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1 Thessalonians 5:7

1 Thessalonians 5:7 in Multiple Translations

For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.

For those who are sleeping do so in the night; and those who are the worse for drink are so in the night;

For it's during the night that people sleep; and it's at night that they get drunk.

For they that sleepe, sleepe in the night, and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.

for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken,

For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.

For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunken, are drunken in the night.

For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night.

It is at night when people become drunk and they do very wrong actions/things, and are unaware of what is happening because they are asleep.

You know, night time is the time when people go to sleep, or maybe they get drunk, so they can’t think properly.

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Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Thessalonians 5:7

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1 Thessalonians 5:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK οι γαρ καθευδοντες νυκτος καθευδουσιν και οι μεθυσκομενοι νυκτος μεθυουσιν
οι ho G3588 the/this/who Art-NPM
γαρ gar G1063 for Conj
καθευδοντες katheudō G2518 to sleep Verb-PAP-NPM
νυκτος nux G3571 night Noun-GSF
καθευδουσιν katheudō G2518 to sleep Verb-PAI-3P
και kai G2532 and Conj
οι ho G3588 the/this/who Art-NPM
μεθυσκομενοι methuskō G3182 to get drunk Verb-PPP-NPM
νυκτος nux G3571 night Noun-GSF
μεθυουσιν methuō G3184 to get drunk Verb-PAI-3P
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Greek Word Reference — 1 Thessalonians 5:7

οι ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-NPM
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
γαρ gar G1063 "for" Conj
For is a word used to explain or give a reason, often introducing a justification or clarification, as seen in Matthew 4:18 and Romans 7:1. It's a conjunction that connects ideas and provides additional information.
Definition: 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. __3. Causal: Mat.1:21 2:2, 5, 6, 3:23, Mrk.1:22, 9:6, Luk.1:15, 18, Jhn.2:25, Act.2:25, Rom.1:9, 11, 1Co.11:5, Rev.1:3, al.; giving the reason for a command or prohibition, Mat.2:20 3:9, Rom.13:11, Col.3:3, 1Th.4:3, al.; where the cause is contained in an interrog. statement, Luk.22:27, Rom.3:3 4:3, 1Co.10:29; καὶ γάρ, for also, Mrk.10:45, Luk.6:32, 1Co.5:7, al. id. as in cl. = etenim, where the καί loses its connective force (Bl., §78, 6; Kühner 3, ii, 854f.), Mrk.14:70, Luk.1:66 22:37, 2Co.13:4. The proper place of γάρ is after the first word in a clause, but in poets it often comes third or fourth, and so in late prose: 2Co.1:19. Yet "not the number but the nature of the word after which it stands is the point to be noticed" (see Thayer, see word). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 1011 NT verses. KJV: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet See also: 1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 John 2:19; 1 Peter 2:19.
καθευδοντες katheudō G2518 "to sleep" Verb-PAP-NPM
To sleep or fall asleep is what this word means, used in stories like Jesus sleeping in the boat in Matthew 8:24 and Mark 4:27.
Definition: καθεύδω [in LXX chiefly for שָׁכַב, Gen.28:13, Psa.88:5, al.; also for יָשֵׁן, Sng.5:2, Dan LXX TH Dan.12:2, al.; for יָשַׁב, 1Ki.19:9 ;] to sleep: Mat.8:24 9:24 13:25 25:5 26:46, 43 26:45, Mrk.4:27, 38 5:39 14:37, 40-41, Luk.8:52 22:46, 1Th.5:7. Metaphorical, __(a) of death (as Ps, Da, ll. with): 1Th.5:10 (cf. Mat.9:24, Mrk.5:39, Luk.8:52, and see Swete, Mk., l.with); __(b) of moral and spiritual insensibility: Mrk.13:36, Eph.5:14, 1Th.5:6.† SYN.: (κοιμάω.) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 20 NT verses. KJV: (be a-)sleep See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Mark 14:37; Matthew 26:45.
νυκτος nux G3571 "night" Noun-GSF
Night is the time of darkness, as in Matthew 12:40 and Mark 6:48. It can be literal or figurative, like in 1 Thessalonians 5:7.
Definition: νύξ genitive νυκτός, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for לַיִל ;] night: Mat.12:40, Mrk.6:48, Jhn.13:30, al.; genitive temp. (of the time within which something happens; M, Pr., 73; B1., § 36, 13), νυκτός, by night, Mat.2:14, Jhn.3:2, 1Th.5:7, al.; ν. κ. ἡμέρας, Mrk.5:5, 1Th.2:9, al.; ἡμέρας κ. ν., Luk.18:7, Rev.4:8, al.; μέσης ν., Mat.25:6; dative, νυκτί, in ans. to the question, "when?" (rare in cl.; Hdt., Soph.), ταύτῃ τ. ν., Luk.12:20, al.; ἐκείνῃ Act.12:6; ἐπιούσῃ, Act.23:11; accusative durat. (Bl., § 34, 8; Kühner3, III, 314b), ν. κ. ἠμέραν, Luk.2:37 Act.20:31; τ. νύκτας, Luk.21:37; διὰ νυκτός (= cl. νυκτός; Bl., § 42, 1; 46, 7), Act.5:19 16:9 17:10 23:31; δι᾽ ὅλης ν., Luk.5:5; κατὰ μέσον τῆς ν. (Bl., § 47, 6), Act.27:27. Metaphorical: Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:5 (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 62 NT verses. KJV: (mid-)night See also: 1 Corinthians 11:23; John 21:3; Revelation 4:8.
καθευδουσιν katheudō G2518 "to sleep" Verb-PAI-3P
To sleep or fall asleep is what this word means, used in stories like Jesus sleeping in the boat in Matthew 8:24 and Mark 4:27.
Definition: καθεύδω [in LXX chiefly for שָׁכַב, Gen.28:13, Psa.88:5, al.; also for יָשֵׁן, Sng.5:2, Dan LXX TH Dan.12:2, al.; for יָשַׁב, 1Ki.19:9 ;] to sleep: Mat.8:24 9:24 13:25 25:5 26:46, 43 26:45, Mrk.4:27, 38 5:39 14:37, 40-41, Luk.8:52 22:46, 1Th.5:7. Metaphorical, __(a) of death (as Ps, Da, ll. with): 1Th.5:10 (cf. Mat.9:24, Mrk.5:39, Luk.8:52, and see Swete, Mk., l.with); __(b) of moral and spiritual insensibility: Mrk.13:36, Eph.5:14, 1Th.5:6.† SYN.: (κοιμάω.) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 20 NT verses. KJV: (be a-)sleep See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Mark 14:37; Matthew 26:45.
και kai G2532 "and" Conj
And or also, a connecting word used to join ideas or words, like in Matthew 2:18 and Hebrews 1:1.
Definition: καί, conj., and __I. Copulative. __1. Connecting single words; __(a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. __(b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; __(with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. __2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. __(a) where, after the simplicity of the popular language, sentences are paratactically joined (WM, §60, 3; M, Pr., 12; Deiss., LAE, 128ff.): Mat.1:21, 7:25, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.10:3, al.; __(b) joining affirmative to negative sentences: Luk.3:14, Jhn.4:11, IIIJhn.10; __(with) consecutive, and so: Mat.5:1, 23:32, Heb.3:19, al.; after imperatives, Mat.4:19, Luk.7:7, al.; __(d) = καίτοι, and yet: Mat.3:14, 6:26, Mrk.12:12, Luk.18:7 (Field, Notes, 72), 1Co.5:2, al.; __(e) beginning an apodosis (= Heb. וְ; so sometimes δέ in cl.), then: Luk.2:21, 7:12, Act.1:10; beginning a question (WM, §53, 3a): Mrk.10:26, Luk.10:29, Jhn.9:36. __3. Epexegetic, and, and indeed, namely (WM, §53, 3c): Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:16, Act.23:6, Rom.1:5, 1Co.3:5, al. __4. In transition: Mat.4:23, Mrk.5:1, 21, Jhn.1:19, al.; so, Hebraistically, καὶ ἐγένετο (וַי:הִי; also ἐγένετο δέ), Mrk.1:9 (cf. Luk.5:1; V. Burton, §§357-60; M, Pr., 14, 16). __5. καὶ . . . καί, both . . . and (for τε . . . καί, see: τε); __(a) connecting single words: Mat.10:28, Mrk.4:41, Rom.11:33, al.; __(b) clauses and sentences: Mrk.9:13, Jhn.7:28, 1Co.1:22, al. __II. Adjunctive, also, even, still: Mat.5:39, 40; Mrk.2:28, al. mult.; esp. with pron., adv., etc., Mat.20:4, Jhn.7:47, al; ὡς κ., Act.11:17; καθὼς κ., Rom.15:7; οὑτω κ., Rom.6:11; διὸ κ., Luk.1:35; ὁ κ. (Deiss., BS, 313ff.), Act.13:9; pleonastically, μετὰ κ.. (Bl., §77, 7; Deiss., BS, 265f,), Php.4:3; τί κ., 1 Co 15:29; ἀλλὰ κ., Luk.14:22, Jhn.5:18, al.; καίγε (M, Pr., 230; Burton, §437), Act.17:27; καίπερ, Heb.5:8; κ. ἐάν, see: ἐάν. ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; __1. with subjc. (cl.); __(a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { __(b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . __2. C. indic, (as in late writers, fr. Arist. on; see WH, App., 171; VD, MGr. 2, App., §77; Deiss., BS, 201f., LAE, 155, 254; M, Pr., 168, 187; Bl., §65, 4); __(a) fut.: Mat.18:19 T, Luk.19:40, Act.7:7; __(b) pres.: 1Th.3:8 (see Milligan, in l.). __3. With other particles: ἐ. καί (Bl., §65, 6), Gal.6:1; ἐ. μή (M, Pr., 185, 187; Bl., l.with), with subjc. pres., Mat.10:13, 1Co.8:8, Jas.2:17, 1Jn.3:21; aor., Mat.6:15, Mrk.3:27, Jhn.3:3, Rom.10:15, Gal.1:8 2:16 (see Lft., Ellic., in ll.); ἐ. τε . . . ἐ. τε, [in LXX for אִם . . . אִם, Est.19:13, al.,] Rom.14:8. __4. = cl. ἄν (which see) after relat. pronouns and adverbs (Tdf., Pr., 96; WH, App., 173; M, Pr., 42f.; Bl., §26, 4; Mayser, 152f.; Deiss., BS, 202ff.): ὃς ἐ., Mat.5:19, Mrk.6:22, 23 Luk.17:32, 1Co.6:18, al.; ὅπου ἐ., Mat.8:19; ὁσάκις ἐ., Rev.11:6; οὗ ἐ., 1Co.16:6; καθὸ ἐ., 2Co.8:12; ὅστις ἐ., Gal.5:10. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 5212 NT verses. KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Corinthians 16:1.
οι ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-NPM
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
μεθυσκομενοι methuskō G3182 "to get drunk" Verb-PPP-NPM
To get drunk, as seen in Luke 12:45 and Ephesians 5:18, where it warns against intoxication. This verb is about excessive drinking. It appears in the New Testament to caution against drunkenness.
Definition: μεθύσκω [in LXX: Psa.23:5 (רָוָה), Pro.4:17 (שָׁתָה), etc. ;] causal of μεθύω, to make drunk, intoxicate; pass., to get drunk: Luk.12:45, Eph.5:18, 1Th.5:7.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 4 NT verses. KJV: be drunk(-en) See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:7; Luke 12:45; Revelation 17:2.
νυκτος nux G3571 "night" Noun-GSF
Night is the time of darkness, as in Matthew 12:40 and Mark 6:48. It can be literal or figurative, like in 1 Thessalonians 5:7.
Definition: νύξ genitive νυκτός, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for לַיִל ;] night: Mat.12:40, Mrk.6:48, Jhn.13:30, al.; genitive temp. (of the time within which something happens; M, Pr., 73; B1., § 36, 13), νυκτός, by night, Mat.2:14, Jhn.3:2, 1Th.5:7, al.; ν. κ. ἡμέρας, Mrk.5:5, 1Th.2:9, al.; ἡμέρας κ. ν., Luk.18:7, Rev.4:8, al.; μέσης ν., Mat.25:6; dative, νυκτί, in ans. to the question, "when?" (rare in cl.; Hdt., Soph.), ταύτῃ τ. ν., Luk.12:20, al.; ἐκείνῃ Act.12:6; ἐπιούσῃ, Act.23:11; accusative durat. (Bl., § 34, 8; Kühner3, III, 314b), ν. κ. ἠμέραν, Luk.2:37 Act.20:31; τ. νύκτας, Luk.21:37; διὰ νυκτός (= cl. νυκτός; Bl., § 42, 1; 46, 7), Act.5:19 16:9 17:10 23:31; δι᾽ ὅλης ν., Luk.5:5; κατὰ μέσον τῆς ν. (Bl., § 47, 6), Act.27:27. Metaphorical: Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:5 (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 62 NT verses. KJV: (mid-)night See also: 1 Corinthians 11:23; John 21:3; Revelation 4:8.
μεθυουσιν methuō G3184 "to get drunk" Verb-PAI-3P
To drink to intoxication, as seen in Matthew 24:49 and John 2:10, where it describes getting drunk. This verb is about the act of becoming intoxicated. It is used in the New Testament to describe drunkenness.
Definition: μεθύω (μέθυ, wine, cf. μέθη), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁכַר, רָוָה ;] to be drunken: Mat.24:49, Jhn.2:10, Act.2:15, 1Co.11:21, 1Th.5:7; metaphorically, Rev.17:2, 6.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 6 NT verses. KJV: drink well, make (be) drunk(-en) See also: 1 Corinthians 11:21; John 2:10; Revelation 17:6.

Study Notes — 1 Thessalonians 5:7

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Romans 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
2 1 Corinthians 15:34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
3 2 Peter 2:13 The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.
4 Acts 2:15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!
5 Daniel 5:4–5 As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing,
6 Isaiah 21:4–5 My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror. They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!
7 Ephesians 5:14 So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
8 Luke 21:34–35 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.
9 Proverbs 23:29–35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast: “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
10 Job 33:15 In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

1 Thessalonians 5:7 Summary

[This verse is saying that people who are not following God will often do sinful things at night, when it's dark. As children of the light, we are called to live differently, being sober and alert, and not participating in the sins of the night. We can do this by seeking to be filled with the Spirit, as seen in Ephesians 5:18, and by putting on the breastplate of faith and love, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. By living in this way, we can walk in the light, as seen in 1 John 1:7, and not in the darkness of sin.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to 'sleep' in this verse?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:7, 'sleep' is a metaphor for spiritual complacency and lack of awareness, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, where it says 'let us not sleep as the others do'

Is getting drunk in this verse talking about physical drunkenness or something else?

While physical drunkenness is certainly a sin, in this context, getting drunk at night is likely a metaphor for indulging in worldly pleasures and sins, as opposed to being sober and alert in our walk with God, as seen in Ephesians 5:18

Why does the verse mention night specifically?

The night is often associated with darkness and sin in the Bible, as seen in Romans 13:12, so the verse is highlighting that those who belong to the night will engage in sinful behaviors during that time

How does this verse relate to being a child of the light?

As children of the light, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:5, we are called to live differently, being sober and alert, and not participating in the sins of the night, but instead walking in the light, as seen in 1 John 1:7

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some areas in my life where I may be 'sleeping' or being spiritually complacent, and how can I become more alert and aware?
  2. In what ways do I struggle with 'getting drunk' on worldly pleasures, and how can I seek to be filled with the Spirit instead, as seen in Ephesians 5:18?
  3. How can I use my time and energy to 'put on the breastplate of faith and love' and live as a child of the light, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:8?
  4. What are some practical ways I can 'remain awake and sober' in my daily life, and how can I encourage others to do the same?

Gill's Exposition on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

For they that sleep, sleep in the night,.... The night is the usual season for sleep, and sleep is only for such who are in darkness, and are children of the night; and not proper to be indulged by

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. In the literal sense. Night is the time when sleepers sleep, and drinking men are drunk.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

The apostle enforceth the former duties of watchfulness and sobriety from the consideration of their present state. They that sleep choose the night to sleep in, and they that would be drunk choose the night for it: drunkenness being so shameful a vice, especially in the apostles’ time, that men were ashamed to be seen drunk in the day-time; see ,13: and in ancient times they had their feasts in the night. Ye therefore that are not in the night of your former ignorance, ought neither to be found in the sleep of security nor in the sin of drunkenness, whereby may be meant also any kind of intemperance; for a man may be drunk, and not with wine, ; drunk with pleasure, with cares, with sensual love and desires, with passion, and by spiritual judgments upon the soul, .

Trapp's Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. Ver. 7. Are drunk in the night] But now, alas, drunkenness is become a noonday devil. Once Peter’ s argument (saith Mr Harris) was more than probable, "These men are not drunk, for it is but the third hour of the day." Now men are grown such husbands as that by that time they will return their stocks, and have their brains crowing before day.

Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

(7) They that sleep. . . .—As the connection of sleep with night has already been sufficiently worked out, and is not touched upon again in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the first clause seems only to be inserted for the sake of bringing out the second, and to justify the sudden introduction of the words, “and be sober.” It may thus be paraphrased: “I say, ‘and be sober too,’ for as they that sleep in the night, so they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” It is implied that the streets even of heathen Thessalonica were seldom affronted with the common English spectacle of drunken men by daylight; while among the Jews it was proof positive of sobriety to say, “It is but the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:15). In St. Cyprian’s time, Christians were known from other men because their breath smelt of wine in the early morning through attending the Blessed Sacrament (Epistle lxiii. 15): no heathens would have touched wine by that time.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

Verse 7. For they that sleep] Sleepers and drunkards seek the night season; so the careless and the profligate persons indulge their evil propensities, and avoid all means of instruction; they prefer their ignorance to the word of God's grace, and to the light of life. There seems to be here an allusion to the opinion mentioned under 1 Thessalonians 5:4, to which the reader is requested to refer. It may be remarked, also, that it was accounted doubly scandalous, even among the heathen, to be drunk in the day time. They who were drunken were drunken in the night.

Cambridge Bible on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

7. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night] The “sons of day” must be wakeful and sober, for the opposite conditions belong to night and are proper to its children. To be drunken by day was a monstrous and almost unheard-of thing (comp. Acts 2:15). Negligence and wantonness have no place in those who belong to “the day.”These words look beyond their literal sense, as “sober” in 1 Thessalonians 5:6. Drunkenness signifies the condition of a soil besotted and enslaved by evil. We catch here another echo of our Lord’s warnings: “Lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare” (Luke 21:34; comp. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 above; also Luke 12:45-46; and Romans 13:13). Thus dawn surprises guilty revellers.

Barnes' Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

For they that sleep, sleep in the night - Night is the time for sleep. The day is the time for action, and in the light of day people should be employed.

Whedon's Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

7. Sleep… night—Doubly true. The body sleeps in natural night, the soul sleeps in the night of the soul. But in these words it is the physical that is adduced in illustration of the mental.

Sermons on 1 Thessalonians 5:7

SermonDescription
Robert Wurtz II The Watchman (Watchman- What of the Night?) by Robert Wurtz II Robert Wurtz II preaches about the role of watchmen in the spiritual realm, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant, sober, and prepared for the challenges and dangers that co
John Piper (Biographies) Augustine by John Piper In this sermon, the speaker reflects on his struggle with lust and the allure of pornography. He compares the seductive whispers of pornography to the temptations he faced in his o
Tim Conway Freedom From Masterbation and Sensuality by Tim Conway This sermon emphasizes the need to flee from sin, particularly addressing the issue of justifying masturbation as not a sin. It highlights the importance of seeking biblical guidan
T. Austin-Sparks Fatherhood by T. Austin-Sparks In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the fatherly nature of God and how it is reflected in various aspects of His interactions with humanity. The speaker encourages the audience
Edgar F. Parkyns Church History - Session 3 (After Augustus) by Edgar F. Parkyns In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of following the teachings of Jesus Christ and being practical in our faith. He argues against the concept of original sin and
David Ravenhill Capital City Church - Part 3 by David Ravenhill In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being aware of the time we are living in and being spiritually awake. He highlights the choice we have to either continue i
Don Courville How Satan Destroys a Church - Part 8 (God's Graduate School) by Don Courville In this sermon, the speaker discusses the destructive fruits of envy and the importance of maintaining agreement in relationships. He emphasizes that envy and jealousy can quickly

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