• 1 Thessalonians 2:17
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 17 Ἡμεῖς We δέ, but, ἀδελφοί, brothers, ἀπορφανισθέντες having been orphaned off ἀφ’ from ὑμῶν YOU πρὸς toward καιρὸν appointed time ὥρας, of hour, προσώπῳ to face οὐ not καρδίᾳ, to heart, περισσοτέρως more abundantly ἐσπουδάσαμεν we speeded up τὸ the πρόσωπον face ὑμῶν of YOU ἰδεῖν to see ἐν in πολλῇ much ἐπιθυμίᾳ. desire.

  • 1 Thessalonians Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 2:17

      we were separated from you: Or “we were bereaved of you.” Paul here employs a Greek verb (a·por·pha·niʹzo) that is related to the term rendered “orphans” (plural of or·pha·nosʹ) at Jas 1:27 and that could literally be rendered “to be made orphans.” However, it was also used to describe bereavement in general, including that of parents whose children died. In verses 7 and 11 of this chapter, Paul compared himself and his companions to a nursing mother and to a father. Therefore, he may have used this term to indicate that he and his companions felt like parents who had lost their children​—so keenly did they feel bereaved of association with their family of fellow believers in Thessalonica. This is another example of how Paul used terms associated with the family to describe his relationship with fellow believers.​—See study notes on 1Th 2:7, 11.

      for just a short time: Paul uses an idiom that occurs only here in the Christian Greek Scriptures. It could more literally be rendered “for a season (an appointed time) of an hour.” His point seems to be that even though he had just seen his fellow believers in Thessalonica​—perhaps a few months earlier​—he longs to see them again. Paul thus assures them that despite this involuntary separation, he made every effort to be reunited with them. To comfort them, he sent Timothy.​—1Th 3:1, 2.