For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
Parallel translations
- KJV For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
- BSB How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
- NKJV For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,
- NASB For what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God,
- NLT How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.
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
Paul cannot thank God enough for the joy these believers bring him. Gratitude overflows beyond what he can express.
Overview
Paul asks what thanks could possibly match the joy he feels before God on their account. His joy is God-ward, rejoicing "before our God," recognizing God as the source of their faith. Overflowing thanksgiving is the fitting response when one sees God's grace at work in others.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Cor 9:15Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
- Ps 96:12–13Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy
- 1 Th 1:2–3We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
- Ps 71:14–15But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.
- 1 Th 3:7–8for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
- 2 Sam 7:18–20Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
- Deut 16:11You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are among you, in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there.
- Ps 98:8–9Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.
- 2 Sam 6:21David said to Michal, “It was before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before Yahweh.
- 1 Th 2:19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- Neh 9:5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
- Deut 12:18but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God in all that you put your hand to.
- Deut 12:2You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
- Ps 68:3But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
- 2 Cor 2:14Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
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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 3:9 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.