1 Timothy 2:8
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. | Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension. | I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul has just urged prayer for all people, including rulers, because God wants all to be saved and Christ gave himself a ransom for all. Verse 8 draws a conclusion ('therefore'): men should pray in every place with holy hands, free of anger and quarreling. Verses 9-15 then turn to how women should conduct themselves. 1 Timothy 2:11 Timothy 2:21 Timothy 2:41 Timothy 2:61 Timothy 2:81 Timothy 2:9Strong's G37671 Timothy overview
SpeakingPaul the apostle, who names himself in the letter's opening and here calls himself a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 2:7
ToTimothy, Paul's younger co-worker, whom Paul left to lead the church at Ephesus. 1 Timothy overview
Also involvedThe men of the church. The Greek word here means men as males, in contrast to the women addressed in the next verse. Strong's G0435G1 Timothy 2:9
Paul states what he wants: men praying everywhere, lifting up holy hands. Their prayer should come without anger and without quarreling or inward questioning. 1 Timothy 2:8Strong's G1014Strong's G3709Strong's G1261
The letter was sent to Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. Where Paul wrote from is not stated; he may have been in Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview
The eventsThe verse gives guidance for the ongoing worship life of the church in Ephesus. It is part of a section on prayer and conduct in worship. 1 Timothy overview
WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, by Paul, between his Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110, written in Paul's name by a follower; others defend Paul's authorship and the earlier date. 1 Timothy overview
HerePaul is instructing Timothy on how believers should conduct themselves in worship. Prayer for all people needs to come from people at peace, not people who are angry or arguing. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 2:11 Timothy 2:8
In the whole of ScriptureThe letter teaches that belief and behavior belong together. Here, prayer that reflects God's desire for all to be saved must be matched by clean, peaceable lives. 1 Timothy overview1 Timothy 2:4
For readersLifted hands were an old sign of prayer and blessing. Scripture also warns that God will not hear prayers from hands full of blood, and calls people to cleanse their hands and hearts. Psalms 134:2Psalms 63:4Isaiah 1:15James 4:8
- menἀνήρ
This word means a man as a male, not people in general. Paul speaks to men here and to women in the next verse. Strong's G0435G1 Timothy 2:9
- holyὅσιος
It means religiously right or pious. 'Holy hands' points to a righteous life, not merely a ritual gesture. Strong's G3741
- wrathὀργή
This is human anger. Paul wants prayer offered without it. Strong's G37091 Timothy 2:8
- doubtingδιαλογισμός
The KJV says "doubting." The word means reasoning or inward questioning, and the lexicon suggests it may carry a sense of evil intention here. Strong's G1261
- I willβούλομαι
This verb stresses a deliberate wish or purpose. Paul is setting out what he firmly wants for the church. Strong's G1014
Takeaway
Prayer for all people should rise from lives that are clean and at peace. Angry, quarreling hands do not fit prayer to the God who wants all to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:41 Timothy 2:8Isaiah 1:15
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-22.
The world around the text
Behind this verse
- Lifting up hands in prayer
- Praying standing with hands raised was a familiar posture in Israel's worship. 1 Kings 8:22Psalms 28:2Psalms 134:2Psalms 141:2
About AD 62-64. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Timothy was when Paul wrote. A port city on the west coast of today's Turkey and the greatest market of the province of Asia.
Who ruled
- Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68
Emperor over the whole Roman world, including Ephesus, Macedonia and Judea. When Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, the Caesar was Nero. Paul tells Timothy to have prayers made "for kings, and for all that are in authority." Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:161 Timothy 2:1-2Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16
- Governor of the province where Ephesus stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms
Asia was governed by a proconsul, a former consul appointed by the Senate for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. During the riot in Ephesus the town clerk reminded the crowd that "the law is open, and there are deputies" (proconsuls). Acts 19:38-39Strabo, Geography 17.3.25
- Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s
Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome and had the right to appoint the high priest in Jerusalem. He heard Paul's defense with Festus and told him, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 25:13Acts 26:28Josephus, Antiquities 20.179, 20.203
- Roman governors of JudeaFestus, Albinus and Florusc. AD 59-66
Porcius Festus sent Paul to Rome and died in office around AD 62. Lucceius Albinus (62-64) and Gessius Florus (64-66) followed; Josephus blames Florus's greed and brutality for pushing Judea into revolt. Acts 24:27Acts 25:12Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203, 20.252-258Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308
- King of ParthiaVologases Ic. AD 51-78
Ruler of the Parthian empire east of the Euphrates, Rome's one great rival. He fought Rome over Armenia until a settlement in AD 63 let his brother Tiridates rule Armenia as Rome's client. Tacitus, Annals 15.1-17, 15.24-31Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.19-23
What was happening, AD 58 to AD 68
- AD 58-63WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia
Roman armies under Corbulo took the Armenian capitals Artaxata and Tigranocerta. In AD 62 a second Roman army under Paetus surrendered at Rhandeia, and in AD 63 the two empires made peace. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31
- AD 60DisasterEarthquake destroys Laodicea
Laodicea, about 150 km (95 miles) east of Ephesus in the same province, was ruined by an earthquake and rebuilt from its own wealth without help from Rome. Paul's letters mention the church there, and Revelation later quotes the city's boast, "I am rich." Tacitus, Annals 14.27Colossians 4:13-16Revelation 3:17
- AD 60-61WarBoudica's revolt in Britain
Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium before the Roman governor Suetonius Paulinus defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39
- c. AD 60-62The churchPaul under guard in Rome
Paul lived two whole years in Rome under house arrest, receiving visitors and preaching openly. The traditional date for 1 Timothy places it soon after his release. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31
- c. AD 61-63DiscoveryNero's expedition up the Nile
Nero sent a party of soldiers to find the source of the Nile. They travelled far beyond Egypt and reached vast marshes they could not cross, likely the Sudd in today's South Sudan. The date is approximate. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.8.3-4Pliny, Natural History 6.181
- AD 62The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed in Jerusalem
Festus died in office. Before the next governor arrived, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" and others stoned. Ananus was removed after three months. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19Acts 15:13
- AD 62 or 63DisasterEarthquake hits Pompeii
An earthquake badly damaged Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, seventeen years before Vesuvius buried them. Seneca dates it to AD 62; Tacitus to AD 63. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.1Tacitus, Annals 15.22
- c. AD 62DiscoveryHero of Alexandria's machines
The engineer Hero of Alexandria, whose work is dated by an eclipse of AD 62 he describes, wrote up a steam-spun sphere (the aeolipile) and a coin-operated machine that dispensed water in temples. Hero, Pneumatics 1.21, 2.11Hero, Dioptra 35
- c. AD 63-64BuildingJerusalem's temple is finished
Work on the temple Herod began around 20 BC was completed under Albinus, leaving some 18,000 workers without jobs. Six years later Roman armies destroyed it, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Antiquities 20.219-222John 2:20Luke 21:5-6
- July AD 64DisasterThe Great Fire of Rome
Fire burned for days. Of Rome's fourteen districts, three were destroyed and seven badly damaged. Nero then built his vast Golden House on the cleared land. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-43Suetonius, Nero 31, 38
- AD 64The churchNero blames and kills Christians
To end rumours that he had started the fire, Nero blamed the Christians of Rome. Tacitus records a "vast multitude" put to death, some torn by dogs and some burned as torches. Tacitus, Annals 15.44Suetonius, Nero 16.2
- AD 65RulersA plot against Nero fails
The Pisonian conspiracy to kill Nero was betrayed. Among those forced to take their own lives was Seneca, Nero's former tutor and the brother of Gallio, the governor who dismissed the case against Paul in Corinth. Tacitus, Annals 15.48-74Acts 18:12-17
- AD 66WarThe Jewish revolt begins
After Florus seized money from the temple treasury, Jerusalem rose against Rome and the daily sacrifice offered for the emperor was stopped. The war ended with Jerusalem and its temple destroyed in AD 70. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410Luke 21:20-24
- AD 66-67BuildingNero tours Greece and starts a canal at Corinth
Nero competed in the Greek games and broke ground for a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. The work stopped after his death; the canal was finally cut in 1893. Suetonius, Nero 19, 22-24
- c. AD 67The churchPaul's death in Rome
In his last letter Paul writes from prison that "the time of my departure is at hand." Early Christian tradition says he was beheaded in Rome under Nero. 2 Timothy 4:6-8Eusebius, Church History 2.25
- June AD 68RulersNero dies
Facing revolt in the provinces and declared an enemy by the Senate, Nero took his own life. Four emperors ruled in turn during the following year before Vespasian took power. Suetonius, Nero 47-49Tacitus, Histories 1.2
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then the ancient historians who wrote about these years (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Seneca, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Cassius Dio). Dates are as those writers give them; approximate dates say so. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I desire | Βούλομαι | Boulomai | G1014 | to planβούλομαι (boulomai) βούλομαι, [in LXX for חפץ, אבה, יעץ, etc. ;] to will, wish, desire, purpose, be minded, implying more strongly than θέλω (which see), the deliberate exercise of volition (see Hort on Jas.1:18): with inf. (M, Pr., 205; Bl., §69, 4), Mrk.15:15, Act.5:28, 33 12:4 15:37 17:20 18:15, 27 19:30 22:30 23:28 27:43 28:18, 2Co.1:15, 1Ti.6:9, Heb.6:17, II Jhn.12, 3Jo.10, Ju 5; with accusative, 2Co.1:17; with accusative and inf., Php.1:12, 1Ti.2:8 5:14, Tit.3:8, 2Pe.3:9; of the will making choice between alternatives, Mat.1:19 11:27, Luk.10:22, Act.25:20, 1Co.12:11, Jas.3:4 4:4; εἰ βούλει (cl., a courteo … |
| therefore | οὖν | oun | G3767 | therefore/thenοὖν (oun) οὖν, particle expressing consequence or simple sequence (never standing first in a sentence), wherefore, therefore, then: Mat.3:10, Luk.3:9, Jhn.8:38, Act.1:21, Rom.5:9, al.; in exhortations, Mat.3:8, Luk.11:35, Act.3:19, Rom.6:12, al.; in questions, Mat.13:28, Mrk.15:12, Jhn.8:[5], Rom.6:1, al.; continuing a narrative or resuming it after a digression, Mat.1:17, Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:22 2:18 (and very frequently in this Gospel), Act.26:22, al.; ἄρα οὖν (see: ἄρα); ἐπεὶ οὖν, Heb.2:14; οὖν with ptcp. (= ἐπεὶ οὖν), Act.2:30, Rom.5:1, al.; ἐὰν οὖν (where οὖν rather in sense belongs to the apodosis), … |
| to pray | προσεύχεσθαι | proseuchesthai | G4336 | to prayπροσεύχομαι (proseuchomai) προσ-εύχομαι [in LXX chiefly for פָּלַל hith. ;] to pray (always of prayer to God, or in cl., to gods): absol., Mat.6:5-7, 9 14:23 19:13 26:36, 39 26:41, 44, Mrk.1:35 6:46 11:24-25 13:33 (WH, E, txt., om.) Mrk.14:32, 38-39 Luk.1:10 3:21 5:16 6:12 9:18, 28-29 11:1-2 18:1, 10 22:44 (WH, E, mg., om.), Act.1:24 6:6 9:11 10:9, 30 11:5 12:12 13:3 14:23 16:25 20:36 21:5 22:17 28:8, 1Co.11:4-5 14:14, 1Th.5:17, 1Ti.2:8, Jas.5:13, 18; before λέγων, Mat.26:39, 42, Luk.22:41; with dative instr., 1Co.11:5 14:14-15; μακρά, Mat.23:14 (WH, R, txt., om.), Mrk.12:40, Luk.20:47; ἐν πνεύματι (ἁγίῳ), Eph.6:18, J … |
| men | ἄνδρας | andras | G0435G | manἀνήρ (anēr) ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ, frequently אֱנוֹשׁ, also אָדָם, etc. ;] a man, Lat. vir. 1. As opposite to a woman, Act.8:12, 1Ti.2:12; as a husband, Mat.1:16, Jhn.4:16, Rom.7:2, Tit.1:6. 2. As opposite to a boy or infant, 1Co.13:11, Eph.4:13, Jas.3:2. 3. In appos. with a noun or adj., as ἀ. ἁμαρτωλός, Luk.5:8; ἀ. προφήτης, 24:19; frequently in terms of address, as ἀ. ἀδελφοί, Act.1:16; and esp. with gentilic names, as ἀ. Ἰουδαῖος, Act.22:3; ἀ. Ἐφέσιοι, 19:35. 4. In general, a man, a male person: = τις, Luk.8:41, Act.6:11. … |
| in | ἐν | en | G1722 | in/on/amongἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af … |
| every | παντὶ | panti | G3956 | allπᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. … |
| place | τόπῳ | topō | G5117 | placeτόπος (topos) τόπος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for מָקוֹם ;] place: Luk.4:37 10:1, 32 Jhn.5:13 6:10, Act.12:17, 1Co.1:2, al.; τ. ἅγιος (cf. Isa.60:13), Mat.24:15; ἔρημος, Mat.14:13, al.; πεδινός, Luk.6:17; ἄνυδρος (pl.), Mat.12:43, Luk.11:24; κατὰ τόπος (BV, in divers places), Mat.24:7, Mrk.13:8; τραχεῖς τ., Act.27:29; τ. διθάλασσος (which see), ib. 41; ἑτοιμάζειν τ., Jhn.14:2, 3; ἔχειν, Rev.12:6; διδόναι, Luk.14:9; with genitive defin., τ. βασάνου, Luk.16:28; τ. καταπαύσεως, Act.7:49; κρανίου, Mat.27:33, Mrk.15:22, Jhn.19:17; before οὗ, Rom.9:26; ὅπου, Mat.28:6, Mrk.16:6, Jhn.4:20 6:23 10:40 11:30 19:41; ἐ … |
| lifting up | ἐπαίροντας | epairontas | G1869 | to lift upἐπαίρω (epairō) ἐπ-αίρω [in LXX for נָשָׂא, רוּם, etc. ;] to lift up, raise: τ. ἀρτέμονα, Act.27:40; χεῖρας, Luk.24:50, 1Ti.2:8; κεφαλάς, Luk.21:28; ὀφθαλμούς, Mat.17:8, Luk.6:20 16:23 18:13, Jhn.4:35 6:5 17:1; φωνήν, Luk.11:27, Act.2:14 14:11 22:22; τ. πτέρναν (figuratively), Jhn.13:18. Pass., Act.1:9; metaphorically, to be lifted up with pride: 2Co.10:5 11:20.† (AS) |
| holy | ὁσίους | hosious | G3741 | sacredὅσιος (hosios) ὅσιος, -ον (so sometimes in cl., but most frequently -α, -ον), [in LXX chiefly for חָסִיד, also for טָהוֹר, יָשָׁר, תָּמִים ;] religiously right, righteous, pious, Holy: of men, Tit.1:8. Heb.7:26; by meton., ὁ. χεῖρας, 1Ti.2:8 (cf. Deu.32:4); of God, Rev.15:4 16:5; as subst., ὁ ὅ., of the Messiah, Act.2:27 13:35" (LXX) ; τὰ ὅ. Δανεὶδ τ. πιστά (Field, Notes, 121), Act.13:34 (LXX).† SYN.: see: ἅγιος (cf. also DB, ii, 399.b; iv, 352.b, and ref. see word -ίως) (AS) |
| hands | χεῖρας | cheiras | G5495 | handχείρ (cheir) χείρ, genitive, χειρος (accusative, χεῖραν, 1Pe.5:6 T), ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for יָד ;] the hand: Mat.3:12, Mrk.3:1, Luk.6:6, al. mult.; ἡ χ., acting subject, Luk.22:21; pl., Act.17:25 20:34, 1Jn.1:1; τ. ἔργα τῶν χ., Act.7:41, Rev.9:20; ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τ. ἐμῇ χ., 1Co.16:21, Col.4:18, 2Th.3:17; prepositional phrases, esp. those without art., similar to Heb. constructions (Bl., §32, 4; 40, 9; 46, 9), ἐν χ.; with genitive (Lft., in l.), Gal.3:19; σὺν χ. ἀγγέλου, Act.7:35; διὰ (τῶν) χειρῶν (διὰ χειρός), Mrk.6:2, Act.5:12 7:25, al.; ἐπὶ χειρῶν, Mat.4:6, Luk.4:11; ellipse of χ. (ἡ δεξία, ἀριστερα; Bl., § … |
| apart from | χωρὶς | chōris | G5565 | withoutχωρίς (chōris) χωρίς adv., 1. separately, apart: Jhn.20:7. 2. As prep., with genitive, (a) separate from, apart from, without (practically equiv. to ἄνευ; see Field, Notes, 103): Mat.13:34, Mrk.4:34, Luk.6:49, Jhn.1:3 15:5, Rom.3:21, 28 4:6 7:8-9 10:14, 1Co.4:8 11:11, 2Co.12:3, Eph.2:12, Php.2:14, 1Ti.2:8 5:21, Phm 14, Heb.4:15 7:7, 20 9:7, 18 9:22, 28 10:25 11:6, 40 12:8, 14 (οὗ χωρίς; see Bl., § 82, 3), Jas.2:18, 20 2:26; (b) besides: Mat.14:21 15:38, 2Co.11:28.† (AS) |
| anger | ὀργῆς | orgēs | G3709 | wrathὀργή (orgē) ὀργή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for אַף, also for חָרוֹן, חֵמָה, קָצַף, etc. ;] 1 1, impulse, propensity, disposition. 2. anger, wrath; (a) of men: Mrk.3:5, Eph.4:31, Col.3:8, 1Ti.2:8, Jas.1:19-20; (b) of God; α that reaction of the divine nature against sin which in anthropomorphic language is called anger: Rom.1:18 9:22 12:19, (ICC, in l), 1Th.1:10 2:16, Heb.3:11 4:3" (LXX) Rev.14:10 16:19 19:15; … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| dissension; | διαλογισμοῦ· | dialogismou | G1261 | reasoningδιαλογισμός (dialogismos) δια-λογισμός, -οῦ, ὁ (διαλογίζομαι) [in LXX chiefly for מַחֲשָׁבָה ;] a thought, reasoning, inward questioning: Mat.15:19, Mrk.7:21, Luk.2:35 5:22 6:8 9:46, 47 24:38, Rom.1:21 14:1, 1Co.3:20" (LXX), Php.2:14; κριταὶ δ. πονηρῶν, genitive of qual. (cf. Pro.12:5), Jas.2:4; χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ δ. (where perh. δ., like מְזִמָּה, in Ps 138(139):20, al., implies evil intention), 1Ti.2:8 (see Hort, in l.; cf. Cremer, 400).† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.