Rejoice always,
Parallel translations
- WEB Rejoice always.
- KJV Rejoice evermore.
- BSB Rejoice at all times.
- NASB Rejoice always,
- NLT Always be joyful.
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
Believers are called to rejoice always, a constant joy rooted in God rather than in changing circumstances.
Overview
This brief command, the shortest verse in Greek in the letter's series, calls for continual joy that does not depend on outward conditions. Such joy is possible because it rests on the unchanging realities of the gospel and the believer's secure standing in Christ. It forms a triad with the next two commands (prayer and thanksgiving) describing the normal Christian life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Rom 12:12rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;
- Phil 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
- Matt 5:12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- 2 Cor 6:10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
- Luke 10:20Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 5:16 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.