1 Thessalonians 5:3

Now when ¹  they are saying, “There is peace and security,” ²  then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains ³  on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.

Ex 15:9,10; De 29:19; Jos 8:20-22; Jud 18:27,28; Jud 20:41,42; 2Ch 32:19-21; Ps 10:11-13; Ps 48:6; Ps 73:18-20; Pr 29:1; Isa 21:3; Isa 21:4; Isa 30:13; Isa 43:6-9; Isa 56:12; Jer 4:31; Jer 6:24; Jer 13:21; Jer 22:23; Da 5:3-6; Ho 13:13; Mic 4:9,10; Na 1:10; Mt 23:33; Mt 24:37-39; Lu 17:26-30; Lu 17:27-29; Lu 21:34,35; Ac 12:22,23; Ac 13:41; 2Th 1:9; Heb 2:3; Heb 12:23; 2Pe 2:4; Re 18:7,8

¹ tc ‡ δέ (de, “now”) is found in א² B D 0226 6 1505 1739 1881 al, but lacking in א* A F G 33 it. γάρ (gar, “for”) is the reading of the Byzantine text and a few other witnesses (Ψ 0278 Ï). Although normally the shorter reading is to be preferred, the external evidence is superior for δέ (being found in the somewhat better Alexandrian and Western witnesses). What, then, is to explain the γάρ? Scribes were prone to replace δέ with γάρ, especially in sentences suggesting a causal or explanatory idea, thus making the point more explicit. Internally, the omission of δέ looks unintentional, a case of homoioarcton (otandelegwsin). Although a decision is difficult, in this instance δέ has the best credentials for authenticity.

² tn Grk “peace and security,” with “there is” understood in the Greek construction.

³ tn Grk a singular “birth pain.”