1 Thessalonians 5:4
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:4 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 5:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 5:4 means
Believers are told they are not in the realm of moral and spiritual darkness. Therefore, the Day will not seize them like a thief seizes a sleeping household. Paul does not promise insider knowledge of dates; he promises a different posture and experience. Those who walk in God’s light are alert, oriented to His purposes, and not lulled by the world’s false assurances. The contrast is about identity and vigilance, not about predicting schedules. Because they belong to the light, the Lord’s arrival, though sudden, will not be ruin to them, but the long-awaited unveiling of the One they trust. Confidence replaces terror for the children of light.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
KJV
King James Version · 1611But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But you, my brothers, are not in the dark, for that day to overtake you like a thief:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief:
Context
Having exposed the world’s false security, Paul turns to the Thessalonians’ status: they are not in darkness. This identity statement prepares the way for verse 5, which expands the light/day language, and verse 6, which draws the practical inference to stay awake and sober. The flow shifts from warning to assurance and then to exhortation. The logic is: know who you are, then live accordingly. In the next verses, Paul will apply this identity to lifestyle—watchfulness, sobriety, and putting on spiritual armor as they await the Day with hope rather than fear.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 13:11
And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when wefirstbelieved.
- Zechariah 1:6
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
- Deuteronomy 28:45
And all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
- Deuteronomy 19:6
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
- Colossians 1:13
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
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