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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

1 Thessalonians 5:4–7

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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4 selected · 6 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

19 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 4

  1. 1 John 2:8Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

  2. 1 Peter 2:9–10Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

    10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  3. 2 Peter 3:10Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

  4. Colossians 1:13Rank 4 from verse 4
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    13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

  5. Deuteronomy 19:6Rank 5 from verse 4
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    6Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

From verse 5

  1. Ephesians 5:8Rank 1 from verse 5
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    8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

  2. Acts 26:18Rank 2 from verse 5
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    18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  3. John 12:36Rank 3 from verse 5
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    36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

  4. Luke 16:8Rank 4 from verse 5
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    8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

From verse 6

  1. 1 Peter 1:13Rank 1 from verse 6
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    13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

  2. Matthew 24:42Rank 2 from verse 6
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    42¶ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

  3. Luke 22:46Rank 3 from verse 6
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    46And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

  4. 1 Peter 5:8Rank 4 from verse 6
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    8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

  5. Romans 13:11–14Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

    12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

    13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

    14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

From verse 7

  1. Romans 13:13Rank 1 from verse 7
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    13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

  2. 1 Corinthians 15:34Rank 2 from verse 7
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    34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

  3. 2 Peter 2:13Rank 3 from verse 7
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    13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

  4. Acts 2:15Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

  5. Daniel 5:4–5Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

    5¶ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

1 Thessalonians 5:4

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

brethren

↗

1. Persons of the same people, tribe, community, or shared service who are regarded or addressed as brothers. 2. Persons regarded as brothers by reason of faith or another spiritual relation. 3. Male siblings or other male relatives.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

darkness

↗

Sense 1: Absence of light. Sense 2: Obscurity, ignorance, distress, or moral evil by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

should

↗

A verb expressing duty, propriety, expectation, intention, purpose, condition, appointed outcome, or a future event viewed from another time or statement.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

overtake

↗

To come up with in a course, pursuit, progress or motion; to catch. To come upon; to fall on afterwards. To take by surprise.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Thessalonians 5:5

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

night

↗

1. The dark part of the daily cycle distinguished from day, from evening until morning, or any portion of it. 2. A time or condition compared with night or darkness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

darkness

↗

Sense 1: Absence of light. Sense 2: Obscurity, ignorance, distress, or moral evil by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Thessalonians 5:6

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

us

↗

The first-person plural object pronoun, referring to the speaker together with one or more others as recipients or objects of an action or relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sleep

↗

Sense 1: Natural bodily rest with suspended waking activity; figuratively, inattention or inactivity; or death described as sleep. Sense 2: To rest in sleep; figuratively, to lie in death.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

watch

↗

Sense 1: To remain awake, alert, attentive, vigilant, observant, or on guard. Sense 2: A guard or guard duty, a station or group keeping guard, or a division of the night so guarded.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sober

↗

Self-controlled, watchful, and sound in judgment; calm and serious rather than intoxicated, frenzied, or careless.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

1 Thessalonians 5:7

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sleep

↗

Sense 1: Natural bodily rest with suspended waking activity; figuratively, inattention or inactivity; or death described as sleep. Sense 2: To rest in sleep; figuratively, to lie in death.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

night

↗

1. The dark part of the daily cycle distinguished from day, from evening until morning, or any portion of it. 2. A time or condition compared with night or darkness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

drunken

↗

Intoxicated with strong drink; overcome or affected as by intoxication.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

5:1BUT of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

5:2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

5:3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

5:4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Selected passage

5:5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Selected passage

5:6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Selected passage

5:7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

Selected passage

5:8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

5:9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

5:10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

5:11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

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