2-thessalonians 3:11
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
American Standard Version (ASV)
For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.
Webster's Revision
For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies.
World English Bible
For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.
Clarke's 2-thessalonians 3:11 Bible Commentary
For we hear that there are some - It is very likely that St. Paul kept up some sort of correspondence with the Thessalonian Church; for he had heard every thing that concerned their state, and it was from this information that he wrote his second epistle.
Disorderly - Ατακτως· Out of their rank - not keeping their own place.
Working not at all - Either lounging at home, or becoming religious gossips; μηδεν εργαζομενους, doing nothing.
Busybodies - Περιεργαζομενους· Doing every thing they should not do - impertinent meddlers with other people's business; prying into other people's circumstances and domestic affairs; magnifying or minifying, mistaking or underrating, every thing; newsmongers and telltales; an abominable race, the curse of every neighborhood where they live, and a pest to religious society. There is a fine paronomasia in the above words, and evidently intended by the apostle.
Barnes's 2-thessalonians 3:11 Bible Commentary
For we hear - It is not known in what way this was made known to Paul, whether by Timothy, or by some other one. He had no doubt of its truth, and he seems to have been prepared to believe it the more readily from what he saw when he was among them.
Which walk disorderly - See the notes, 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
But are busy-bodies - Compare the 1 Timothy 5:13 note; 1 Peter 4:15 note. That is, they meddled with the affairs of others - a thing which they who have nothing of their own to busy themselves about will be very likely to do. The apostle had seen that there was a tendency to his when he was in Thessalonica, and hence he had commanded them to "do their own business;" 1 Thessalonians 4:11. The injunction, it seems, had availed little, for there is no class of persons who will heed good counsel so little as those who have a propensity to intermeddle with the affairs of others. One of the indispensable things to check this is, that each one should have enough to do himself; and one of the most pestiferous of all persons is he who has nothing to do but to look after the affairs of his neighbors. In times of affliction and want, we should be ready to lend our aid. At other times, we should feel that he can manage his own affairs as well as we can do it for him; or if he cannot, it is his business, not ours. The Greek word used occurs only here, and in 1 Timothy 5:13; compare the notes on Philippians 2:4.
Wesley's 2-thessalonians 3:11 Bible Commentary
3:11 Doing nothing, but being busybodies - To which idleness naturally disposes.