What Does 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Mean in the King James?
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek shows exploitation as two linked acts, stepping over another’s boundary, then taking more, with the Lord standing as the one who answers for it.
THE MEANING
When you take more by crossing another person’s boundary, that injury is not hidden from the Lord; the verse presents the Lord as the one who answers for it. Your brother’s loss is not left as a private matter between the two of you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that a gain is harmless when the other person cannot force redress collapses here: the Lord sees and answers for the taking.
THE ROOT
πλεονεκτεῖν
pleonektein
GROWS FROM
πλεονεκτ-
pleonekt-
To take advantage by having or claiming more than one’s share.
“defraud” in this verse is pleonektein. The verb joins πλείων (pleiōn, “more”) and ἔχω (echō, “have”): the wrong is not merely damage, but taking an excess for oneself. Its word family connects that act with greed and with the person who takes more, exposing appetite and exploitation as parts of one pattern.
ALSO GROWS
pleonexia: greed, covetousness
πλεονεξία
The desire to have more belongs to the same word family as the act of defrauding.
pleonektēs: a greedy or exploitative person
πλεονέκτης
The word names the person whose pattern is taking more, linking the disposition to the deed.
ὑπερβαίνειν
hyperbainein
GROWS FROM
βαίνω (bainō, step or go), compounded with ὑπέρ (hyper, over or beyond)
To step over or go beyond a limit.
“go beyond” in this verse is hyperbainein. The first verb pictures someone stepping over a boundary in relation to a brother. Beside “have more,” it reveals exploitation as crossing a limit and then enlarging one’s share.
ALSO GROWS
parabainō: step aside, transgress
παραβαίνω
This related verb also uses βαίνω (bainō, “step or go”) to picture crossing a limit.
basis: a step, footing
βάσις
This related word preserves the concrete image of a step or footing beneath the verse’s boundary-crossing.
ἔκδικος
ekdikos
GROWS FROM
δίκη (dikē, right or justice), compounded with ἐκ (ek, out or from)
One who carries out justice or exacts what is due.
Calling the Lord ἔκδικος (ekdikos, “avenger”) places the injury within the reach of justice. The related word δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē, “alignment”) shares the δίκη (dikē, “right or justice”) family, tying right order to the treatment of another person.
ALSO GROWS
dikaiosynē: alignment
δικαιοσύνη
This related word connects justice with right relation and order.
ekdikēsis: vindication, justice exacted
ἐκδίκησις
This related word names justice being carried out, echoing the Lord’s role toward those who are wronged.
THE PATTERN
When someone secures gain by crossing another’s due, God hears the injury and holds the taking accountable.
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.THE THREAD
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.This verse uses the same Greek verb, πλεονεκτέω (pleonekteō, “take advantage by having more”), that is translated “defraud” here. The shared word makes the relational harm precise: one person’s excess is gained at another’s expense.
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