1 Thessalonians 5:10
in 1 Thessalonians 5He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
KJV
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWho died for us, that is, He redeemed us by dying for us. "The righteous died for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1 Pet. 3:18). And the manner …
This site's exposition
God has not appointed us to suffer wrath
on 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation states the promise of 1:10. He died for us grounds it in the cross, and whether we are awake or asleep repeats chapter 4.
This site's exposition
whether we are awake or asleep
Awake and asleep here mean alive and dead, and John Chrysostom notes that sleep meant moral dullness a few verses earlier. Together gathers both groups into one company. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown link it to 4:13 to 17, where the living and the dead meet the Lord at once.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"That, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do." And again, "whether we wake or sleep"; by sleep there he means one thing, and here another. For here, "whether we sleep" signifies the death of the body; that is, fear not dangers; though we should die, we shall live. Do not despair because thou art in danger. Thou hast a strong security. He would not have given His Son if He had not been inflamed by vehement love for us. So that, though thou shouldest die, thou wilt live; for He Himself also died. Therefore whether we die, or whether we live, we shall live with Him. This is a matter of indifference: it is no concern of mine, whether I live or die; for we shall live with Him.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Therefore, he says, one must acquire this armor, because God has not appointed us to wrath, that is, He has not destined us to bear His wrath, but rather to acquire us for Himself and save us, having given His Son to death for us. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Who died for us,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Who died for us - His death was an atoning sacrifice for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews. Whether we wake or sleep - Whether we live or die, whether we are in this state or in the other world, we shall live together with him-shall enjoy his life, and the consolations of his Spirit, while here; and shall be glorified together with him in the eternal world. The words show that every where and in all circumstances genuine believers, who walk after God, have life and communion with him, and are continually happy, and constantly safe.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
died for us--Greek, "in our behalf." whether we wake or sleep--whether we be found at Christ's coming awake, that is, alive, or asleep, that is, in our graves. together--all of us together; the living not preceding the dead in their glorification "with Him" at His coming (1Th 4:13).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Who died for us - That is, to redeem us. He designed by his death that we should ultimately live with him; and this effect of his death could be secured only as it was an atoning sacrifice. Whether we wake or sleep - Whether we are found among the living or the dead when he comes. The object here is to show that the one class would have no advantage over the other. This was designed to calm their minds in their trials, and to correct an error which seems to have prevailed in the belief that those who were found alive when he should return would have some priority over those who were dead; see the notes on 1Th 4:13-18. Should live together with him - See the notes at Joh 14:3. The word rendered “together” (ἁμα hama) is not to be regarded as connected with the phrase “with him” - as meaning that he and they would be “together,” but it refers to those who “wake and those who sleep” - those who are alive and those who are dead - meaning that they would be “together” or would be with the Lord “at the same time;” there would be no priority or precedence. Rosenmuller.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῦ | tou | the [One who] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποθανόντος | apothanontos | having died | G599 → | |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | for | G5228 → | 155 times |
| ἡμῶν, | hemon | us, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| εἴτε | eite | whether | G1535 → | |
| γρηγορῶμεν | gregoromen | we shall watch | G1127 → | |
| εἴτε | eite | or | G1535 → | |
| καθεύδωμεν | katheudomen | we shall sleep | G2518 → | 22 times |
| ἅμα | hama | together | G260 → | |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ζήσωμεν.¶ | zesomen | we may live. | G2198 → | 139 times |
τοῦthe [One who]
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀποθανόντοςhaving died
apothanontosG599 →
ὑπὲρfor
huperG5228 →155 times
ἡμῶν,us,
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
εἴτεwhether
eiteG1535 →
γρηγορῶμενwe shall watch
gregoromenG1127 →
εἴτεor
eiteG1535 →
καθεύδωμενwe shall sleep
katheudomenG2518 →22 times
ἅμαtogether
hamaG260 →
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
αὐτῷHim
autoG846 →5565 times
ζήσωμεν.¶we may live.
zesomenG2198 →139 times
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
1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
it leads to
- 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 9:26
Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by…
- Hebrews 9:28
Through
2 Corinthians 5:15And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
it leads to
- Romans 14:7–9
For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
- 1 Peter 4:2–4
Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
- 1 Peter 1:14–15
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
- Colossians 3:1
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
- Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Romans 14:7–9
Through
Matthew 20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
it leads to
- Titus 2:14
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Titus 2:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 Thessalonians, Homily 9; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 9; 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.
