1 Thessalonians 2:7 BSB

1 Thessalonians 2:7

On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:

KJV

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

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Commentary

4 voices

Clement of Alexandria

The Stromata Book 1 (215)

It therefore follows, that every one of those who undertake to promote the good of their neighbours, ought to consider whether he has betaken himself to teaching rashly and out of rivalry to any; if his communication of the word is out of vainglory; if the only reward he reaps is the salvation of those who hear, and if he speaks not in order to win favour: if so, he who speaks by writings escapes the reproach of mercenary motives. "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know," says the apostle, "nor a cloak of covetousness.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Clement of Alexandria

The Instructor Book 1 (215)

Then it is right to notice, with respect to the appellation of infant (νήπιον), that it is not predicated of the silly: and νήπιος is νεήπιος (since he that is tender-hearted is called ἤπιος), as being one that has newly become gentle and meek in conduct. This the blessed Paul most clearly pointed out when he said, "When we might have been burdensome as the apostles of Christ, we were gentle (ἤπιοι) among you, as a nurse cherisheth her children."

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But we were gentle among you,.... Meek and humble, mild and moderate; not using severity, or carrying it in a haughty imperious manner; assuming power and dominion, lording it over God's heritage, and commanding persons to do homage and honour to them, and forcing themselves upon them, and obliging them to maintain them.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

But we were gentle among you - Instead of using authority, we used only the most kind and gentle methods to win you and to promote your peace and order. The word here rendered “nurse,” may mean any one who nurses a child, whether a mother or another person. It seems here to refer to a mother (compare 1Th 2:11), and the idea is, that the apostle felt for them the affectionate solicitude which a mother does for the child at her breast.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	[7] But	G235 →
ἐγενήθημεν	egenēthēmen	we were	G1096 →
νήπιοι	nēpioi	infants	G3516 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
μέσῳ	mesō	[the] midst	G3319 →
ὑμῶν,	humōn	of you,	G4771 →
ὡς	hōs	as	G5613 →
ἐὰν	ean	maybe	G1437 →
τροφὸς	trophos	a nursing mother	G5162 →
θάλπῃ	thalpē	shall cherish	G2282 →
τὰ	ta	<the>	G3588 →
ἑαυτῆς	he'autēs	her own	G1438 →
τέκνα,	tekna	children,	G5043 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

G1438he'autesher own322×

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD;…
leads to
- Isaiah 60:14
  The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy…
- Isaiah 60:16
  You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty; you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
- Isaiah 60:3
  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
- Micah 7:17
  They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will crawl from their holes in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of…
- Isaiah 45:14
  This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge…
Through
Isaiah 66:13
As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 1:4
  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
- Isaiah 51:3
  For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness…
- Isaiah 40:1
  “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.

About 1 Thessalonians

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Thessalonians: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Thessalonians 2 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About 1 Thessalonians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About 1 Thessalonians