1 Thessalonians 3:9
What does 1 Thessalonians 3:9 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 3:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 3:9 means
Overwhelmed with joy, Paul asks how he could possibly repay God with adequate thanks for what he has done among the Thessalonians. This is worship, not flattery. The joy is “before our God,” acknowledging that the Source and Audience of all true thanksgiving is the Lord Himself. Their steadfastness is God’s gift, and Paul’s heart swells with gratitude rather than boasting in his own efforts. He recognizes that only God deserves the praise for preserving their faith and deepening their love. The verse teaches that when we see genuine spiritual fruit, the right reflex is to turn upward in thanks, confessing our inability to measure up to God’s goodness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For how great is the praise which we give to God for you, and how great the joy with which we are glad because of you before our God;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for what thanks are we able to recompense to God for you, for all the joy with which we do joy because of you in the presence of our God?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For what thanks can we return to God for you, in all the joy wherewith we rejoice for you before our God,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For what thanksgiving can we render toGod for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on account of you before ourGod,
Context
Having declared how much their perseverance invigorates him (verse 8), Paul now turns that joy into thanksgiving directed to God. Verse 9 prepares for verse 10, where grateful joy becomes persistent prayer for further growth. The flow moves from celebration of what God has done to supplication for what God will yet do. This sets up the concluding benediction-like prayers in verses 11–13, which aim at reunion, love, and holiness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 9:5
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, andPethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- Psalms 96:12
Let the field exult, and all that is therein; Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
- Psalms 68:3
But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
- 2 Samuel 7:18
Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?
- Deuteronomy 16:11
and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.
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