New King James Version
1 Timothy 5:17
17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
- New International Version (NIV)The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
Context of 1 Timothy 5:17
15For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.
Read all of 1 Timothy 51 Timothy 5:17 word by word
Οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι διπλῆς τιμῆς ἀξιούσθωσαν μάλιστα οἱ κοπιῶντες ἐν λόγῳ καὶ διδασκαλίᾳ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Letἀξιόωaxioō · to deem worthyG515
- the eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- that ruleπροΐστημιproistēmi · to set beforeG4291
- wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
- of doubleδιπλοῦςdiplous · doubleG1362
- honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
- especiallyμάλισταmalista · especiallyG3122
- they who labourκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- doctrineδιδασκαλίαdidaskalia · teachingG1319
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:17
- 1 Timothy 5:1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
- 1 Timothy 3:5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
- Matthew 24:25See, I have told you beforehand.
- Luke 12:42And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
- Romans 12:8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
- Hebrews 13:7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
- 1 Timothy 5:3Honor widows who are really widows.
- Acts 28:10They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.
- Romans 15:27It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.
- 1 Corinthians 9:5Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
- Galatians 6:6Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
- Philippians 2:29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
- 2 Kings 2:9And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
- Isaiah 40:2“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.”
- Jeremiah 16:18And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols.”
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Let the elders that rule well - Elder is probably here the name of an ecclesiastical officer, similar to what we now term presbyter. See on 1 Timothy 5:1; (note). Dr. Macknight has remarked that, "in the first age, the name , elder, was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Acts 20:28, where the persons are called , bishops, who, Acts 20:17, were called , elders. The same thing appears from Titus 1:5, where those are…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Let the elders that rule well - Greek, ́ presbuteroiPresbyters. The apostle had given full instructions respecting bishops 1 Timothy 3:1-7; deacons 1 Timothy 3:8-13; widows 1 Timothy 5:3-16; and he here proceeds to prescribe the duty of the church toward those who sustain the office of elder. The word used - “elder” or “presbyter” - properly refers to age, and is then used to denote the officers of the church, probably because the aged were at first…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 Care must be taken that ministers are maintained. And those who are laborious in this work are worthy of double honour and esteem. It is their just due, as much as the reward of the labourer. The apostle charges Timothy solemnly to guard against partiality. We have great need to watch at all times, that we do not partake of other men's sins. Keep thyself pure, not only from doing the like thyself, but from countenancing it, or any way helping…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18are worthy of double honor: Compare Galatians 6:6. There is no evidence of paid leadership at this time. The word used here never refers to a continuous salary. But it does imply more than just respect. The quotations from Scripture suggest gifts of money (Deuteronomy 25:4; Luke 10:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. The transition from the widow presbyteresses (1Ti 5:9) to the presbyters here, is natural. rule well--literally, "preside well," with wisdom, ability, and loving faithfulness, over the flock assigned to them. be counted worthy of double honour--that is, the honor which is expressed by gifts (1Ti 5:3, 18) and otherwise. If a presbyter as such, in virtue of his office, is already worthy of honor, he who rules well is doubly so [Wiesinger] (1Co 9:14; Ga…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:17
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries