2 Thessalonians 3:10–12
Paul asks them to work quietly and eat their own bread
Study it word by word10For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.
11For we hear that some are walking among you in a disorderly way, doing no work but being busybodies.
12Now to such people we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus the Messiah that, working with quietness, they eat their own bread.
In its context
8nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but with labor and toil we worked night and day so as not to burden any of you;
9not because we do not have the right, but so that we might give ourselves to you as an example so that you might imitate us.
…
13But you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
14And if anyone does not obey our word through this letter, take note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
Its words in the original
- ἦμενēmen· be
Be, exist.
- παρηγγέλλομενparēngellomen· command, instruct
Give orders, instruct.
- θέλειthelei· want, wish
Want, wish, be willing.
- ἐργάζεσθαιergazesthai· work
Work, do, carry out.
- ἐσθιέτωesthietō· eat
Eat.
- ἀκούομενakouomen· hear, listen
Hear, listen; also heed.
- περιπατοῦνταςperipatountas· walk
Walk; also live in a certain way.
- ἀτάκτωςataktōs· in a disorderly way
In a disorderly way, not keeping to one's duty.
- μηδὲνmēden· no one, nothing
No one, nothing.
- περιεργαζομένουςperiergazomenous· be a busybody
Be a busybody: meddle in what belongs to others, be busy with what is not one's business.
- τοιούτοιςtoioutois· such
Such, of this kind.
- παρακαλοῦμενparakaloumen· urge, comfort
Call to one's side; plead with, encourage, comfort.
- κυρίῳkyriōi· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- ΧριστῷChristōi· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- ἡσυχίαςhēsychias· quietness, silence
Quietness, calm; silence.
- ἄρτονarton· bread
Bread; also food in general.