1 Timothy 5:11

1 Timothy 5:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
• New International Version (NIV)As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
• New Living Translation (NLT)The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.

Context of 1 Timothy 5:11

9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

1 Timothy 5:11 word by word

νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ καταστρηνιάσωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, γαμεῖν θέλουσινRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• the youngerνέοςneos neōteros · newG3501
• widowsχήραchēra · widowG5503
• refuseπαραιτέομαιparaiteomai · to refuse/excuseG3868
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• they have begun to wax wanton againstκαταστρηνιάωkatastrēniaō · to desireG2691
• Christὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• they willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• marryγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:11

• 1 Timothy 5:9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,
• Deuteronomy 32:15"But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.
• Isaiah 3:16The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet,
• Hosea 13:6but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.
• James 5:5You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
• 2 Peter 2:18For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
• 1 Timothy 4:3who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 7:39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But the younger widows refuse - Do not admit those into this office who are under sixty years of age. Probably those who were received into such a list promised to abide in their widowhood. But as young or comparatively young women might have both occasion and temptations to remarry, and so break their engagement to Christ, they should not be admitted. Not that the apostle condemns their remarrying as a crime in itself, but because it was contrary to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But the younger widows refuse - That is, in respect to the matter under discussion. Do not admit them into the class of widows referred to. It cannot mean that he was to reject them as members of the church, or not to treat them with respect and kindness. For when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ - There is probably a thought conveyed by these words to most minds which is by no means in the original, and which does injustice both to the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-16Verses 9-16 Every one brought into any office in the church, should be free from just censure; and many are proper objects of charity, yet ought not to be employed in public services. Those who would find mercy when they are in distress, must show mercy when they are in prosperity; and those who show most readiness for every good work, are most likely to be faithful in whatever is trusted to them. Those who are idle, very seldom are only idle, they make…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12their first faith: If Paul was concerned about a second marriage to non-Christians, this phrase might refer to their Christian faith (see 5:14). They would give up this faith by entering a marriage with a pagan (worshiper of false gods). This would probably separate them from Christ. It is also possible that Paul and the church recognized a special category of “sacred widowhood” (see 5:5; compare Acts 9:36–37). These widows entered this category by making…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. younger--than sixty years old (1Ti 5:9). refuse--to take on the roll of presbyteress widows. wax wanton--literally, "over-strong" (2Ch 26:16). against Christ--rebelling against Christ, their proper Bridegroom [Jerome]. they will--Greek, "they wish"; their desire is to marry again.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:11

• Commandments
• Minister, Christian
• Talebearer
• Widow
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Widows

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5

• 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