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

14to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15– whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen. 17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.

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 1:17Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
• Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, “I am that I am.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
• Deuteronomy 32:40For I raise up my hand to heaven, and say, ‘As surely as I live forever,
• Psalms 90:2Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God.
• Isaiah 57:15For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.
• John 8:58Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, 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 – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!
• Psalms 104:2He covers himself with light as if it were a garment. He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,
• Habakkuk 3:4He is as bright as lightning; a two-pronged lightning bolt flashes from his hand. This is the outward display of his power.
• 1 John 1:5Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
• Revelation 1:16He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength.
• Revelation 21:3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.
• Revelation 22:5Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
• Exodus 33:20But he added, “You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live.”
• John 1:18No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God 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