1 Thessalonians 5:19
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:19 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 5:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 5:19 means
“Do not quench the Spirit” warns against attitudes or actions that smother the Spirit’s active work in the community—especially in worship and ministry. The metaphor of extinguishing a flame suggests that unbelief, pride, disorder, or rigid suspicion can douse the Spirit’s fire. Paul is not advocating chaos; he is urging sensitivity and receptivity to God’s present leading and gifting. Since the Spirit prepares and sanctifies the church for the Lord’s coming, stifling His work contradicts their identity as children of the day. The command calls for humble openness, coupled with the discernment that will be spelled out in the following verses.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Quench not the Spirit;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Quench not the Spirit.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Quench not the Spirit;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do not put out the light of the Spirit;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The Spirit quench not;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Extinguish not the spirit.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890quench not the Spirit;
Context
This warning follows the triad of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving, and it begins a balanced treatment of spiritual gifts and speech. Verse 20 will address prophetic utterances directly, and verses 21–22 will insist that everything be tested, with what is good embraced and evil rejected. The sequence promotes a church life that is neither spiritually cynical nor gullible, but alive to the Spirit and anchored in discernment.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 51:11
Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.
- 1 Timothy 4:14
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
- Ephesians 6:16
withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
- 2 Timothy 1:6
For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.
- Acts 7:51
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
- Song of Solomon 8:7
Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, He would utterly be contemned.
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