1 Thessalonians 4:6
in 1 Thessalonians 4and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
KJV
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 4
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThat no man go beyond and defraud his brother - That no man should by any means endeavor to corrupt the wife of another, or to alienate her affections or fidelity from her husband; this I believe to be the apostle’s meaning, though some understand it of covetousness, overreaching, tricking, cheating, and cozenage in general. The Lord is the avenger of all such - He takes up the cause of the injured husband wherever the case has not been detected by man, and all such vices he will signally punish.
This site's exposition
no one should ever violate or exploit his brother
on 1 Thessalonians 4:6-8
To violate or exploit his brother in this regard means trespassing on another man's marriage. The sanction is God's: the Lord will avenge all such acts. Verse 8 removes the last refuge, for whoever rejects this command does not reject man but God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
CyprianTreatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews · Written before 258.
proposed
In the first Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians: "That a man do not deceive his brother in a matter, because God is the avenger for all these."
"That no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter." He has well said, "that no man transgress." To each man God has assigned a wife, he has set bounds to nature, that intercourse with one only: therefore intercourse with another is transgression, and the taking of more than belongs to one, and robbery; or rather it is more cruel than any robbery; for we grieve not so much, when our riches are carried off, as when marriage is invaded. Dost thou call him brother, and wrongest him, and that in things which are unlawful? Here he speaks concerning adultery, but above also concerning "all fornication." For since he was about to say, "That no man transgress and wrong his brother," Do not think, he says, that I say this only in the case of brethren; you must not have the wives of others at all, nor even women that have no husbands, and that are common. You must abstain from "all fornication"; "Because," he says, "the Lord is an avenger in all these things." He exhorted them first, he shamed them, saying, "even as the Gentiles." Then from reasonings he showed the impropriety of defrauding a brother. Afterwards he adds the principal thing; "Because," he says, "the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified." For we do not these things without being punished, neither do we enjoy so much pleasure, as we undergo punishment.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Above the apostle speaks of fornication in general, but now he speaks of adultery, which he rightly calls covetousness and transgression. For God gave each man a wife and set limits to nature, meaning cohabitation with this one wife. Therefore covetousness applies to this matter, …
Then when Paul says, that no man transgress, he forbids greed, and insists that no man transgress, that is, no one should exert violence by taking another's property through brute strength. "Is it not the rich who oppress you?" (Jas. 2:6). And wrong his brother …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
18 ), not only are they very injurious to the sinner himself both in soul and body, but sometimes they are very injurious, and no less than defrauding, acts of injustice to others, particularly to those who are joined together in the marriage covenant and to their posterity. And, as this sin is of such a heinous nature, so it follows that God will be the avenger of it.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
In this matter - By violating his bed. The things forbidden, here are three: fornication, ver. 3; the passion of desire, or inordinate affection in the married state, ver. 5; and the breach of the marriage contract.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-3-anchored-6-6
That no man go beyond, and defraud his brother in any matter,.... Or "in this matter", as the Syriac version.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
1Th 4:7 also confirms this view; the word "brother" enhances the enormity of the crime. It is your brother whom you wrong (compare Pr 6:27-33). the Lord--the coming Judge (2Th 1:7, 8). avenger--the Righter. of all such--Greek, "concerning all these things;" in all such cases of wrongs against a neighbor's conjugal honor. testified--Greek, "constantly testified [ALFORD].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That no man go beyond - ὑπερβαίνειν huperbainein. This word means, “to make to go over,” as, e. g., a wall or mountain; then, to overpass, to wit, certain limits, to transgress; and then to go too far, i. e., to go beyond right - hence to cheat or defraud. It is not used elsewhere in the New Testament. The idea of overreaching is that which is implied in its use here. And defraud - πλεονεκτεῖν pleonektein Margin, “oppress,” or “overreach.” This word properly means, to have more than another; then to have an advantage; and then to take advantage of any one, to circumvent, defraud, cheat. It is rendered “got an advantage,” 2Co 2:11; “defraud,” 2Co 7:2; 1Th 4:6; “make a gain,” 2Co 12:17-18. Compare for the use of the adjective, 1Co 5:10-11; 1Co 6:10; Eph 5:5; and the noun, Mar 7:22; Luk 12:15; Rom 1:29; 2Co 9:5; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1Th 2:5; 2Pe 2:3, 2Pe 2:14. It is the word commonly used to denote covetousness. Taking advantage of, is the idea which it conveys here. In any matter - Margin, “or the.” According to the reading in the margin, this would refer to the particular matter under discussion 1Th 4:3-5, to wit, concupiscence. and the meaning then would be, that no one should be guilty of illicit intercourse with the wife of another. Many expositors - as Hammond Whitby, Macknight, Rosenmuller, and others, suppose that this is a prohibition of adultery, and there can be no doubt that it does include this. But there is no reason why it should be confined to it. The Greek is so general that it may prohibit all kinds of fraud, overreaching, or covetousness, and may refer to any attempt to deprive another of his rights, whether it be the right which he has in his property, or his rights as a husband, or his rights in any other respect. […]
The words behind it
23 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ὑπερβαίνειν | huperbainein | to go beyond | G5233 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πλεονεκτεῖν | pleonektein | to overreach | G4122 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πράγματι | pragmati | matter | G4229 → | |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφὸν | adelphon | brother | G80 → | 343 times |
| αὐτοῦ· | autou | of him; | G846 → | 5565 times |
| διότι | dioti | because | G1360 → | 23 times |
| ἔκδικος | ekdikos | avenging [is] | G1558 → | |
| κύριος | kurios | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| πάντων | panton | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τούτων | touton | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| προείπαμεν | proeipamen | we told before | G4277 → | |
| ὑμῖν | humin | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διεμαρτυράμεθα. | diemarturametha | thoroughly warned. | G1263 → |
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ὑπερβαίνεινto go beyond
huperbaineinG5233 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πλεονεκτεῖνto overreach
pleonekteinG4122 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πράγματιmatter
pragmatiG4229 →
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφὸνbrother
adelphonG80 →343 times
αὐτοῦ·of him;
autouG846 →5565 times
διότιbecause
diotiG1360 →23 times
ἔκδικοςavenging [is]
ekdikosG1558 →
κύριοςLord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
πάντωνall
pantonG3956 →1235 times
τούτωνthese things
toutonG3778 →1381 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
προείπαμενwe told before
proeipamenG4277 →
ὑμῖνyou
huminG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διεμαρτυράμεθα.thoroughly warned.
diemarturamethaG1263 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 20:17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
it leads to
- Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 13:9
Through
Romans 12:19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Hebrews 10:30
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
- Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Through
Hebrews 13:4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
it leads to
- Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- Proverbs 5:15–23
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
- Genesis 2:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.