Titus 1:10
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: | For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, | For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul explains why elders who hold the faithful word are needed. Many in Crete were unruly, vain talkers and deceivers, "specially they of the circumcision." Titus 1:9Titus 1:10
SpeakingPaul, who calls himself "a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ." Titus 1:1Titus overview
ToTitus, Paul's "own son after the common faith," whom Paul had left in Crete to set the churches in order. Titus 1:4Titus 1:5Titus overview
Also involvedThe false teachers in Crete, "specially they of the circumcision," and the households they were upsetting. Titus 1:10Titus 1:11
This verse begins Paul's description of the false teachers (1:10-16). They are unruly, their talk is vain, and they deceive. Paul tells Titus to rebuke so that hearers do not give heed to "Jewish fables, and commandments of men" (1:14). Titus 1:10Titus 1:14Titus overview
Titus was in Crete, a large Mediterranean island with churches "in every city." The letter does not say where Paul was, but he planned to winter at Nicopolis. Titus overviewTitus 1:5
The eventsThese teachers were active in Crete while Titus was there. The verse gives no date. Titus 1:5Titus 1:10
WrittenTraditional: about AD 63-65, after Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment. Scholarly: many hold that a follower wrote the letter in Paul's name about AD 80-100; others accept that Paul wrote it. Titus overview
HereThe "For" links back to verse 9. Elders must be able to "convince the gainsayers," because there are many of them. Titus 1:9Titus 1:10
In the whole of ScripturePaul met such teachers elsewhere. He warned of "false brethren" who wanted to bring believers into bondage (Galatians 2:4) and of those who "by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:18). John says to "try the spirits" because "many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Galatians 2:4Romans 16:181 John 4:1
For readersNot all religious talk is sound. Believers are to test teaching against the truth and watch for talk that is empty or misleading. Titus 1:101 John 4:1Ephesians 4:14
- unrulyἀνυπότακτος
The word means not subject to rule, insubordinate. Paul uses it of children in 1:6; here it describes the teachers. Strong's G0506Titus 1:6
- vain talkersματαιολόγος
The word means talking idly. The lexicon lists this verse as its only New Testament use. Strong's G3151
- deceiversφρεναπάτης
The word means a deceiver; one grammar cited in the lexicon reads it as a deceiver of his own mind. This verse is its only New Testament use. Strong's G5423
- circumcisionπεριτομή
The word means circumcision. "They of the circumcision" names people marked by it, that is, from a Jewish background. Strong's G4061
Takeaway
Many in Crete were unruly, empty talkers and deceivers. Churches need leaders who can recognise such teaching and answer it with the truth. Titus 1:9Titus 1:101 John 4:1
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There are | Εἰσὶν | Eisin | G1510 | you areεἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. … |
| for | γὰρ | gar | G1063 | forγάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. … |
| many | πολλοὶ | polloi | G4183 | muchπολύς (polus) πολύς, πολλή, πολύ, [in LXX chiefly for רַב and cognate forms ;] 1. as adj., much, many, great, of number, space, degree, value, time, etc.: ἀριθμός, Act.11:21; ὄχλος, Mrk.5:24; θερισμός, Mat.9:37; χόρτος, Jhn.6:10; χρόνος, Mat.25:19; γογγυσμός, Jhn.7:12; πόνος, Col.4:13; δόξα, Mat.24:30; σιγή, Act.21:40; pl., προφῆται, Mat.13:17; ὄχλοι, Mat.4:25; δαιμόνια, Mrk.1:34; δυνάμεις, Mat.7:22, … |
| also | 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. … |
| insubordinate, | ἀνυπότακτοι, | anupotaktoi | G0506 | insubordinateἀνυπότακτος (anupotaktos) ἀνυπότακτος, -ον (ά- neg., ὑποτάσσω) [in Sm.: 1Ki.2:12 10:27 (for LXX, λοιμός, בֵּן בְּלִיַּעַל)* ;] of things, not subject to rule: Heb.2:8; of persons, unruly: 1Ti.1:9, Tit.1:6, 10 (MM, VGT, see word).† (AS) |
| empty talkers | ματαιολόγοι | mataiologoi | G3151 | babblerματαιολόγος (mataiologos) ματαιολόγος -ον (μάταιος, λέγω), talking idly: Tit.1:10.† (AS) |
| 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. … |
| deceivers | φρεναπάται | phrenapatai | G5423 | deceiverφρεναπάτης (phrenapatēs) φρεναπάτης, -ου, ὁ (φρήν, ἀπάτη), a deceiver (B1., deceiver of his own mind, § 28, 5.2, where see ref. to π.): Tit.1:10 (eccl.).† (AS) |
| especially | μάλιστα | malista | G3122 | especiallyμάλιστα (malista) μάλιστα, see: μάλα. μάλα adv., [in LXX for אֲבָל, 3Ki.1:43, Dan LXX 10:21, al.; compar. for מ, Num.13:32 (31), al.; μᾶλλον ἠ (מ), Gen.19:9, al.; superlat., 2Ma.8:7, 4Ma.4:22 12:9 15:4 ;] I. Pos., very, very much, exceedingly (cl.; LXX ut supr.; in NT its place is taken by λίαν, σφόδρα, etc.). II. Compar., μᾶλλον. 1. Of increase, more; with qualifying words: πολλῷ, Mrk.10:48, Luk.18:39, Rom.5:15, 17, Php.2:12, al.; πόσῳ, Luk.12:24, Rom.11:12, al.; τοσούτῳ . . . ὅσῳ, Heb.10:25. … |
| of | ἐκ | ek | G1537 | out fromἐκ (ek) ἐκ (ἐξ), prep. with genitive, from out of, from (see Addendum, p. 492). This entry is included here, but in the print version the entry is found on p. 492. ἐκ, before a vowel ἐξ, prep. with genitive, of motion outwards, separation from (opposite to εἰς; = Lat. e, ex), from out of, from among, from. I. Of Place, … |
| circumcision | περιτομῆς | peritomēs | G4061 | circumcisionπεριτομή (peritomē) περι-τομή, -ῆς, ἡ (περιτέμνω), [in LXX: Gen.17:13, Exo.4:25-26 (מוּל ni., מוּלָה), Jer.11:16 * ;] circumcision; (a) of the rite itself : Jhn.7:22-23 Act.7:8, Rom.4:11, Gal.5:11, Php.3:5; (b) of the state of circumcision: Rom.2:25-28 3:1, 1Co.7:19, Gal.5:6 6:15, Col.3:11; ἐν π. ὤν, Rom.4:10; (with) by meton., π. = οἱ περιτμηθέντες, the circumcised: Rom.3:30 4:9, 12 15:8, Gal.2:7-9, Eph.2:11; οἱ ἐκ τῆς π., of Jews, Rom.4:12; of Jewish Christians, Act.11:2, Gal.2:12, Tit.1:10; οἱ ἐκ π. πιστοί, Act.10:45; οἱ ὄντες ἐκ π., Col.4:11 Metaphorical, Rom.2:29, Col.2:11, Php.3:3.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.