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 King James Version (NKJV)But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

Context of 1 Timothy 5:11

9A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. 10She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? 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. 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 13And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.

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 5:9A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.
• Deuteronomy 32:15“But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation.
• Isaiah 3:16The Lord says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty: craning her elegant neck, flirting with her eyes, walking with dainty steps, tinkling her ankle bracelets.
• Hosea 13:6But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me.
• James 5:5You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.
• 2 Peter 2:18They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.
• 1 Timothy 4:3They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 7:39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves 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