• 1 Thessalonians 5:3
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 3 ὅταν Whenever λέγωσιν they may be saying Εἰρήνη Peace καὶ and ἀσφάλεια, security, τότε then αἰφνίδιος sudden αὐτοῖς to them ἐπίσταται is standing upon ὄλεθρος destruction ὥσπερ as-even ἡ the ὠδὶν birth pang τῇ to the [woman] ἐν in γαστρὶ belly ἐχούσῃ, having, καὶ and οὐ not μὴ not ἐκφύγωσιν. they should flee out.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 3 As soon as they begin to say—Peace! and safety! Then suddenly upon them cometh destruction,—Just as the birth-throe unto her that is with child,—And in nowise shall they escape.

  • 1 Thessalonians Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 5:3

      sudden destruction is to be instantly on them: Paul here indicates that there will be little or no time between the proclamation of “peace and security” and the destruction that will come upon those making that cry. It will be sudden and inescapable. The Greek phrase contains two terms (rendered “sudden” and “be instantly on”) to emphasize the striking suddenness with which the destruction will come. A similar combination of terms appears at Lu 21:34, where the coming of Jehovah’s day is described.

      just like birth pains on a pregnant woman: Labor pains come suddenly; there is no way of foreknowing the exact day and hour. However, Paul’s metaphor stresses the suddenness and inevitability of the coming destruction. Once labor pains begin, a woman knows that an unstoppable process has begun.​—Compare study note on Mt 24:8.

      they will by no means escape: Paul here uses two negatives (lit., “not not escape”) to emphasize that it will be impossible for the wicked to escape the “sudden destruction” that will come “instantly on them.”