KJV: For 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.
YLT: for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail doth her who is with child, and they shall not escape;
Darby: When they may say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon her that is with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
ASV: When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
ὅταν | For when |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅταν Sense: when, whenever, as long as, as soon as. |
|
λέγωσιν | they might say |
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
|
Εἰρήνη | Peace |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: εἰρήνη Sense: a state of national tranquillity. |
|
ἀσφάλεια | security |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ἀσφάλεια Sense: firmness, stability. |
|
αἰφνίδιος | suddenly |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: αἰφνίδιος Sense: unexpected, sudden, unforeseen. |
|
αὐτοῖς | upon them |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
|
ἐφίσταται | comes |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐφίστημι Sense: to place at, place upon, place over. |
|
ὄλεθρος | destruction |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὀλέθριος Sense: ruin, destroy, death. |
|
ὠδὶν | labor pains |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ὠδίν Sense: the pain of childbirth, travail pain, birth pangs. |
|
τῇ | to her |
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
γαστρὶ | womb |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: γαστήρ Sense: the belly. |
|
οὐ | no |
Parse: Adverb Root: οὐ Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. |
|
ἐκφύγωσιν | shall they escape |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἐκφεύγω Sense: to flee out of, flee away. |
Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Present active subjunctive picturing these false prophets of peace and safety like Ezekiel 13:10 (Peace, and there is no peace). Ασπαλεια Asphaleia only in N.T. in Luke 1:4 (which see); Acts 5:23 and here. [source]
Ολετρος Olethros old word from ολλυμι ollumi to destroy. See also 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Αιπνιδιος Aiphnidios old adjective akin to απνω aphnō and in N.T. only here and Luke 21:34 where Westcott and Hort spell it επνιδιος ephnidios Cometh upon them (αυτοις επισταται autois epistatai). Unaspirated form instead of the usual επισταται ephistatai (present middle indicative) from επιστημι ephistēmi perhaps due to confusion with επισταμαι epistamai As travail upon a woman with child Earlier form ωδις ōdis for birth-pang used also by Jesus (Mark 13:8; Matthew 24:8). Technical phrase for pregnancy, to the one who has it in belly (cf. Matthew 1:18 of Mary). They shall in no wise escape (ου μη εκπυγωσιν ou mē ekphugōsin). Strong negative like that in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ου μη ou mē (double negative) and the second aorist active subjunctive. [source]
Unaspirated form instead of the usual επισταται ephistatai (present middle indicative) from επιστημι ephistēmi perhaps due to confusion with επισταμαι epistamai [source]
Earlier form ωδις ōdis for birth-pang used also by Jesus (Mark 13:8; Matthew 24:8). Technical phrase for pregnancy, to the one who has it in belly (cf. Matthew 1:18 of Mary). They shall in no wise escape (ου μη εκπυγωσιν ou mē ekphugōsin). Strong negative like that in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ου μη ou mē (double negative) and the second aorist active subjunctive. [source]
(cf. Matthew 1:18 of Mary). They shall in no wise escape (ου μη εκπυγωσιν ou mē ekphugōsin). Strong negative like that in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ου μη ou mē (double negative) and the second aorist active subjunctive. [source]
Strong negative like that in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ου μη ou mē (double negative) and the second aorist active subjunctive. [source]
The prediction is thrown into dramatic form. [source]
See Luke 21:34, Luke 21:36. Often in N.T. of a person coming suddenly upon another; as Luke 2:9; Luke 24:4; Acts 4:1; Acts 12:7. [source]
Birth-throe. Only here in its literal sense. Elsewhere as a strong figure of sorrow or pain. See Matthew 24:8; Mark 13:8; Acts 2:24. For the figure in O.T. see Isaiah 13:6-8; Isaiah 37:3; Micah 4:9; Hosea 13:3; Jeremiah 13:21. [source]
A.V. misses the force of the double negative. They shall in no wise escape. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Only here and 1 Thessalonians 5:3. [source]
Emphasis on συ su “thou conceited Jew expecting to escape God‘s κριμα krima because thou art a Jew.” Cf. Matthew 3:8. Paul justifies the bitter words of the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees. The future middle of the old verb εκπευγω ekpheugō (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). The Jew posed as immune to the ordinary laws of ethics because a Jew. Alas, some Christians affect the same immunity. [source]
Future active of old verb τινω tinō to pay penalty Accusative case in apposition with δικην dikēn (penalty). This phrase does not appear elsewhere in the N.T., but is in 4 Maccabees 10:15 τον αιωνιον του τυραννου ολετρον ton aiōnion tou turannou olethron the eternal destruction of the tyrant (Antiochus Epiphanes). Destruction (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3) does not mean here annihilation, but, as Paul proceeds to show, separation from the face of the Lord (απο προσωπου του κυριου apo prosōpou tou kuriou) and from the glory of his might (και απο της δοχης της ισχυος αυτου kai apo tēs doxēs tēs ischuos autou), an eternity of woe such as befell Antiochus Epiphanes. Αιωνιος Aiōnios in itself only means age-long and papyri and inscriptions give it in the weakened sense of a Caesar‘s life (Milligan), but Paul means by age-long the coming age in contrast with this age, as eternal as the New Testament knows how to make it. See note on Matthew 25:46 for use of aiōnios both with zōēn life, and αιωνιος kolasin punishment. [source]
Accusative case in apposition with δικην dikēn (penalty). This phrase does not appear elsewhere in the N.T., but is in 4 Maccabees 10:15 τον αιωνιον του τυραννου ολετρον ton aiōnion tou turannou olethron the eternal destruction of the tyrant (Antiochus Epiphanes). Destruction (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3) does not mean here annihilation, but, as Paul proceeds to show, separation from the face of the Lord (απο προσωπου του κυριου apo prosōpou tou kuriou) and from the glory of his might (και απο της δοχης της ισχυος αυτου kai apo tēs doxēs tēs ischuos autou), an eternity of woe such as befell Antiochus Epiphanes. Αιωνιος Aiōnios in itself only means age-long and papyri and inscriptions give it in the weakened sense of a Caesar‘s life (Milligan), but Paul means by age-long the coming age in contrast with this age, as eternal as the New Testament knows how to make it. See note on Matthew 25:46 for use of aiōnios both with zōēn life, and αιωνιος kolasin punishment. [source]
See note on 1 Timothy 3:6 for εν εις en -παγιδα eis and note on 1 Timothy 3:7 for ανοητους pagida (snare). Foolish (βλαβερας anoētous). See Galatians 3:1, Galatians 3:3. Hurtful Old adjective from βυτιζουσιν blaptō to injure, here alone in N.T. Drown (βυτος buthizousin). Late word (literary Koiné{[28928]}š) from εις ολετρον και απωλειαν buthos (bottom), to drag to the bottom. In N.T. only here and Luke 5:7 (of the boat). Drown in the lusts with the issue “in destruction and perdition” (ολετρος eis olethron kai apōleian). Not annihilation, but eternal punishment. The combination only here, but for απωλεια olethros see note on 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 5:5 and for apōleia see note on 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Philemon 3:19. [source]
Old adjective from βυτιζουσιν blaptō to injure, here alone in N.T. Drown (βυτος buthizousin). Late word (literary Koiné{[28928]}š) from εις ολετρον και απωλειαν buthos (bottom), to drag to the bottom. In N.T. only here and Luke 5:7 (of the boat). Drown in the lusts with the issue “in destruction and perdition” (ολετρος eis olethron kai apōleian). Not annihilation, but eternal punishment. The combination only here, but for απωλεια olethros see note on 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 5:5 and for apōleia see note on 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Philemon 3:19. [source]
Late word (literary Koiné{[28928]}š) from εις ολετρον και απωλειαν buthos (bottom), to drag to the bottom. In N.T. only here and Luke 5:7 (of the boat). Drown in the lusts with the issue “in destruction and perdition” Not annihilation, but eternal punishment. The combination only here, but for απωλεια olethros see note on 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 5:5 and for apōleia see note on 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Philemon 3:19. [source]
Better, be ready. Once in Paul, 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Frequent in Luke and Acts. Lit. stand by, be at hand, be present. To come suddenly upon, Luke 2:38. Hence, be ready. Instant signifies urgent, importunate, persevering. Lat. instare to press upon. Thus Latimer, “I preached at the instant request of a curate.” So N.T., Romans 12:12, “Continuing instant in prayer.” [source]
Our very word “analysis.” Old word from αναλυω analuō to loosen up or back, to unloose. Only here in N.T., though αναλυσαι analusai for death is used by Paul in Philemon 1:23 which see for the metaphor. Is come (επεστηκεν ephestēken). Perfect active indicative of επιστημι ephistēmi (intransitive use). See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Luke 21:34. The hour has struck. The time has come. [source]
Perfect active indicative of επιστημι ephistēmi (intransitive use). See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Luke 21:34. The hour has struck. The time has come. [source]
Present active participle of ωδινω ōdinō old verb (from ωδιν ōdin birth-pangs 1 Thessalonians 5:3), in N.T. only here and Galatians 4:27.And in pain (και βασανιζομενη kai basanizomenē). “And tormented” (present passive participle of βασανιζω basanizō for which see note on Revelation 9:5 and note on Revelation 11:10), only here in N.T. in sense of childbirth.To be delivered Second aorist active infinitive of τικτω tiktō to give birth, epexegetical use. Also in Revelation 12:4. [source]