1 Thessalonians 5:4
New International Version
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

New Living Translation
But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

English Standard Version
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

Berean Standard Bible
But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

Berean Literal Bible
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you like a thief.

King James Bible
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

New King James Version
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

New American Standard Bible
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief;

NASB 1995
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

NASB 1977
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief;

Legacy Standard Bible
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief,

Amplified Bible
But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;

Christian Standard Bible
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.

American Standard Version
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But you, my brethren, you are not in darkness that the day should overtake you as a thief.

Contemporary English Version
My dear friends, you don't live in darkness, and so that day won't surprise you like a thief.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

English Revised Version
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But, brothers and sisters, you don't live in the dark. That day won't take you by surprise as a thief would.

Good News Translation
But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief.

International Standard Version
However, brothers, you are not in the darkness, in order that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief.

Literal Standard Version
but you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day may catch you as a thief;

Majority Standard Bible
But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

New American Bible
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief.

NET Bible
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

New Revised Standard Version
But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief;

New Heart English Bible
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

Webster's Bible Translation
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Weymouth New Testament
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that daylight should surprise you like a thief;

World English Bible
But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

Young's Literal Translation
and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the Lord
3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. 5For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.…

Cross References
Matthew 10:15
Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life--and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.'

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

1 John 2:8
Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.


Treasury of Scripture

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

are.

Romans 13:11-13
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed…

Colossians 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Peter 2:9,10
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: …

overtake.

Deuteronomy 19:6
Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

Deuteronomy 28:15,45
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: …

Jeremiah 42:16
Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

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1 Thessalonians 5
1. He proceeds in the description of Christ's coming to judgment;
16. and gives various instructions;
23. and so concludes the epistle.














(4) But ye.--"Though the world (which lieth in darkness) may be surprised at the coming of the Day, you, members of the Church, living in the light, cannot be surprised." The words "in darkness" seem to be suggested by the mention of "night" in 1Thessalonians 5:2; and the chief thought (as the succeeding verses show) is that of supineness, inattention, torpor, not so much either ignorance or sin.

That day.--Literally, the day: so that it does not mean the Judgment Day simply as a point of time, but brings out its characteristic of being a day indeed. (Comp. 1Corinthians 3:13.)

As a thief.--There is another reading which has two of the best MSS. and he Coptic version in its favour, and the judgment of Lachmann and Dr. Lightfoot," As thieves." But not only is the evidence from the MSS. strongly in favour of the Received text, but the whole context shows that St. Paul was not thinking of the day as catching them at evil practices, but as catching them in inadvertence.

Verse 4. - But ye, brethren; ye believers, in opposition to the unbelieving world. Are not in darkness; referring back to the night (ver. 2), when the thief comes. By darkness is here meant, not merely ignorance, but moral depravity - the darkness of sin. Ye are not in the ignorant and sinful condition of the unredeemed world, so as to be surprised by the day of the Lord. With you it is not night, but day; the light of the gospel is shining around you; and therefore the day of the Lord's coming will not surprise you in an unprepared state. That; a statement, not of result, but of purpose - "in order that." That day; the day; namely, the day of the Lord. Should overtake you - surprise you - as a thief.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δέ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

you,
Ὑμεῖς (Hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

brothers,
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

are
ἐστὲ (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] darkness
σκότει (skotei)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4655: Darkness, either physical or moral. From the base of skia; shadiness, i.e. Obscurity.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

[this]
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

day
ἡμέρα (hēmera)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

should overtake
καταλάβῃ (katalabē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2638: From kata and lambano; to take eagerly, i.e. Seize, possess, etc.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

a thief.
κλέπτης (kleptēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2812: A thief. From klepto; a stealer.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you brothers aren't in darkness that (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
1 Thessalonians 5:3
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