1 Timothy 5:13

1 Timothy 5:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
• New International Version (NIV)Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Besides 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Context of 1 Timothy 5:13

11Don’t include younger widows ⌞on your list⌟. Whenever their natural desires become stronger than their devotion to Christ, they’ll want to marry. 12They condemn themselves by rejecting the Christian faith, the faith they first accepted. At the same time, they learn to go around from house to house since they have nothing else to do. Not only this, but they also gossip and get involved in other people’s business, saying things they shouldn’t say. 14So I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. 15Some of them have already turned away to follow Satan.

1 Timothy 5:13 word by word

ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσιν περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας. οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀργαί, ἀλλὰ καὶ φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι, λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·καίkai · andG2532
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• withalἅμαhama · togetherG260
• they learnμανθάνωmanthanō · to learnG3129
• idleἀργόςargos · idleG692
• wandering aboutπεριέρχομαιperierchomai · to go aroundG4022
• from house to houseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• from house to houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• tattlersφλύαροςphluaros · gossipyG5397
• busybodiesπερίεργοςperiergos · meddlesome/magicG4021
• speakingλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• they oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• notμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:13

• Proverbs 31:27She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family, and she does not eat the bread of idleness.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6Brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we order you not to associate with any believer who doesn’t live a disciplined life and doesn’t follow the tradition you received from us.
• Leviticus 19:16Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
• Proverbs 20:19Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets. Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.
• Luke 10:7Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another.
• Acts 20:20I didn’t avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn’t avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:11We hear that some of you are not living disciplined lives. You’re not working, so you go around interfering in other people’s lives.
• 1 Peter 4:15If you suffer, you shouldn’t suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker.
• Acts 20:30Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them.
• James 3:10Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13And withal they learn to be idle - They do not love work, and they will not work. Wandering about from house to house - Gadding, gossiping; never contented with home; always visiting. And not only idle - If it went no farther, this would be intolerable; but they are tattlers - tale-bearers; whisperers; light, trifling persons; all noise and no work. Busybodies - Persons who meddle with the concerns of others; who mind every one's business but their own…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13And withal - In addition to the prospect that they may marry again, there are other disadvantages which might follow from such an arrangement, and other evils to be feared which it is desirable to avoid. They learn to be idle - That is, if supported by the church, and if without the settled principles which might be expected in those more aged and experienced, it may be feared that they will give themselves up to an indolent life. There would be a…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. 13Those fully supported by the church rarely dedicate their lives to a true commitment (see 2:9–10; 5:10). Abusing the church’s support harms both them and the gospel (good news) (see 5:14). discussing things they should not mention: This suggests involvement in false teachings (5:15; see 2 Thessalonians 3:11–13; Titus 1:11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. withal--"at the same time, moreover." learn--usually in a good sense. But these women's "learning" is idleness, trifling, and busybodies' tattle. wandering--Greek, "going about." from house to house--of the members of the Church (2Ti 3:6). "They carry the affairs of this house to that, and of that to this; they tell the affairs of all to all" [Theophylact]. tattlers--literally "trifling talkers." In 3Jo 10, translated "prating."…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:13

• Busybody
• Commandments
• Idleness
• Minister, Christian
• Slander
• Talebearer
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Widows
• Busybody
• Going; Goings

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