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1 Timothy 5:11-15
New International Version
1 Timothy 5:11-15
New International Version
11 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. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 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(A) who talk nonsense,(B) saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry,(C) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.(D) 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.(E)
1 Timothy 5:11-15
New English Translation
1 Timothy 5:11-15
New English Translation
11 But do not accept younger widows on the list,[a] because their passions may lead them away from Christ[b] and they will desire to marry, 12 and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.[c] 13 And besides that, going around[d] from house to house they learn to be lazy,[e] and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.[f] 14 So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.[g] 15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.[h]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Timothy 5:11 tn Grk “refuse younger widows.”
- 1 Timothy 5:11 tn With a single verb and object, this clause means “pursue sensuous desires in opposition to Christ.”
- 1 Timothy 5:12 tn Grk “incurring judgment because they reject their first faith.”sn The pledge refers most likely to a vow not to remarry undertaken when a widow is put on the list (cf. 1 Tim 5:9).
- 1 Timothy 5:13 tn L&N 15.23 suggests the meaning, “to move about from place to place, with significant changes in direction—‘to travel about, to wander about.’”
- 1 Timothy 5:13 tn Or “idle.” The whole clause (“going around from house to house, they learn to be lazy”) reverses the order of the Greek. The present participle περιερχόμεναι (perierchomenai) may be taken as temporal (“while going around”), instrumental (“by going around”) or result (“with the result that they go around”).
- 1 Timothy 5:13 tn Grk “saying the things that are unnecessary.” Or perhaps “talking about things that are none of their business.”
- 1 Timothy 5:14 tn Grk “for the sake of reviling.”
- 1 Timothy 5:15 tn Grk “wandered away after Satan.”
New International Version (NIV) 
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New English Translation (NET)
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