1 Thessalonians 4:17

KJV1611 – Modern English

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἔπειτα ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι ἅμα σὺν αὐτοῖς ἁρπαγησόμεθα ἐν νεφέλαις, εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ Κυρίου εἰς ἀέρα: καὶ οὕτως πάντοτε σὺν Κυρίῳ ἐσόμεθα.

Transliteration

Then we the ones zōntes the ones perileipomenoi hama with them will be harpagēsometha in nephelais, for apantēsin of the Kyriou in aera: and thus pantote with Kyriō we will esometha.

Grammar Details

• *zōntes*: present, participle, active, nominative, masculine, plural - living
• *perileipomenoi*: present, participle, passive, nominative, masculine, plural - remaining/left behind
• *hama*: adverb - together/at the same time
• *harpagēsometha*: future, indicative, passive, 1st person, plural - we will be caught up/snatched away
• *nephelais*: dative, feminine, plural - clouds (locative)
• *apantēsin*: accusative, feminine, singular - meeting (purpose)
• *Kyriou*: genitive, masculine, singular - Lord's (possessive)
• *aera*: accusative, masculine, singular - air (location)
• *pantote*: adverb - always/at all times
• *Kyriō*: dative, masculine, singular - Lord (association)
• *esometha*: future, indicative, middle, 1st person, plural - we will be

Word Meanings

• *zōntes*: living/alive
• *perileipomenoi*: remaining/left behind/surviving
• *hama*: together/at the same time/simultaneously
• *harpagēsometha*: will be caught up/snatched away/seized
• *nephelais*: clouds/cloud masses
• *apantēsin*: meeting/encounter
• *aera*: air/atmosphere
• *pantote*: always/at all times/ever
• *esometha*: will be/shall be/will exist

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  After that, we who are alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  then{G1899} we{G2249} that are alive,{G2198} that are left,{G4035} shall together{G260} with{G4862} them{G846} be caught up{G726} in{G1722} the clouds,{G3507} to{G1519} meet{G529} the Lord{G2962} in{G1519} the air:{G109} and{G2532} so{G3779} shall we{G2071} ever{G3842} be{G2071} with{G4862} the Lord.{G2962}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then{G1899} we{G2249} which{G3588} are alive{G2198}{(G5723)} and remain{G4035}{(G5742)} shall be caught up{G726}{(G5691)} together{G260} with{G4862} them{G846} in{G1722} the clouds{G3507}, to{G1519} meet{G529} the Lord{G2962} in{G1519} the air{G109}: and{G2532} so{G3779} shall we{G2071} ever{G3842} be{G2071}{(G5704)} with{G4862} the Lord{G2962}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  then shall we which live and remayne be caught vp with them also in the cloudes to mete the Lorde in ye ayer. And so shall we ever be with the Lorde.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  then shal we which lyue and remayne, be caught vp wt them also in the cloudes, to mete the LORDE in the ayre, and so shal we euer be with the LORDE.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then shall we which liue and remaine, be caught vp with them also in the clouds, to meete the Lord in the ayre: and so shall we euer be with the Lorde.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Than we which lyue, which remaine, shalbe caught vp together with them in the cloudes, to meete the Lorde in the ayre: And so shall we euer be with the Lorde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord.

• World English Bible (2000)

  then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

Referenced Verses

• Rev 11:12 : 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
• 1 Cor 15:52 : 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
• John 14:3 : 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
• Rev 7:14-17 : 14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; neither shall the sun strike them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and will lead them to living fountains of waters; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.
• John 12:26 : 26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him.
• 1 Thess 4:15 : 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep.
• John 17:24 : 24 Father, I will that those also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you have given me: for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
• Acts 1:9 : 9 And when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
• Isa 60:19-20 : 19 The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.
• Dan 7:13 : 13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
• Matt 26:64 : 64 Jesus said to him, You have said it: nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
• Ps 16:11 : 11 You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
• Ps 17:15 : 15 As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with your likeness.
• 2 Cor 5:8 : 8 We are confident, I say, and prefer to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
• Phil 1:23 : 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better;
• Rev 1:7 : 7 Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him: and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
• Rev 21:3-7 : 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
• Rev 22:3-5 : 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no lamp, nor light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.
• 2 Cor 12:2-4 : 2 I knew a man in Christ over fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows) who was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows) 4 How he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a person to utter.
• Acts 8:39 : 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
• Mark 14:62 : 62 And Jesus said, I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
• Ps 49:15 : 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
• Ps 73:24 : 24 You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
• Isa 35:10 : 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
• 1 Kgs 18:12 : 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you where I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.
• 2 Kgs 2:16 : 16 And they said to him, Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master: lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, You shall not send.
• Rev 21:22-23 : 22 And I saw no temple in it: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.
• Rev 12:5 : 5 And she gave birth to a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
• 2 Pet 3:13 : 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.