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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

2 Thessalonians 3:7

For you yourselves know how you must imitate us, that we were not idle when we were among you.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Example;   Labor;   Minister, Christian;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Behaviour;   Conduct, Christian;   Example;   Paul's;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Mission;   Thessalonica;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Perfect, Perfection;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Wealth;   Work;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Poor;   Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Idle;   2 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Follow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Care, Careful;   Example;   Thessalonians Epistles to the;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Disorderly;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you;
King James Version (1611)
For your selues know how yee ought to follow vs: for wee behaued not our selues disorderly among you,
King James Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
English Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,
New American Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you,
New Century Version
You yourselves know that you should live as we live. We were not lazy when we were with you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,
Legacy Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you,
Berean Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
Contemporary English Version
You surely know that you should follow our example. We didn't waste our time loafing,
Darby Translation
For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you;
Easy-to-Read Version
You yourselves know that you should live like we do. We were not lazy when we were with you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For ye your selues know, how ye ought to follow vs: for we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,
George Lamsa Translation
For you know well how you ought to imitate us; for our behaviour was not disorderly among you;
Good News Translation
You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you.
Lexham English Bible
For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you,
Literal Translation
For you yourselves know how it is right to act like us, because we were not disorderly among you;
Amplified Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],
American Standard Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Bible in Basic English
For you yourselves are used to taking us as your example, because our life among you was ruled by order,
Hebrew Names Version
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
International Standard Version
For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idlenessWe did not lead a disorderly life">[fn] among you.1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 2:10;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For you know how it behoveth to imitate us who walked not wickedly among you.
Murdock Translation
For ye know how ye ought to imitate us, who did not walk wickedly among you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For ye your selues knowe howe ye ought to folowe vs: For we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,
English Revised Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
World English Bible
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you,
Weymouth's New Testament
For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For `ye silf witen, hou it bihoueth to sue vs. For we weren not vnpesible among you,
Update Bible Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: for we did not behave ourselves disorderly among you;
Webster's Bible Translation
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
New English Translation
For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,
New King James Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;
New Living Translation
For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.
New Life Bible
You know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there.
New Revised Standard
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, ye yourselves, know, how needful it is to be imitating us, in that we were not disorderly among you,
Douay-Rheims Bible
For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you.
Revised Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye youre selves knowe how ye ought to folowe vs. For we behaved not oure selves inordinatly amonge you.
Young's Literal Translation
for yourselves have known how it behoveth [you] to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For ye yor selues knowe, how ye oughte to folowe vs: for we behaued not oure selues inordinatly amonge you,
Mace New Testament (1729)
for you know what an example we have given for your imitation: that our conduct among you was regular:
Simplified Cowboy Version
Y'all know the way we taught y'all . . . so do it. We weren't lazy when we were with you,

Contextual Overview

6 Now, in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah we command you, brothers, to stay away from any brother who is leading a life of idleness, a life not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you must imitate us, that we were not idle when we were among you. 8 We did not accept anyone's food without paying; on the contrary, we labored and toiled, day and night, working so as not to be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not that we hadn't the right to be supported, but so that we could make ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: if someone won't work, he shouldn't eat! 11 We hear that some of you are leading a life of idleness — not busy working, just busybodies! 12 We command such people — and in union with the Lord Yeshua the Messiah we urge them — to settle down, get to work, and earn their own living. 13 And you brothers who are doing what is good, don't slack off! 14 Furthermore, if anyone does not obey what we are saying in this letter, take note of him and have nothing to do with him, so that he will be ashamed. 15 But don't consider him an enemy; on the contrary, confront him as a brother and try to help him change.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

how: 2 Thessalonians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:7, 1 Peter 5:3

for: 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:6 - General 2 Kings 4:7 - pay Proverbs 31:18 - her candle John 21:3 - I go Acts 20:18 - after 1 Corinthians 9:6 - have 1 Corinthians 13:5 - behave 2 Corinthians 7:2 - we have wronged 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - what 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - our 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - to work Hebrews 13:7 - whose

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:5
because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:10
He answered, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself."
Genesis 3:11
He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?"
Deuteronomy 28:34
till you go crazy from what your eyes have to see.
2 Kings 6:20
On their arrival in Shomron, Elisha said, " Adonai , open the eyes of these men, so that they can see." Adonai opened their eyes, and they saw: there they were, in the middle of Shomron.
Isaiah 28:20
For, [as the saying goes,] "The bed is too short for a person to stretch, and the blanket too narrow [to protect him from cold] even if he crams himself in."
Isaiah 59:6
Their webs are useless as clothing, their deeds are useless for wearing; their deeds are deeds of wickedness, their hands produce violence.
Luke 16:23
"In Sh'ol, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Avraham far away with El‘azar at his side.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us,.... The apostle goes on to dissuade from that which denominates persons disorderly walkers, and exposes them to the censure of the church, and that partly by the example of the apostles, and partly by their command. He appeals to them, to their knowledge and judgment, it being a thing well known to them, that they ought to walk as they had the apostles for ensamples; for who should they follow but their spiritual fathers, shepherds, and guides? and especially so far as they were followers of Christ, as they were, in the case referred unto, working with their own hands:

for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; they could appeal to them as witnesses, and God also, how holily, justly, and unblamably they walked among them; see 1 Thessalonians 2:10 and particularly, that they did not live an idle and inactive life among them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us - You know what you should do in order to imitate us.

For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you - See the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. We behaved not ourselves disorderly — ουκ ητακτησαμεν. We did not go out of our rank-we kept our place, and discharged all its duties.


 
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