1 Thessalonians 5:8 BSB

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

KJV

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

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Commentary

4 voices

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians (1107)

Sleeping here the apostle calls those who remain in evil, as being immovable toward virtue and immersed in dreamlike delusions. Such, indeed, are the affairs of the present life, in no way differing from the visions of sleep. Furthermore, by drunkenness he means not only …

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But let us, who are of the day, be sober,.... As in body, so in mind; let us cast off the works of darkness, and have no fellowship with them; since the day of grace has passed upon us, the darkness is gone, and the true light shines, let us walk as children of the light, living soberly, righteously, and godly: putting on the breastplate of faith and love; this is the coat of mail, 1Sa 17:5 which was made of iron or brass; and the Ethiopic version here calls it, "the iron coat."

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

This good hope, through grace, of eternal life, will be as a helmet to defend the head, and hinder our being intoxicated with the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of doing any thing that shall shake our hopes, or render us unworthy of or unfit for the great salvation we hope for.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Putting on the breastplate - We are not only called to Work, but we are called also to fight; and that we may not be surprised, we must watch; and that we may be in a condition to defend ourselves, we must be sober; and that we may be enabled to conquer, we must be armed: and what the breastplate and helmet are to a soldier’s heart and head, such are faith, love, and hope to us.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	We ourselves	G3165 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
ἡμέρας	hēmeras	of [the] day	G2250 →
ὄντες	ontes	being	G1510 →
νήφωμεν	nēphōmen	may be sober	G3525 →
ἐνδυσάμενοι	endusamenoi	having put on	G1746 →
θώρακα	thōraka	[the] breastplate	G2382 →
πίστεως	pisteōs	of faith	G4102 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ἀγάπης	agapēs	love	G26 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
περικεφαλαίαν	perikephalaian	[the] helmet	G4030 →
ἐλπίδα	elpida	[the] hope	G1680 →
σωτηρίας·	sōtērias	of salvation;	G4991 →

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

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
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
leads to
- 1 Peter 5:8
  Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4
  The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- Romans 13:12
  The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- Ephesians 6:13
  Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
- 2 Corinthians 2:11
  in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Through
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
leads to
- Luke 12:35
  Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
- 1 Peter 4:7
  The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Hebrews 9:28
  so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

Featured studies on this passage

On 1 Thessalonians 5:8

The Armor of God

Roman legionary equipment surveyed by Paul as Christian discipline (Eph 6:10–18). Six pieces of armor and a seventh element — prayer — that is posture, not armor. Every piece carries an OT echo.

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On 1 Thessalonians 5:8

The Day of the LORD — yom YHWH

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On 1 Thessalonians 5:8

The Whole Armour

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Saul Rejected as King (Bible Card) — Providence Lithograph Company

Walks through 1 Thessalonians 5

Grieving & Quenching the Spirit · MannaFest

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About 1 Thessalonians

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Thessalonians: the study guide →Read chapter 5 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Thessalonians 5 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Thessalonians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Thessalonians