VERSE STUDY • KJV

1 Timothy 5:3-16

³ Honour widows that are widows indeed. ⁴ But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. ⁵ Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. ⁷ And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. ⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. ⁹ Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, ¹⁰ Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. ¹¹ But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; ¹² Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵ For some are already turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

³ Honour widows that are widows indeed. ⁴ But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. ⁵ Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. ⁷ And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. ⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. ⁹ Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, ¹⁰ Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. ¹¹ But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; ¹² Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵ For some are already turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

³ Honor the widows who are truly widows. ⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. ⁵ The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. ⁶ But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive. ⁷ Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. ⁸ If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ⁹ A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband, ¹⁰ and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, ¹² and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. ¹³ At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention. ¹⁴ So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. ¹⁵ For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

WEB World English Bible

³ Honor widows who are widows indeed. ⁴ But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. ⁷ Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. ⁸ But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. ⁹ Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, ¹⁰ being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work. ¹¹ But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; ¹² having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. ¹³ Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. ¹⁴ I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. ¹⁵ For already some have turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

ASV American Standard Version

³ Honor widows that are widows indeed. ⁴ But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. ⁷ These things also command, that they may be without reproach. ⁸ But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. ⁹ Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, ¹⁰ well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints’ feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. ¹¹ But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; ¹² having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. ¹³ And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. ¹⁴ I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling: ¹⁵ for already some are turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

³ honour widows who are really widows; ⁴ and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God. ⁵ And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day, ⁶ and she who is given to luxury, living—hath died; ⁷ and these things charge, that they may be blameless; ⁸ and if any one for his own—and especially for those of the household—doth not provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse. ⁹ A widow—let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband, ¹⁰ in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints’ feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after; ¹¹ and younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry, ¹² having judgment, because the first faith they did cast away, ¹³ and at the same time also, they learn to be idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not; ¹⁴ I wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling; ¹⁵ for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary. ¹⁶ If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.

Surrounding context — 1 Timothy 5

1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat [him] as a father; [and] the younger men as brethren;

2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

13 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.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.

19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

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