New International Version
1 Timothy 1:9
9We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
1 Timothy 1:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
- English Standard Version (ESV)understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
- New King James Version (NKJV)knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
- New Living Translation (NLT)For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.
Context of 1 Timothy 1:9
7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Read all of 1 Timothy 11 Timothy 1:9 word by word
εἰδὼς τοῦτο, ὅτι δικαίῳ νόμος οὐ κεῖται, ἀνόμοις δὲ καὶ ἀνυποτάκτοις, ἀσεβέσιν καὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς, ἀνοσίοις καὶ βεβήλοις, πατρολῴαις καὶ μητρολῴαις, ἀνδροφόνοις,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Knowingεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- isκεῖμαιkeimai · to lay/be appointedG2749
- notοὐou · noG3756
- a righteous manδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- butδέde · thenG1161
- for the lawlessἄνομοςanomos · lawlessG459
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- disobedientἀνυπότακτοςanupotaktos · insubordinateG506
- for the ungodlyἀσεβήςasebēs · ungodlyG765
- for sinnersἁμαρτωλόςhamartōlos · sinfulG268
- for unholyἀνόσιοςanosios · unholyG462
- profaneβέβηλοςbebēlos · profaneG952
- for murderers of fathersπατραλῴαςpatralōas · patricideG3964
- murderers of mothersμητραλῴαςmētralōas · matricideG3389
- for manslayersἀνδροφόνοςandrophonos · murdererG409
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 1:9
- Romans 4:13It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Romans 5:20The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
- Romans 6:14For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
- Galatians 3:10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 5:23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
- Romans 1:30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
- Hebrews 11:31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
- 1 Peter 2:7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
- 1 Peter 3:20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
- 1 Peter 4:18And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
- Jeremiah 23:11“Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,” declares the Lord.
- Ezekiel 21:25“ ‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax,
- Hebrews 12:16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
- Leviticus 20:9“ ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.
- Deuteronomy 27:16“Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The law is not made for a righteous man - There is a moral law as well as a ceremonial law: as the object of the latter is to lead us to Christ; the object of the former is to restrain crimes, and inflict punishment on those that commit them. It was, therefore, not made for the righteous as a restrainer of crimes, and an inflicter of punishments; for the righteous avoid sin, and by living to the glory of God expose not themselves to its censures. This…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Knowing this - That is, “If anyone knows, or admits this, he has the prover view of the design of the law.” The apostle does not refer particularly to himself as knowing or conceding this, for then he would have uses the plural form of the participle (see the Greek), but he means that anyone who had just views of the law would see that that which he proceeds to specify was its real purpose. The law is not made for a righteous man - There has been great…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 Whatever tends to weaken love to God, or love to the brethren, tends to defeat the end of the commandment. The design of the gospel is answered, when sinners, through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, are brought to exercise Christian love. And as believers were righteous persons in God's appointed way, the law was not against them. But unless we are made righteous by faith in Christ, really repenting and forsaking sin, we are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9law is not enacted for the righteous: Generally, people who have virtue do not need laws. For Christians, living right with God comes from faith in Christ, not from obeying the law (see Galatians 5:16–26; Ephesians 2:11–14; Titus 2:11–14; compare Romans 8:1–17; James 2:14–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. law is not made for a righteous man--not for one standing by faith in the righteousness of Christ put on him for justification, and imparted inwardly by the Spirit for sanctification. "One not forensically amenable to the law" [Alford]. For sanctification, the law gives no inward power to fulfil it; but Alford goes too far in speaking of the righteous man as "not morally needing the law." Doubtless, in proportion as he is inwardly led by the Spirit…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 1:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1
- 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries