1 Thessalonians 5:7
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:7 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 5:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 5:7 means
Paul appeals to ordinary experience: sleep and drunkenness are nighttime activities. By this he underlines what belongs to darkness—unawareness and loss of self-control. The implication is that such conditions are not fitting for those who belong to the day. Christians are to avoid the spiritual equivalents of these night behaviors: dullness to God and indulgence that clouds judgment. The verse does not condemn physical sleep itself, but uses it as a metaphor for spiritual insensitivity. Likewise, it warns against any state that leaves the believer foggy and vulnerable. The children of light should cultivate clear minds and alert hearts that are ready for the Lord’s appearing.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For those who are sleeping do so in the night; and those who are the worse for drink are so in the night;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for they that sleep sleep by night, and they that drink drink by night;
Context
This illustration supports verse 6’s call to watchfulness and sobriety. It contrasts the habits of the night with the conduct proper to the day. In the next verse, Paul will specify the virtues that protect God’s people—faith, love, and hope—using the imagery of armor. This transition readies the reader to think not only in negatives (avoid sleep and drunkenness) but in positives (equip yourselves with what sustains vigilance and purity) as they await the Day of the Lord without fear.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.
- Luke 21:34
But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:
- Acts 2:15
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day;
- Romans 13:13
Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.
- Job 4:13
In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men,
- Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
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