New Living Translation
1 Timothy 5:13
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 5:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
- New International Version (NIV)Besides, 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And 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.
Context of 1 Timothy 5:13
11The 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. And 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. 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. 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.
Read all of 1 Timothy 51 Timothy 5:13 word by word
ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσιν περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας. οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀργαί, ἀλλὰ καὶ φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι, λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- withalἅμαhama · togetherG260
- they learnμανθάνωmanthanō · to learnG3129
- idleἀργόςargos · idleG692
- wandering aboutπεριέρχομαιperierchomai · to go aroundG4022
- from house to houseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- from house to houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- notοὐou · noG3756
- onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- tattlersφλύαροςphluaros · gossipyG5397
- busybodiesπερίεργοςperiergos · meddlesome/magicG4021
- speakingλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- they oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
- notμήmē · notG3361
Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:13
- Proverbs 31:27She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.
- Leviticus 19:16“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.
- Proverbs 20:19A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
- Luke 10:7Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
- Acts 20:20I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.
- 1 Peter 4:15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.
- Acts 20:30Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.
- James 3:10And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13And withal they learn to be idle - They do not love work, and they will not work. Wandering about from house to house - Gadding, gossiping; never contented with home; always visiting. And not only idle - If it went no farther, this would be intolerable; but they are tattlers - tale-bearers; whisperers; light, trifling persons; all noise and no work. Busybodies - Persons who meddle with the concerns of others; who mind every one's business but their own…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13And withal - In addition to the prospect that they may marry again, there are other disadvantages which might follow from such an arrangement, and other evils to be feared which it is desirable to avoid. They learn to be idle - That is, if supported by the church, and if without the settled principles which might be expected in those more aged and experienced, it may be feared that they will give themselves up to an indolent life. There would be a…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. 13Those fully supported by the church rarely dedicate their lives to a true commitment (see 2:9–10; 5:10). Abusing the church’s support harms both them and the gospel (good news) (see 5:14). discussing things they should not mention: This suggests involvement in false teachings (5:15; see 2 Thessalonians 3:11–13; Titus 1:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. withal--"at the same time, moreover." learn--usually in a good sense. But these women's "learning" is idleness, trifling, and busybodies' tattle. wandering--Greek, "going about." from house to house--of the members of the Church (2Ti 3:6). "They carry the affairs of this house to that, and of that to this; they tell the affairs of all to all" [Theophylact]. tattlers--literally "trifling talkers." In 3Jo 10, translated "prating."…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:13
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 Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries