, we also want you to understand well [LIT] what will happen to our fellow believers who now are dead [EUP]. You must not be/do like the unbelievers. They grieve deeply for people who die because they do not confidently expect people to live again after they die.
LEB Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.
NRSV But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
NKJV But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
NAB We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
BBE But it is our desire, brothers, that you may be certain about those who are sleeping; so that you may have no need for sorrow, as others have who are without hope.
Moff No Moff 1TH book available
Wymth Now, concerning those who from time to time pass away, we would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, lest you should mourn as others do who have no hope.
ASV But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
DRA For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.
YLT And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, that ye may not sorrow, as also the rest who have not hope,
Drby But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are fallen asleep, to the end that ye be not grieved even as also the rest who have no hope.
RV But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.
Wbstr But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.
KJB-1769 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren/brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that ye/you_all sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. )
KJB-1611 But I would not haue you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleepe, that ye sorrow not, euen as others which haue no hope.
(But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren/brothers, concerning them which are asleepe, that ye/you_all sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.)
Bshps But I woulde not haue you to be ignoraunt brethren, concernyng them which sleepe, that ye sorowe not euen as other, which haue no hope.
(But I would not have you to be ignoraunt brethren/brothers, concerning them which sleep, that ye/you_all sorowe not even as other, which have no hope.)
Gnva I would not, brethren, haue you ignorant concerning them which are a sleepe, that ye sorow not euen as other which haue no hope.
(I would not, brethren/brothers, have you ignorant concerning them which are a sleep, that ye/you_all sorow not even as other which have no hope. )
Cvdl We wolde not brethren that ye shulde be ignoraunt concernynge them which are fallen a slepe, that ye sorowe not as other do which haue no hope.
(We would not brethren/brothers that ye/you_all should be ignoraunt concernynge them which are fallen a sleep, that ye/you_all sorowe not as other do which have no hope.)
TNT I wolde not brethren have you ignoraunt concerninge them which are fallen aslepe that ye sorowe not as other do which have no hope.
(I would not brethren/brothers have you ignoraunt concerninge them which are fallen aslepe that ye/you_all sorowe not as other do which have no hope. )
Wyc For if we bileuen, that Jhesu was deed, and roos ayen, so God schal lede with hym hem that ben deed bi Jhesu.
(For if we believen, that Yhesu was dead, and rose again, so God shall lead with him them that been dead by Yhesu.)
Luth Wir wollen euch aber, liebe Brüder, nicht verhalten von denen, die da schlafen, auf daß ihr nicht traurig seid wie die andern, die keine Hoffnung haben.
(We wollen you but, liebe brothers, not verhalten from denen, the there sleep, on that you/their/her not traurig seid like the andern, the no Hoffnung have.)
ClVg Nolumus autem vos ignorare fratres de dormientibus, ut non contristemini sicut et ceteri, qui spem non habent.[fn]
(Nolumus however you ignorare brothers about dormientibus, as not/no contristemini like and ceteri, who spem not/no habent. )
4.13 Per Jesum adducet cum eo. Semper euntes, eum sequendo venerunt ad somnum mortis, unde et in alia scribitur Epistola: Nos qui vivimus.
4.13 Per Yesum adducet when/with by_him. Semper euntes, him sequendo venerunt to somnum mortis, whence and in other scribitur Epistola: Nos who vivimus.
UGNT οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν κοιμωμένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε, καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ, οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα.
(ou thelomen de humas agnoein, adelfoi, peri tōn koimōmenōn, hina maʸ lupaʸsthe, kathōs kai hoi loipoi, hoi maʸ eⱪontes elpida.)
SBL-GNT Οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν ⸀κοιμωμένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα.
(Ou thelomen de humas agnoein, adelfoi, peri tōn ⸀koimōmenōn, hina maʸ lupaʸsthe kathōs kai hoi loipoi hoi maʸ eⱪontes elpida.)
TC-GNT Οὐ [fn]θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν [fn]κεκοιμημένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε, καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα.
(Ou thelomen de humas agnoein, adelfoi, peri tōn kekoimaʸmenōn, hina maʸ lupaʸsthe, kathōs kai hoi loipoi hoi maʸ eⱪontes elpida. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
4:13 the believers who have died (literally those who have fallen asleep; also in 4:14): Sleep was a common euphemism for death in Greek, Jewish, and Christian literature (Dan 12:2; Matt 27:52). Personal existence continues after death (Luke 23:40-43; Acts 7:55-60; 2 Cor 5:6-10; Phil 1:20-24; Rev 6:9-11); those who have died await the resurrection (1 Cor 15:23).
• grieve like people who have no hope: Ancient letters of comfort exhorted mourners not to be overcome with grief because they could do nothing to avert death. Paul does not prohibit grief (cp. John 16:6, 20; Phil 2:27) but calls Christian mourners to abandon the kind of grief typical of those who have no hope in God.
The Last Things and the Thessalonians
The Thessalonian believers heartily embraced Paul’s teaching about the day of the Lord and Christ’s second coming, but this instruction generated questions and speculations about the end times. What would happen to believers who died before Jesus’ return (1 Thes 4:13-18)? When would the day of the Lord come (5:1-11)? Would believers suffer the wrath of God (1:10; 5:9)? Paul calms the congregation by clarifying these topics (4:13–5:11) and reminding them of the teaching they had already received.
Although Paul expected Jesus’ return to happen during his lifetime (4:15), he also recognized that the final event would come at an unpredictable moment, “like a thief in the night” (5:2). The way to be ready for the end is not by knowing the date but by living with Christian alertness, a constant spiritual watchfulness and readiness to meet Christ.
The Thessalonians also needed to understand the deaths of fellow believers. Paul says nothing about the condition of believers between their death and the return of Christ. Instead, he emphasizes the resurrection. Just as Christ was raised, those who die as believers will be raised when he returns. In fact, they will rise from the dead first and then be caught up together with the living believers to meet Christ in his royal coming.
Despite Paul’s efforts to clarify the Christian hope, the Thessalonian believers became confused by false teaching that the day of the Lord had already begun (see 2 Thes 2:2). As a counterpoint to this false teaching, Paul further addressed this topic in his second letter to the young church (see 2 Thes 2:1-12).
Passages for Further Study
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
δὲ
but
Here, the word Now introduces a new section in the letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a new section, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: “Next,”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives
οὐ θέλομεν & ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν
not ˱we˲_/are/_wanting & you_all /to_be/_not_knowing
If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative particle not and the negative word ignorant. Alternate translation: “we want you to know”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism
τῶν κοιμωμένων
the_‹ones› /being/_fallen_asleep
Here, the phrase the ones sleeping is a polite way to refer to people who have died. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a similar polite phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the ones having passed away” or “the ones who are dead”
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
ἵνα
in_order_that
The connecting words so that introduce the purpose for which Paul wants to instruct the Thessalonians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a purpose or goal. Alternate translation: “in order that”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
οἱ λοιποὶ, οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα
the rest the_‹ones› not having hope
Paul is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “the rest grieve, the ones not having hope” or “the rest who have no hope grieve”
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
οἱ λοιποὶ, οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα
the rest the_‹ones› not having hope
Here Paul is distinguishing between people who have hope and people who do not have hope. Be sure that this distinction is clear in your translation. Alternate translation: “the rest who do not have hope” or “the rest, that is, those who do not have hope”
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
οἱ λοιποὶ
the rest
Paul is using the adjective rest as a noun to refer to a group of people that includes everyone who does not have hope. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “the rest of people” or “everyone else”
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐλπίδα
hope
Here Paul implies that the hope concerns what happens to people after they die. People who do not have hope do not expect anyone who dies to live again. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “hope that people will live again” or “hope of resurrection”
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα
the the_‹ones› not having hope
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of hope, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the ones not hoping” or “the ones not expecting anything”