2nd Thessalonians Chapter 3 verse 10 Holy Bible
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
read chapter 3 in ASV
For even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food.
read chapter 3 in BBE
For also when we were with you we enjoined you this, that if any man does not like to work, neither let him eat.
read chapter 3 in DARBY
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
read chapter 3 in KJV
read chapter 3 in WBT
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."
read chapter 3 in WEB
for even when we were with you, this we did command you, that if any one is not willing to work, neither let him eat,
read chapter 3 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 10. - For even when we were with you; during our residence in Thessalonica. This we commanded, that if any man would not work, neither should he eat. This or similar expressions have been shown to be a proverb in frequent use among the Jews. Thus: "Whoever doth not work doth not eat" ('Bereshith Rabba'); "Let not him who would not labour before the sabbath eat on the sabbath" ('In Lib. Zenon.'). It is a law of nature, and the apostle here sanctions it as a law of Christianity. There is here a reference to the sentence pronounced on man in Paradise in consequence of disobedience: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:19). Labour, indeed, may in one point of view be considered as part of the curse, but it is also a blessing adapted to man's fallen nature. Labour is the law of God; idleness is the parent of many crimes and is productive of misery. He who has no business allotted to him ought to choose some useful occupation for himself.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) For even.--The sequence of thought is a little difficult, but it seems best to regard this "for" as connecting its sentence, not with 2Thessalonians 3:9, but rather with 2Thessalonians 3:6. It does not give the reason why St. Paul and his companions worked: "because we strictly enjoined you to work, and therefore could not be idle ourselves." Rather, it justifies the reiteration of the command: "We do not hesitate to command you now to repress this disorderly conduct, so contrary to the example set you; for, in fact, when we were with you we used to lay down this law." So Theodoret takes it: "It is no new thing that we write to you."We commanded.--The tense in the original is that of constant re-assertion, which brings out once more the thorough grounding which the Apostles gave at once to their converts. (See Note on 2Thessalonians 3:6 : "the tradition;" also the Note on 2Thessalonians 2:5.) The same definite precept is referred to in 1Thessalonians 4:11. . . .
