English Standard Version
1 Timothy 6:16
16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
- New International Version (NIV)who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
- New King James Version (NKJV)who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
Context of 1 Timothy 6:16
14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
Read all of 1 Timothy 61 Timothy 6:16 word by word
ὁ μόνος ἔχων ἀθανασίαν, φῶς οἰκῶν ἀπρόσιτον, ὃν εἶδεν οὐδεὶς ἀνθρώπων οὐδὲ ἰδεῖν δύναται, ᾧ τιμὴ καὶ κράτος αἰώνιον, ἀμήν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Whoἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- onlyμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
- immortalityἀθανασίαathanasia · immortalityG110
- dwelling inοἰκέωoikeō · to dwellG3611
- the lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- which no man can approach untoἀπρόσιτοςaprositos · unapproachableG676
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- hath seenὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- norοὐδέoude · norG3761
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- powerκράτοςkratos · powerG2904
- everlastingαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
- Amenἀμήνamēn · amenG281
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 6:16
- 1 Timothy 1:17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, "I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I am has sent me to you.'"
- Deuteronomy 32:40For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever,
- Psalms 90:2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
- Isaiah 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- John 8:58Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
- Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Revelation 1:8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
- Psalms 104:2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
- Habakkuk 3:4His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
- 1 John 1:5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
- Revelation 1:16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
- Revelation 21:3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
- Revelation 22:5And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
- Exodus 33:20But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live."
- John 1:18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 6:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Who only hath immortality - All beings that are not eternal must be mutable; but there can be only one eternal Being, that is God; and he only can have immortality. Dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto - All this is said by the apostle in three words , inhabiting unapproachable light. Such is the excessive glory of God, that neither angel nor man can approach it. It is indeed equally unapproachable to all created beings. Whom no man hath…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Who only hath immortality - The word here - ̓́ athanasia- properly means “exemption from death,” and seems to mean that God, in his own nature, enjoys a perfect and certain exemption from death. Creatures have immortality only as they derive it from him, and of course are dependent on him for it. He has it by his very nature, and it is in his case underived, and he cannot be deprived of it. It is one of the essential attributes of his being, that he will…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 It ill becomes any men, but especially men of God, to set their hearts upon the things of this world; men of God should be taken up with the things of God. There must be a conflict with corruption, and temptations, and the powers of darkness. Eternal life is the crown proposed for our encouragement. We are called to lay hold thereon. To the rich must especially be pointed out their dangers and duties, as to the proper use of wealth. But who…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16in his own time: At the right time, God will complete the salvation promised to us before the world began (compare 2:6); 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2). Christ began this salvation in his first appearance (1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 1:3). Christ's work of salvation fits within God's eternal plans. This knowledge naturally leads to worshiping God who saves us (see 1 Timothy 1:17). This prayer might come from a confession saying for use at baptisms (see study note on…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Who only hath immortality--in His own essence, not merely at the will of another, as all other immortal beings [Justin Martyr, Quæst. ad Orthod., 61]. As He hath immortality, so will He give it to us who believe; to be out of Him is death. It is mere heathen philosophy that attributes to the soul indestructibility in itself, which is to be attributed solely to God's gift. As He hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 6:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 6
- 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