1 Timothy 5:11

1 Timothy 5:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
• English Standard Version (ESV)But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry
• New King James Version (NKJV)But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
• New Living Translation (NLT)The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.

Context of 1 Timothy 5:11

9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13Besides, 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.

1 Timothy 5:11 word by word

νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ καταστρηνιάσωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, γαμεῖν θέλουσινRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• the youngerνέοςneos neōteros · newG3501
• widowsχήραchēra · widowG5503
• refuseπαραιτέομαιparaiteomai · to refuse/excuseG3868
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• they have begun to wax wanton againstκαταστρηνιάωkatastrēniaō · to desireG2691
• Christὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• they willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• marryγαμέωgameō · to marryG1060

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:11

• 1 Timothy 5:9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
• Deuteronomy 32:15Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.
• Isaiah 3:16The Lord says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
• Hosea 13:6When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.
• James 5:5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
• 2 Peter 2:18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
• 1 Timothy 4:3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 7:39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But the younger widows refuse - Do not admit those into this office who are under sixty years of age. Probably those who were received into such a list promised to abide in their widowhood. But as young or comparatively young women might have both occasion and temptations to remarry, and so break their engagement to Christ, they should not be admitted. Not that the apostle condemns their remarrying as a crime in itself, but because it was contrary to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But the younger widows refuse - That is, in respect to the matter under discussion. Do not admit them into the class of widows referred to. It cannot mean that he was to reject them as members of the church, or not to treat them with respect and kindness. For when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ - There is probably a thought conveyed by these words to most minds which is by no means in the original, and which does injustice both to the…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. 11-12their first faith: If Paul was concerned about a second marriage to non-Christians, this phrase might refer to their Christian faith (see 5:14). They would give up this faith by entering a marriage with a pagan (worshiper of false gods). This would probably separate them from Christ. It is also possible that Paul and the church recognized a special category of “sacred widowhood” (see 5:5; compare Acts 9:36–37). These widows entered this category by making…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. younger--than sixty years old (1Ti 5:9). refuse--to take on the roll of presbyteress widows. wax wanton--literally, "over-strong" (2Ch 26:16). against Christ--rebelling against Christ, their proper Bridegroom [Jerome]. they will--Greek, "they wish"; their desire is to marry again.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:11

• Commandments
• Minister, Christian
• Talebearer
• Widow
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Widows

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