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1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thess. 4:4 KJV (With Strong’s)

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4
That
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
every one
hekastos (Greek #1538)
each or every
KJV usage: any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.
Pronounce: hek'-as-tos
Origin: as if a superlative of ἕκας (afar)
of you
humon (Greek #5216)
of (from or concerning) you
KJV usage: ye, you, your (own, -selves).
Pronounce: hoo-mone'
Origin: genitive case of 5210
should know how
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
to possess
ktaomai (Greek #2932)
to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own)
KJV usage: obtain, possess, provide, purchase.
Pronounce: ktah'-om-ahee
Origin: a primary verb
his
heautou (Greek #1438)
him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.
KJV usage: alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves).
Pronounce: heh-ow-too'
Origin: from a reflexive pronoun otherwise obsolete and the genitive case (dative case or accusative case) of 846
vessel
skeuos (Greek #4632)
a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband))
KJV usage: goods, sail, stuff, vessel.
Pronounce: skyoo'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
sanctification
hagiasmos (Greek #38)
properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier
KJV usage: holiness, sanctification.
Pronounce: hag-ee-as-mos'
Origin: from 37
and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
honor
time (Greek #5092)
a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself
KJV usage: honour, precious, price, some.
Pronounce: tee-may'
Origin: from 5099
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More on:

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Sanctification

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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should.
Rom. 6:19• 19I speak humanly on account of the weakness of your flesh. For even as ye have yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto holiness. (Rom. 6:19)
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Rom. 12:1• 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service. (Rom. 12:1)
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1 Cor. 6:15,18‑20• 15Do ye not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then, taking the members of the Christ, make them members of a harlot? Far be the thought.
 18Flee fornication. Every sin which a man may practise is without the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.
 19Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own?
 20for ye have been bought with a price: glorify now then God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:15,18‑20)
his.
1 Sam. 21:5• 5And David answered the priest and said to him, Yes indeed, women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, and the more so, because to-day new is hallowed in the vessels. (1 Sam. 21:5)
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Acts 9:15• 15And the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel: (Acts 9:15)
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Rom. 9:21‑23• 21Or has not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and another to dishonour?
 22And if God, minded to shew his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction;
 23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory, (Rom. 9:21‑23)
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2 Tim. 2:20‑21• 20But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
 21If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Tim. 2:20‑21)
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1 Peter 3:7• 7Ye husbands likewise, dwell with them according to knowledge, as with a weaker, even the female, vessel, giving them honour, as also fellow-heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)
honour.
Phil. 4:8• 8For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if any praise, think on these things. (Phil. 4:8)
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Heb. 13:4• 4Let marriage be held every way in honour, and the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers will God judge. (Heb. 13:4)
• Holiness, of course, goes far beyond freedom from sensuality. Still to stand clear of that which was everywhere sanctioned in ordinary life was no small thing. Nor is the Apostle satisfied with the negative duty of abstinence, but calls on "each of them to know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor," instead of letting it drift loosely into sin and shame (“On 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12” by W. Kelly)
• The motives given here show upon what entirely new ground, as regards the commonest morality, Christianity places us. The body was but as a vessel to be used at will for whatever service they chose. They were to possess this vessel, instead of allowing themselves to be carried away by the desires of the flesh. (“1 Thessalonians 4” by J.N. Darby)
• Instead of letting it drift loosely into sin and shame. (“On 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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that each of you know how to possessh his own vessel in sanctificationg and honour,

JND Translation Notes

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h
The Greek is not, I think, "acquire," but "come into possession of," the difference being great in moral things. What I possess myself of, I possess when the action is complete and permanent. Thus Luke 18.12; 21.19. You cannot say "acquire your souls by patience." "Keep," "preserve," is a kindred sense of the word.
g
Hagiasmos. See Note i at Rom. 1.4.

W. Kelly Translation

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that each of you know how to possess himself ofa his own vessel in sanctification and honour,

WK Translation Notes

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a
The Revisers aptly render it, "to possess himself of."