1 Timothy 6:16

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Timothy 6:16

14I insist that, until our Lord Jesus Christ appears, you obey this command completely. Then you cannot be blamed for doing anything wrong. 15At the right time God will make this known. God is the blessed and only ruler. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the only one who cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, nor can they see him. Honor and power belong to him forever! Amen. 17Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share.

1 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 1:17Worship and glory belong forever to the eternal king, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen.
• Exodus 3:14God answered Moses, “I Am Who I Am. This is what you must say to the people of Israel: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ”
• Deuteronomy 32:40I raise my hand toward heaven and solemnly swear: As surely as I live forever,
• Psalms 90:2Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God. You are God from everlasting to everlasting.
• Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
• John 8:58Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: Before Abraham was ever born, I am.”
• Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• Revelation 1:8“I am the A and the Z,” says the Lord God, the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, the Almighty.
• Psalms 104:2You cover yourself with light as though it were a robe. You stretch out the heavens as though they were curtains.
• Habakkuk 3:4His brightness is like the sunlight. Rays of light ⌞stream⌟ from his hand. That is where his power is hidden.
• 1 John 1:5This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn’t any darkness in him.
• Revelation 1:16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines in all its brightness.
• Revelation 21:3I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God.
• Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings forever and ever.
• Exodus 33:20But you can’t see my face, because no one may see me and live.”
• John 1:18No one has ever seen God. God’s only Son, the one who is closest to the Father’s heart, 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

• God
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Light
• Minister, Christian
• Power

In the dictionaries

• Babbling
• Confession
• Consent
• Content
• Contentment
• Covet
• Dwell
• Foolish
• King
• Light

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