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;
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from 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

9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13And 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.

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 5:9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
• Deuteronomy 32:15“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
• Isaiah 3:16Moreover the Lord says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, And walk with outstretched necks And wanton eyes, Walking and mincing as they go, Making a jingling with their feet,
• Hosea 13:6When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.
• James 5:5You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
• 2 Peter 2:18For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
• 1 Timothy 5:14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
• 1 Timothy 4:3forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 7:39A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in 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
• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Widows
• Church

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