2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians · Chapter 3

2 Thessalonians 3:11

1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.4And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.5And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.7For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;8Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:9Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.13But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.15Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.16Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.17The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul had heard that some in the church were walking disorderly. They were "working not at all, but are busybodies." 2 Thessalonians 3:11Strong's G4020

SpeakingPaul, writing with Silvanus and Timotheus. Paul signs the letter in his own hand (3:17). 2 Thessalonians overview

ToThe church of the Thessalonians, believers in Thessalonica whom Paul had taught in person. 2 Thessalonians overview

Also involved"Some" in the Thessalonian church who were idle. 2 Thessalonians 3:11

Paul names the actual problem behind his commands in 3:6 and 3:10. 2 Thessalonians 3:62 Thessalonians 3:102 Thessalonians 3:11

The letter went to Thessalonica, a city of Macedonia in northern Greece. The letter does not say where it was written; the traditional view is Corinth. 2 Thessalonians overview

The eventsThis was happening when Paul wrote; he had heard about it. 2 Thessalonians 3:112 Thessalonians overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 50-51, from Corinth, a few months after 1 Thessalonians. Scholarly: some hold a follower wrote it in Paul's name later in the first century; many others accept that Paul wrote it soon after 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians overview

HerePaul addresses a real report so the church will correct it. 2 Thessalonians 3:112 Thessalonians overview

In the whole of ScripturePaul warns of those who "learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies" (1 Timothy 5:13). Peter says, "let none of you suffer ... as a busybody in other men's matters" (1 Peter 4:15). Paul had told them "to do your own business" (1 Thessalonians 4:11). 1 Timothy 5:131 Peter 4:151 Thessalonians 4:11

For readersIdleness often leads to meddling. Steady work keeps a believer's life in order. 2 Thessalonians 3:111 Timothy 5:13

  • disorderlyἀτάκτως
    Greek · ataktōs · G0814

    The lexicon defines the word as disorderly or irregularly. It is the same word as in 3:6. Strong's G08142 Thessalonians 3:6

  • workingἐργάζομαι
    Greek · ergazomai · G2038

    The word means to work. Strong's G2038

  • busybodiesπεριεργάζομαι
    Greek · periergazomai · G4020

    The word means to be a busybody, to meddle. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G4020

Takeaway

Some were living idly, not working, but meddling in others' business. 2 Thessalonians 3:111 Timothy 5:13

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
We hearἈκούομενAkouomenG0191
to hear

ἀκούω (akouō) ἀκούω, [in LXX chiefly for שׁמע ] to hear, listen, attend, perceive by hearing, comprehend by hearing. 1. Intrans.: Mrk.4:3 7:37, Jas.2:5, Rev.2:7, al.; τ. ὠσίν, Mat.13:15 (LXX); with cogn. dative, ακοῇ ἀ. (see: ἀκοή), Mat.13:14, Act.28:26" (LXX) ; ὁ ἔχων ὦτα (οὖς) ἀκούειν, ἀκουσάτω, Mat.11:15, Mrk.4:23, Rev.2:7, al. …

forγάρgarG1063
for

γάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

someτιναςtinasG5100
one

τις (tis) τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. I. As subst., 1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. 2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. II. II. As adj., …

are walkingπεριπατοῦνταςperipatountasG4043
to walk

περιπατέω (peripateō) περι-πατέω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for הָלַךְ pi., hith. ;] to walk: absol., Mat.9:5, Mrk.5:42, Luk.5:23, Jhn.1:36; with pred., γυμνός, Rev.16:15; ἐπάνω Luk.11:44; διά, with genitive, Rev.21:24; ἐν, Mrk.11:27 12:38, Jhn.7:1 11:54, Rev.2:1, al.; ἐν τ. σκοτίᾳ, figuratively, Jhn.8:12 12:35, 1Jn.1:6-7 Jn 2:11; ἐπί, with genitive, Mat.14:26; id. with dative, Mat.14:25, 29; μετά, Jhn.6:66, Rev.3:4; παρά, with accusative, Mat.4:18. Metaphorical, of living, passing one's life, conducting oneself (like ἀναστρέφομαι in Xen., Plut., LXX, π.; M, Pro.11:1-31; Deiss., BS, 194) : ἀκριβῶς, Eph.5:15; ἀτάκτως, 2T …

amongἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

youὑμῖνhuminG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

idly,ἀτάκτως,ataktōsG0814
idly

ἀτάκτως (ataktōs) ἀ-τάκτως adv., [in Sm.: 4Ki.9:20 * ;] disorderly, irregularly: 2Th.3:6 3:11.† (AS)

not at allμηδὲνmēdenG3367
nothing

μηδείς (mēdeis) μηδείς, -δεμία, -δέν (and -θέν, Act.27:33, a Hellenistic form; see Bl., 6, 7; Thackeray, Gr., 58) related to οὐδείς as μή to οὐ, no, none, no one; neut., nothing: Mat.16:20, Mrk.5:43 6:8, Luk.3:14, Act.8:24, Rom.13:8, al.; with genitive, Act.4:17 24:23; neut. accusative, μηδέν, adverbially, in no respect, Act.10:20 11:12; as accusative obj. after verb, βλάπτειν, Luk.4:35; ὠφελεῖσθαι, Mrk.5:26; ὑστερεῖν, 2Co.11:5; μεριμνᾶν, Php.4:6; in double negation, strengthening the denial, μηκέτι μ., Mrk.11:14, Act.4:17; μὴ . . . μηδέν (μηδένα, μηδεμίαν), 2Co.13:7, 2Th.2:3, 1Pe.3:6 μηθείς, see. μηδείς …

workingἐργαζομένουςergazomenousG2038
to work

ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai) ἐργάζομαι (ἔργον), [in LXX for עָבַד, פָּעַל, עָשָׂה, etc. ;] 1. intrans., (a) to work, labour: Mat.21:28, Luk.13:14, Jhn.5:17 9:4 b, Act.18:3, 1Co.9:6, 2Th.3:10-12; τ. χερσίν, 1Co.4:12, 1Th.4:11; νυκτὸς κ. ἡαέρας, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8; of working for pay, Mat.21:28; for reward, Rom.4:4-5; (b) to work at a trade or business, to trade: before Iv (Dem.), Mat.25:16. 2. Trans., …

butἀλλὰallaG0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

being busybodies.περιεργαζομένους.¶periergazomenousG4020
be a busybody

περιεργάζομαι (periergazomai) περι-εργάζομαι [in LXX: Wis.8:5 א1, Sir.3:23 * ;] 1. to waste one's labour about a thing. 2. to be a busybody: 2Th.3:11 (cf. Plat., Apol., 19 B).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.