1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

¹³Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death ,^c so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

¹⁵By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. ¹⁷After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Footnotes

c 4:13 Literally those who have fallen asleep, as in verses 14 and 15

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 4

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Brothers	ἀδελφοί	adelphoi	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G80 a brother
we do not want	θέλομεν	thelomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G2309 I will, wish, desire
you	ὑμᾶς	hymas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
to be uninformed	ἀγνοεῖν	agnoein	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G50 I do not know, am ignorant of
about	περὶ	peri	Preposition	G4012 about, concerning, around
those who	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Masculine Plural	G3588 the
sleep	κοιμωμένων	koimōmenōn	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural	G2837 I fall asleep, am asleep
so that	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
you will not grieve	λυπῆσθε	lypēsthe	Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural	G3076 I pain, grieve, vex
like	καθὼς	kathōs	Adverb	G2531 just as, as
the	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
rest	λοιποὶ	loipoi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3062 left, left behind, the remainder
who	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
are	ἔχοντες	echontes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G2192 I have, hold, possess
without	μὴ	mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
hope	ἐλπίδα	elpida	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1680 hope, expectation

1 Thessalonians 4:14

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
since	εἰ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
we believe	πιστεύομεν	pisteuomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G4100 I believe, have faith in
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
Jesus	Ἰησοῦς	Iēsous	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2424 Jesus
died	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G599 I am dying, am about to die
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
rose again	ἀνέστη	anestē	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G450 I raise up, set up, rise from
we also believe that	οὕτως	houtōs	Adverb	G3779 thus, so, in this manner
God	Θεὸς	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
will bring	ἄξει	axei	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G71 I lead
with	σὺν	syn	Preposition	G4862 with
those who	τοὺς	tous	Article - Accusative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
have fallen asleep	κοιμηθέντας	koimēthentas	Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural	G2837 I fall asleep, am asleep
in	διὰ	dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of

1 Thessalonians 4:15

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
By	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
word	λόγῳ	logō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
of	Κυρίου	Kyriou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
we declare	λέγομεν	legomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G3004 I say, speak
to you	ὑμῖν	hymin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
we	ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
who are	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
alive	ζῶντες	zōntes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G2198 I live
remain	περιλειπόμενοι	perileipomenoi	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural	G4035 I leave behind
until	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
coming	παρουσίαν	parousian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3952 presence, a coming, arrival, advent
of the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
Lord	Κυρίου	Kyriou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
will by no means precede	φθάσωμεν	phthasōmen	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural	G5348 I anticipate, precede, arrive
those who	τοὺς	tous	Article - Accusative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
have fallen asleep	κοιμηθέντας	koimēthentas	Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural	G2837 I fall asleep, am asleep

1 Thessalonians 4:16

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
the	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
Lord	Κύριος	Kyrios	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
Himself	αὐτὸς	autos	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
will descend	καταβήσεται	katabēsetai	Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular	G2597 I go down, come down
from	ἀπ’	ap’	Preposition	G575 from, away from
heaven	οὐρανοῦ	ouranou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3772 the sky, the heaven
with	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
a loud command	κελεύσματι	keleusmati	Noun - Dative Neuter Singular	G2752 a word of command, a call
with	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
the voice	φωνῇ	phōnē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G5456 a sound, noise, voice
of an archangel	ἀρχαγγέλου	archangelou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G743 a ruler of angels, a superior angel, an archangel
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
with	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
trumpet	σάλπιγγι	salpingi	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G4536 a trumpet
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
the	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
dead	νεκροὶ	nekroi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3498 dead, a corpse
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
Christ	Χριστῷ	Christō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G5547 anointed, the Messiah, the Christ
will be the first to rise	ἀναστήσονται	anastēsontai	Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural	G450 I raise up, set up, rise from

1 Thessalonians 4:17

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After that	ἔπειτα	epeita	Adverb	G1899 then, thereafter, afterwards
we	ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
who are	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
alive	ζῶντες	zōntes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G2198 I live
remain	περιλειπόμενοι	perileipomenoi	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural	G4035 I leave behind
will be caught up	ἁρπαγησόμεθα	harpagēsometha	Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 1st Person Plural	G726 I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery
together	ἅμα	hama	Adverb	G260 at the same time, along with
with	σὺν	syn	Preposition	G4862 with
them	αὐτοῖς	autois	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
clouds	νεφέλαις	nephelais	Noun - Dative Feminine Plural	G3507 a cloud
to	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
meet	ἀπάντησιν	apantēsin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G529 the act of meeting, to meet
the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
Lord	Κυρίου	Kyriou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir
in	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
air	ἀέρα	aera	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G109 air
And	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
so	οὕτως	houtōs	Adverb	G3779 thus, so, in this manner
we will	ἐσόμεθα	esometha	Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Plural	G1510 I am, exist
always	πάντοτε	pantote	Adverb	G3842 always, at all times
with	σὺν	syn	Preposition	G4862 with
Lord	Κυρίῳ	Kyriō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2962 lord, Lord, master, sir

1 Thessalonians 4:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Therefore	Ὥστε	Hōste	Conjunction	G5620 so that, therefore
encourage	παρακαλεῖτε	parakaleite	Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G3870 I summon, entreat, admonish, comfort
one another	ἀλλήλους	allēlous	Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural	G240 one another
with	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
these	τούτοις	toutois	Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural	G3778 this, he, she, it
words	λόγοις	logois	Noun - Dative Masculine Plural	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Daniel 12:2 · 1 Thessalonians 4:15 · 1 Thessalonians 5:10 · 2 Peter 3:4 · 1 Corinthians 15:18–19 · Ephesians 2:12 · Acts 7:60 · 1 Corinthians 15:6 · Ezekiel 37:11 · John 11:11–13 · 1 Corinthians 10:1 · Matthew 27:52

1 Thessalonians 4:14 Romans 8:11 · Philippians 3:20–21 · Isaiah 26:19 · 2 Corinthians 4:13–14 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13 · 1 Thessalonians 4:17 · 1 Thessalonians 3:13 · Revelation 14:13 · Revelation 1:18 · Jude 1:14–15 · Matthew 24:31 · 1 Corinthians 15:12–23

1 Thessalonians 4:15 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 · 2 Corinthians 4:14 · 1 Thessalonians 2:19

1 Thessalonians 4:16 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 · Revelation 1:7 · Matthew 24:30–31 · 1 Corinthians 15:23 · Matthew 16:27 · Matthew 25:31 · 2 Thessalonians 1:7 · Isaiah 27:13 · 2 Thessalonians 2:1 · Revelation 20:5–6 · Psalm 47:5 · Acts 1:11

1 Thessalonians 4:17 1 Corinthians 15:52 · Revelation 11:12 · John 14:3 · 1 Thessalonians 4:15 · Revelation 1:7 · Revelation 7:14–17 · Daniel 7:13 · John 17:24 · Matthew 26:64 · Acts 1:9 · John 12:26 · Acts 8:39

1 Thessalonians 4:18 1 Thessalonians 5:11 · 1 Thessalonians 5:14 · Luke 21:28 · Hebrews 10:24–25 · Isaiah 40:1–2

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.

Answers from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14Bible verses for tragedy and grief: What does Scripture say when you’re hurting?Scripture meets you in sorrow with permission to lament, promises of God’s presence, and resurrection hope through Jesus—without minimizing your pain.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18What does the Bible say about the end times and the return of Jesus?The Bible teaches that history is moving toward Jesus’ visible return, when God will raise the dead, judge with perfect justice, defeat evil, and renew creation for his people.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18What is the rapture? Is the rapture biblical?Some end times teachings are clear from Scripture, such as Christ’s second coming and the final judgment. Whether there will also be a “rapture” of the church—with Christians taken up to avoid a tribulation period—is a…

Want to submit a Bible question?

Send it in. The questions many people share become new answers on the site.

Ask a question