1 Timothy 5:9 BSB — MannaFest

1 Timothy 5:9

A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

KJV

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

⋯

Commentary

4 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Concerning Widows 2.9 (397)

It is not that old age alone makes the widow. Rather the virtues of the widow may become the duties of old age. For she certainly is the more prone to virtue who represses the heat of youth and the impetuous ardor of youthful age, coveting neither the tenderness of a husband nor the abundant delights of children. She rises above one who, now worn out in body, cold in age, of ripe years, can neither grow warm with pleasures nor hope for offspring.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Let not a widow be chosen - Into the number of deaconesses, who attended sick women or travelling preachers. Under threescore - Afterwards they were admitted at forty, if they were eminent for holiness. Having been the wife of one husband - That is, having lived in lawful marriage, whether with one or more persons successively.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Let not a widow be taken into the number - Margin, “chosen.” The margin expresses the sense of the Greek more accurately, but the meaning is not materially different. Paul does not here specify into what “number” the widow is to be “taken,” or for what purpose she is to be “chosen,” but he speaks of this as a thing that was well understood. There can be no doubt, however, what he means.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

For the restriction to widows above sixty would then be needless and harsh, since many widows might be in need of help at a much earlier age; as also the rule that the widow must not have been twice married, especially since he himself, below (1Ti 5:14) enjoins the younger widows to marry again; as also that she must have brought up children.

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

10 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
χήρα	chēra	A widow	G5503 →
καταλεγέσθω	katalegesthō	should ld be enrol	G2639 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
ἔλαττον	elatton	less	G1640 →
ἐτῶν	etōn	than years [old]	G2094 →
ἑξήκοντα	hexēkonta	sixty	G1835 →
γεγονυῖα	gegonuia	having been	G1096 →
ἑνὸς	henos	of one	G1520 →
ἀνδρὸς	andros	man	G435 →
γυνή,	gunē	[the] wife,	G1135 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Timothy 3:2
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
leads to
- Titus 1:6–9
  An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
- 2 Timothy 2:24
  And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Romans 12:13
  Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- 1 Peter 4:9
  Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
- 1 Timothy 3:10–11
  Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
Through
1 Timothy 5:11
But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:14
  So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
- Hosea 13:6
  When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
- James 5:5
  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

About 1 Timothy

Preaching in the Wilderness — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Timothy: the study guide →Read chapter 5 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Timothy 5 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About 1 Timothy

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About 1 Timothy