Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
Parallel translations
- WEB But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
- KJV But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
- NKJV But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
- NASB But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
- NLT Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Separated from them, Paul longed intensely to see them again. His forced absence only deepened his affection.
Overview
Paul describes being "bereaved" of them—language of painful separation, like that of orphaned children. Though physically apart, he remained present in heart and tried eagerly to return. This expresses the genuine bonds of love that unite Christians even across distance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Col 2:5For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
- 1 Cor 5:3Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- 1 Th 3:6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
- 1 Th 3:10–11Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.
- Rom 1:13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
- 2 Sam 13:39And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.
- Luke 22:15And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.
- Ps 63:1A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.
- Rom 15:23But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,
- Gen 48:11“I never expected to see your face again,” Israel said to Joseph, “but now God has let me see your children as well.”
- Phil 1:22–26But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.
- Gen 45:28“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”
- Acts 17:10As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
- 2 Kgs 5:26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?
- Gen 31:30Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 2:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.