1 Thessalonians 4:11

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

And to make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ φιλοτιμεῖσθαι ἡσυχάζειν, καὶ πράσσειν τὰ ἴδια, καὶ ἐργάζεσθαι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσὶν ὑμῶν, καθὼς ὑμῖν παρηγγείλαμεν·

Transliteration

And to philotimeisthai to hēsychazein, and to prassein the idia, and to ergazesthai with the idiais chersin of you, just as to you we parēngeilamen;

Grammar Details

• *philotimeisthai*: present, infinitive, middle - to aspire/strive eagerly
• *hēsychazein*: present, infinitive, active - to be quiet/live quietly
• *prassein*: present, infinitive, active - to do/practice
• *idia*: accusative, neuter, plural - one's own things/affairs
• *ergazesthai*: present, infinitive, middle - to work/labor
• *idiais*: dative, feminine, plural - one's own (adjective)
• *chersin*: dative, feminine, plural - hands (instrumental)
• *parēngeilamen*: aorist, indicative, active, 1st person, plural - we commanded/charged

Word Meanings

• *philotimeisthai*: aspire/strive eagerly/make it your ambition
• *hēsychazein*: be quiet/live quietly/be calm/keep still
• *prassein*: do/practice/perform/attend to
• *idia*: one's own things/affairs/business
• *ergazesthai*: work/labor/earn
• *parēngeilamen*: commanded/charged/instructed

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your {G2398} hands, even as we charged you;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and that ye studye to be quyet and to medle with youre awne busynes and to worke with youre awne hondes as we commaunded you:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and that ye study to be quyete, and to medle with youre awne busynesse, and to worke with youre awne hades, as we commaunded you,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And that ye studie to be quiet, & to meddle with your owne busines, and to worke with your owne handes, as we commaunded you,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And that ye studie to be quiet, and to do your owne busynesse and to worke with your owne handes as we commaunded you:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we charged you;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we did command you,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And that you may take pride in being quiet and doing your business, working with your hands as we gave you orders;

• World English Bible (2000)

  and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

Referenced Verses

• Eph 4:28 : 28 The one who steals must steal no longer; instead, he must labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
• 1 Pet 3:4 : 4 Instead, it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
• 1 Pet 4:15 : 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
• Titus 3:14 : 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to good works to meet urgent needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
• Eccl 4:6 : 6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
• 1 Tim 2:2 : 2 for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
• Prov 17:1 : 1 Better a dry piece of bread with peace than a house full of feasting accompanied by strife.
• 2 Thess 3:7-9 : 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you. 8 We did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. Instead, we worked with toil and hardship night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not that we lack the right to receive support, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, they should not eat. 11 We hear that some among you are living idle lives, refusing to work and instead becoming busybodies. 12 To such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and earn their own living.
• Lam 3:26 : 26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
• Luke 12:42-43 : 42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge of his servants to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he returns.
• Acts 18:3 : 3 Since they were of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them, for they were tentmakers by trade.
• Acts 20:35 : 35 In all this, I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
• Rom 12:4-8 : 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members serve the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophecy, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then do so generously; if it is leading, do it diligently; if it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.
• Rom 12:11 : 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord with a fervent spirit.
• Rom 15:20 : 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
• 1 Cor 4:12 : 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are insulted, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it.
• 2 Cor 5:9 : 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
• Mark 13:34 : 34 It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their task, and tells the doorkeeper to stay alert.
• Col 3:22-24 : 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for people. 24 Knowing that you will receive the reward of your inheritance from the Lord, serve the Lord Christ.
• 1 Tim 5:13 : 13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going around from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they should not.
• Titus 2:4-9 : 4 They are to encourage the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, committed to their homes, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be slandered. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In all things, present yourself as an example of good works, with integrity, dignity, and incorruptibility in your teaching. 8 Let your speech be sound and beyond reproach, so that any opponent may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, aiming to be well-pleasing and not argumentative. 10 They must not pilfer but must demonstrate complete faithfulness, so that they may make the teaching of God our Savior attractive in every way.
• 1 Pet 4:10-11 : 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and power forever and ever. Amen.