1 Thessalonians 5:7 kjv
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:7 nkjv
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
1 Thessalonians 5:7 niv
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
1 Thessalonians 5:7 esv
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
1 Thessalonians 5:7 nlt
Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.
1 Thessalonians 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 5:5 | You are all children of light and children of the day. | Clarity |
| Luke 12:35 | Be dressed ready for service, with your lamps lit. | Readiness, Vigilance |
| Rom 13:11 | Do this, knowing the present time, that the hour has come for you to awaken from your slumber. | Awakening, Present Time |
| 1 Cor 15:34 | Come to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning. | Sobriety, Against Sin |
| Eph 5:8 | for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. | Transformation, Light |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. | Alertness, Spiritual Warfare |
| Gal 5:16 | Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. | Self-Control, Spirit |
| Eph 6:14 | Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. | Spiritual Armor |
| Heb 12:1 | let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. | Perseverance, Removing Hindrances |
| 1 John 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. | Fellowship, Walking in Light |
| 1 Thess 5:2 | For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. | Day of the Lord, Suddenness |
| Matt 24:43 | But understand this: If the owner of the house had known what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. | Preparedness, Watchfulness |
| Acts 26:18 | to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. | Turning to God, Spiritual Liberation |
| Phil 1:10 | so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. | Discernment, Purity |
| 1 Tim 2:15 | but women will be kept safe through childbirth, if they continue in faith, love and holiness with sobriety. | Sobriety, Women in Faith |
| 2 Tim 1:7 | For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. | Spirit, Power, Self-discipline |
| Titus 2:12 | it teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. | Self-control, Present Age |
| Rev 3:2 | Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die. | Awakening, Strengthening |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. | Word of God, Guidance |
| 1 Thess 5:6 | So then, let us not be like others, who sleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. | Contrasting believers and others |
| John 8:12 | When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." | Jesus as Light, Following Jesus |
| 1 Thess 5:10 | who died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. | Christ's Death, Life Together |
| Mark 13:32 | "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. | Uncertainty of Day/Hour |
1 Thessalonians 5 verses
1 Thessalonians 5 7 Meaning
Those who belong to the day are sober and vigilant, unlike those who belong to the night, who are often asleep or intoxicated. It emphasizes the readiness and self-control expected of believers in contrast to the carelessness or spiritual dormancy that characterizes those who are not in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5 7 Context
This verse is part of the concluding exhortations in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. Chapter 5 builds on the teaching about the day of the Lord from chapter 4. The believers are reminded that this day will come unexpectedly, like a thief. Therefore, they must live differently from unbelievers who are caught unprepared. Paul has previously identified believers as children of light and children of the day (5:5), a direct contrast to the children of night or darkness. This verse elaborates on the conduct expected of those in the day – to be "sober" and "vigilant." This conduct is directly contrasted with the behavior of those who belong to the night.
1 Thessalonians 5 7 Word Analysis
Nēphentas (νέφοντας): This Greek word translates to "sober." It signifies being free from the effects of intoxicating drink, but in a spiritual sense, it means clear-headed, self-controlled, and disciplined, not under the influence of spiritual dullness or worldly temptations. It is related to the concept of having one's senses about them.
Autóphtalmos (αὐτόφθαλμος): This term is a rare word in Koine Greek and can be translated as "vigilant" or "watchful." It implies having one's "own eyes" open, a state of alertness and readiness. It conveys an active watchfulness, not a passive state of being aware. It is a combination of "autos" (self) and "ophthalmos" (eye).
Mētes (μήτε): A coordinating particle, typically translated as "neither" or "nor," connecting negative clauses. Here, it links "sober" and "vigilant" to the negative counterpart which follows.
Koiōmenoi (κοιούμενοι): From the verb "koimaō" (κοιμάω), meaning "to sleep." In scripture, "sleep" often represents a spiritual state of dormancy, inactivity, or insensitivity to God's purposes, rather than mere physical rest. It contrasts with the spiritual alertness required of believers.
Nyktores (νυκτῶρες): Derived from "nyx" (νύξ), meaning "night." Those who "work by night" or are characterized by the night. This signifies those who operate in darkness, in opposition to God, or are spiritually dead and inactive, not reflecting the light of Christ.
Word Group Analysis
- "Sober and vigilant": This pair emphasizes a disciplined mindset and an active readiness. It is not just about avoiding drunkenness but about a profound inner control and awareness, preparing for Christ's return. This concept is linked to exercising self-control as a fruit of the Spirit.
- "Not sleeping": This directly opposes the idea of spiritual apathy or slumber. Believers are called to an active, engaged faith, in stark contrast to the lethargic spiritual state of the unsaved.
- "Not belonging to the night": This further defines the antithesis. The "night" symbolizes sin, darkness, ignorance, and separation from God, characteristics of the world system opposed to God's kingdom.
1 Thessalonians 5 7 Bonus Section
The contrast between "day" and "night" in this passage is a recurring theme in Pauline theology and the New Testament, representing a stark binary between the redeemed and the unredeemed, righteousness and wickedness, God's kingdom and Satan's dominion. The "sleep" of the night also carries connotations from the Old Testament prophets, who often condemned Israel for spiritual lethargy or failure to heed warnings. The call to "sobriety" is a strong command against any form of spiritual excess that would incapacitate the believer from discerning God's will or fulfilling their calling. The self-control implied is not self-effort, but rather a disposition cultivated by the Holy Spirit within the believer who has already been transformed into a child of light.
1 Thessalonians 5 7 Commentary
Believers are to live with consistent self-control and alert watchfulness, like sentinels on duty. This is in sharp contrast to spiritual sleepiness or inactivity, which characterizes those who are alienated from God's light. Our identity as children of the day demands this vigilant behavior, ensuring we are prepared for Christ's return. This readiness means actively pursuing godliness and discernment, keeping our spiritual senses sharp against the darkness and temptations of the world. It's about living fully awake to God's presence and purposes in our lives.
Practical application:
- Prioritizing spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible study.
- Consciously avoiding the "sleepy" state of apathy towards sin or evangelism.
- Being alert to worldly influences that could dull spiritual perception.
- Cultivating a life of intentional living focused on Christ's return.