1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy · Chapter 5

1 Timothy 5:14

1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.3Honour widows that are widows indeed.4But 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.5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.8But 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.9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,10Well 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.11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.13And 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.14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.15For some are already turned aside after Satan.16If 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.17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.21I 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.22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.24Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul is giving Timothy rules for caring for widows in the church. He says older widows of proven character may be enrolled for church support, but younger widows should not be (5:9-11). This verse gives his remedy for those younger widows: marry again, raise children, and run a household, so that outsiders have no reason to slander the church. 1 Timothy 5:31 Timothy 5:91 Timothy 5:101 Timothy 5:111 Timothy 5:131 Timothy 5:14

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedQuoted as a general command that every woman must marry, have children, and keep house.

In contextIn context Paul is addressing younger widows, not all women. He gives this advice so that they would not be enrolled for church support and then fall into idleness and gossip (5:11-13). Elsewhere Paul says it is good for widows to stay unmarried if they can (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). 1 Timothy 5:111 Timothy 5:131 Timothy 5:14Strong's G35011 Corinthians 7:81 Corinthians 7:9

SpeakingPaul the apostle, writing to Timothy. Many critical scholars think a follower wrote in Paul's name, while others defend Paul's authorship. 1 Timothy overview

ToTimothy, Paul's younger co-worker, whom Paul had left to lead the church at Ephesus. 1 Timothy overview

Also involvedYounger widows in the church. The Greek says only "the younger ones" in the feminine. The surrounding verses about younger widows show who is meant. Strong's G35011 Timothy 5:111 Timothy 5:121 Timothy 5:13

Paul states his deliberate wish that younger widows remarry, have children, and manage their homes. He gives the reason: to give the opponent no opening to speak abuse against believers. Some had already turned aside after Satan. 1 Timothy 5:141 Timothy 5:15Strong's G1014Strong's G0874Strong's G3059

The church at Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia, known for its temple of Artemis. 1 Timothy overview

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsThis instruction belongs to Timothy's time leading the Ephesian church, after Paul had gone on to Macedonia. 1 Timothy overview

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 62-64, between Paul's two Roman imprisonments. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110. 1 Timothy overview

HerePaul worried that younger widows on church support would become idle, go from house to house as gossips and busybodies, and break their earlier commitment (5:11-13). A settled household life would guard against this and protect the church's reputation. 1 Timothy 5:111 Timothy 5:121 Timothy 5:131 Timothy 5:141 Timothy 5:16

In the whole of ScriptureThe letter teaches that belief and behavior belong together. It repeatedly asks believers to live so that God's name and teaching are not slandered by outsiders. Titus 2:5 and 1 Timothy 6:1 give the same reason. 1 Timothy overviewTitus 2:51 Timothy 6:1Titus 2:8

For readersReaders see a church caring for vulnerable members while thinking practically about each person's situation. The church also stayed aware of how its conduct looked to outsiders. 1 Timothy 5:31 Timothy 5:161 Timothy 5:14

  • younger womenνέος
    Greek · neos · G3501

    The Greek simply says "the younger ones" in the feminine. Coming right after verses 11-13, it points to younger widows rather than women in general. Strong's G35011 Timothy 5:11

  • guide the houseοἰκοδεσποτέω
    Greek · oikodespoteō · G3616

    This word means to rule or manage a household. It describes an active role of running a home, not idleness, which answers the problem in verse 13. Strong's G36161 Timothy 5:13

  • occasionἀφορμή
    Greek · aphormē · G0874

    Properly this means a starting point, even a base of operations in war. Paul does not want believers' conduct to hand opponents a foothold for attack. Strong's G0874

  • adversaryἀντίκειμαι
    Greek · antikeimai · G0480

    This word means one who opposes. The next verse mentions Satan, and Titus 2:8 speaks of human opponents with "no evil thing to say of you," so the opposition is not narrowly defined. Strong's G04801 Timothy 5:15Titus 2:8

  • I willβούλομαι
    Greek · boulomai · G1014

    This verb expresses a deliberate wish or purpose. It shows Paul's considered judgment about this situation. Strong's G1014

Takeaway

Paul gives this advice about younger widows so that believers give critics no grounds to speak reproachfully of the church. Titus 2:5 gives the same reason for young women's conduct: "that the word of God be not blasphemed." 1 Timothy 5:111 Timothy 5:141 Timothy 5:15Titus 2:5

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

Widows
There was no public pension; a widow depended on her family. The Law commanded care for the widow, and the early church had a daily distribution for widows. Augustus's marriage laws pressed widows under fifty to remarry within two years. Deuteronomy 14:29Deuteronomy 24:19-21Acts 6:1James 1:27Ulpian, Rules 14

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
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome 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

  2. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake 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

  3. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica'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

  4. c. AD 60-62
    The 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

  5. c. AD 61-63
    DiscoveryNero'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

  6. AD 62
    The 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

  7. AD 62 or 63
    DisasterEarthquake 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

  8. c. AD 62
    DiscoveryHero 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

  9. c. AD 63-64
    BuildingJerusalem'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

  10. July AD 64
    DisasterThe 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

  11. AD 64
    The 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

  12. AD 65
    RulersA 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

  13. AD 66
    WarThe 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

  14. AD 66-67
    BuildingNero 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

  15. c. AD 67
    The 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

  16. June AD 68
    RulersNero 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

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
I wantΒούλομαιBoulomaiG1014
to plan

βούλομαι (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 …

thereforeοὖνounG3767
therefore/then

οὖν (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), …

[the] younger [ones]νεωτέραςneōterasG3501
new

νέος (neos) νέος, -α, -ον [in LXX for נַעַר (Gen.37:2, Exo_33:11, al.), חָדָשׁ (Lev.23:16, Num.28:26, al.), etc.; compar. -ώτερος for קָטָן, צָעִיר, etc. ;] 1. young, youthful: Tit.2:4. 2. new (prop., in respect of time; see: καινός): οἶνος (cf. οἶ. καινός, Mat.26:20), Mat.9:17, Mrk.2:22, Luk.5:37-39; φύραμα (figuratively), 1Co.5:7; διαθήκη (cf. καινὴ δ., Heb.9:15), Heb.12:24; metaphorically, ἄνθρωπος (cf. καινὸς ἀ, Eph.2:15), Col.3:10. …

to marry,γαμεῖν,gameinG1060
to marry

γαμέω (gameō) γαμέω, -ῶ, [in LXX: Est.10:3, 2Ma.14:25, 4Ma.16:9 * ;] to marry; 1. of the man, to marry, take to wife (ducere): absol., Mat.19:10 22:25, 30 24:38, Mrk.12:25, Luk.17:27, 20:34, 35, 1Co.7:28, 33; with accusative: Mat.5:32 19:9, Mrk.6:17 10:11, Luk.14:20 16:18. 2. Of the woman, (a) mid. (and in late writers, pass.), to give oneself in marriage, marry (nubere): 1Co.7:39; (b) in Hellenistic (M, Pr., 159), act. (as of the man), to marry: absol., 1Co.7:28, 34 1Ti.5:11, 14. with accusative, Mrk.10:12. 3. Of both sexes: absol., 1Ti.4:3, 1Co.7:9, 10 36. † (AS)

to bear children,τεκνογονεῖν,teknogoneinG5041
to have children

τεκνογονέω (teknogoneō) τεκνογονέω, -ῶ to beget or bear children: 1Ti.5:14 (Anthol.).† (AS)

to manage their households,οἰκοδεσποτεῖν,oikodespoteinG3616
to manage a house

οἰκοδεσποτέω (oikodespoteō) οἰκο-δεσποτέω, -ῶ (οἰκοδεσπότης) to rule a household: 1Ti.5:14.† (AS)

noμηδεμίανmēdemianG3367
nothing

μηδείς (mēdeis) μηδείς, -δεμία, -δέν (and -θέν, Act.27:33, a Hellenistic form; see Bl., 6, 7; Thackeray, Gr., 58) related to οὐδείς as μή to οὐ, no, none, no one; neut., nothing: Mat.16:20, Mrk.5:43 6:8, Luk.3:14, Act.8:24, Rom.13:8, al.; with genitive, Act.4:17 24:23; neut. accusative, μηδέν, adverbially, in no respect, Act.10:20 11:12; as accusative obj. after verb, βλάπτειν, Luk.4:35; ὠφελεῖσθαι, Mrk.5:26; ὑστερεῖν, 2Co.11:5; μεριμνᾶν, Php.4:6; in double negation, strengthening the denial, μηκέτι μ., Mrk.11:14, Act.4:17; μὴ . . . μηδέν (μηδένα, μηδεμίαν), 2Co.13:7, 2Th.2:3, 1Pe.3:6 μηθείς, see. μηδείς …

occasionἀφορμὴνaphormēnG0874
opportunity

ἀφορμή (aphormē) ἀφ-ορμή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX: Eze.5:7 (הָמוֹן), Pro.9:9, 3Ma.3:2 * ;] prop., a starting point; in war, a base of operations; metaphorically, an occasion, incentive, opportunity (MM, see word): 2Co.11:12, Gal.5:13; ἀφ. λαμβάνειν, Luk.11:24, WH, mg., Rom.7:8, 11; ἀφ. διδόναι, 2Co.5:12, 1Ti.5:14.* (AS)

to giveδιδόναιdidonaiG1325
to give

δίδωμι (didōmi) δίδωμι, [in LXX chiefly for נָתַן (53 words in all) ;] to give—in various senses, accusative to context—bestow, grant, supply, deliver, commit, yield: absol., Act.20:35; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Mat.4:9 5:31, Jhn.1:12, al. mult.; with dative of person(s), before ἐκ, Mat.25:8; id. with genitive part.. Rev.2:17; with accusative of person(s), Jhn.3:16, Rev.20:13, al.; δεξιάς, Gal.2:9; φίλημα, Luk.7:45; γνῶσιν, Luk.1:77; κρίσιν, Jhn.5:22; of seed yielding fruit, Mrk.4:7, 8; ἐργασίαν (Deiss., LAE, 117f.), Luk.12:58; with inf. fin., Mat.27:34, Mrk.5:43, Luk.8:55, Jhn.6: …

opposingἀντικειμένῳantikeimenōG0480
be an opponent

ἀντίκειμαι (antikeimai) ἀντί-κειμαι [in LXX for אָיַב, צוּר, שָׂטַן, etc. ;] 1. to lie opposite to. 2. to oppose, withstand, resist: with dative, Luk.13:17 21:15, Gal.5:17, 1Ti.1:10; as participial subst. (ὁ) ἀντικείμενος, 1Co.16:9, Php.1:28, 2Th.2:4, 1Ti.5:14 (Cremer, 746).† (AS)

of reproachλοιδορίαςloidoriasG3059
reviling

λοιδορία (loidoria) λοιδορία, -ας, ἡ (λοιδορέω), [in LXX chiefly for רִיב, מְרִיבָה ;] abuse, railing: 1Ti.5:14, 1Pe.3:9.† (AS)

because;χάριν·charinG5484
because of

χάριν (charin) therefore, because of this, for this reason the acc. sg form of the noun χάριν which can be used as an improper preposition, on account of, because of, for this reason Lk. 7:47; Eph. 3:1, 14; 1Jn. 3:12; for the sake of, in order to, Gal. 3:19; Tit. 1:5, 11; Jude 16; on the score of, 1Tim. 5:14*

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.