Passage

1 Timothy 5

Book: 1 Timothy · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: 2. the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 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. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. 18. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire. 19. Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses. 20. Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 21. I charge thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 22. Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 23. Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 24. Some men's sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and some men also they follow after. 25. In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid." (1 Timothy 5:1-25, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; 2. the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 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. 17. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. 18. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19. Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses. 20. Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 21. I command you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 22. Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure. 23. Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. 24. Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. 25. In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden." (1 Timothy 5:1-25, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"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. ^{piety: or, kindness} 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. ^{in: or, delicately} 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. ^{house: or, kindred} 9. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, ^{taken: or, chosen} 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. ^{to speak: Gr. for their railing} 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. ^{before: or, under} 20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. ^{preferring: or, prejudice} 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 23. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 24. Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid." (1 Timothy 5:1-25, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren; 2. aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters, in all purity; 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. 17. The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching, 18. for the Writing saith, 'An ox treading out thou shalt not muzzle,' and 'Worthy [is] the workman of his reward.' 19. Against an elder an accusation receive not, except upon two or three witnesses. 20. Those sinning, reprove before all, that the others also may have fear; 21. I testify fully, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the choice messengers, that these things thou mayest keep, without forejudging, doing nothing by partiality. 22. Be laying hands quickly on no one, nor be having fellowship with sins of others; be keeping thyself pure; 23. no longer be drinking water, but a little wine be using, because of thy stomach and of thine often infirmities; 24. of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after; 25. in like manner also the right works are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise are not able to be hid." (1 Timothy 5:1-25, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Women in Ministry

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.