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 Living Translation (NLT)He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

Context of 1 Timothy 6:16

14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

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 King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
• Exodus 3:14And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
• Deuteronomy 32:40For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, “As I live forever,
• Psalms 90:2Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
• Isaiah 57:15For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• John 8:58Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
• Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
• Psalms 104:2Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
• Habakkuk 3:4His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.
• 1 John 1:5This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
• Revelation 1:16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
• Revelation 21:3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
• Revelation 22:5There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
• Exodus 33:20But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
• John 1:18No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

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
• Covet
• Dwell
• Foolish
• King
• Light
• Pierce

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