English Standard Version
1 Timothy 3:4
4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
1 Timothy 3:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
- New International Version (NIV)He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.
- New King James Version (NKJV)one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
- New Living Translation (NLT)He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.
Context of 1 Timothy 3:4
2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Read all of 1 Timothy 31 Timothy 3:4 word by word
τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου καλῶς προϊστάμενον, τέκνα ἔχοντα ἐν ὑποταγῇ μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- One that rulethπροΐστημιproistēmi · to set beforeG4291
- wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
- his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- houseοἶκοςoikos · house: householdG3624
- havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- his childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- subjectionὑποταγήhupotagē · submissionG5292
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- gravityσεμνότηςsemnotēs · dignityG4587
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:4
- 1 Timothy 3:12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
- Genesis 18:19For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him."
- Joshua 24:15And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
- Psalms 101:2I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;
- Acts 10:2a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
- Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The fourteenth qualification of a Christian bishop is, that he ruleth well his own house; ̈́, one who properly presides over and governs his own family. One who has the command, of his own house, not by sternness, severity, and tyranny, but with all gravity; governing his household by rule, every one knowing his own place, and each doing his own work, and each work having the proper time assigned for its beginning and end. This is a maxim of common sense…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4One that ruleth well his own house - This implies that a minister of the gospel would be, and ought to be, a married man. It is everywhere in the New Testament supposed that he would be a man who could be an example in all the relations of life. The position which he occupies in the church has a strong resemblance to the relation which a father sustains to his household; and a qualification to govern a family well, would be an evidence of a qualification…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5The church, seen as a household, shared similarities with a family household (3:15). An overseer's ability to manage one area showed his skill in the other (see also 3:12; 5:17; Romans 12:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:12). Greek and Roman households were united by family bonds with shared responsibilities, roles, and management. The household included relatives by blood living together and other dependents, such as household servants.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. ruleth--Greek, "presiding over." his own house--children and servants, as contrasted with "the church" (house) of God (1Ti 3:5, 15) which he may be called on to preside over. having his children--rather as Greek, "having children (who are) in subjection" (Tit 1:6). gravity--propriety: reverent modesty on the part of the children [Alford]. The fact that he has children who are in subjection to him in all gravity, is the recommendation in his favor as…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries