1 Timothy 2:12
in 1 Timothy 2I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.
KJV
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
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This verse in 1 Timothy 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThe Apostle takes away from woman every occasion for speaking in church. For after he commanded them to be silent, so that they would not speak under the plausible pretext of teaching, he said: let them not teach; because this would give them authority and …
This site's exposition
Let the woman learn
on 1 Timothy 2:11-12
The first command is the startling one for its century: let the woman learn, a directive the synagogue's stricter voices would not have given, with in silence, hesuchia, meaning the quiet, teachable manner verse 2 asked of the whole church rather than a muzzle. I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority, authentein, a verb found nowhere else in Scripture, is read by many honored teachers across church history as a standing ordinance for the assembly, Derek Prince among those who taught it so in his own careful words, and by others as Paul's ruling for a specific Ephesian disorder, the false teaching of 1:3-7 then spreading through untaught women, a reading the Wesleyan and Pentecostal tradition follows with its long line of women preachers. Both readings are argued from the text by those who hold them, the difference is a difference among brothers, and the verse's own certain ground is that learning comes before teaching for any disciple.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
For with us indeed the woman is reasonably subjected to the man: since equality of honor causeth contention. And not for this cause only, but by reason also of the deceit which happened in the beginning. Wherefore you see, she was not subjected as soon as she was made; nor, when He brought her to the man, did either she hear any such thing from God, nor did the man say any such word to her: he said indeed that she was "bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh:" but of rule or subjection he no where made mention unto her. But when she made an ill use of her privilege and she who had been made a helper was found to be an ensnarer and ruined all, then she is justly told for the future, "thy turning shall be to thy husband."
"But I suffer not a woman to teach." "I do not suffer," he says. What place has this command here? The fittest. He was speaking of quietness, of propriety, of modesty, so having said that he wished them not to speak in the church, to cut off all occasion of conversation, he says, let them not teach, but occupy the station of learners. For thus they will show submission by their silence. For the sex is naturally somewhat talkative: and for this reason he restrains them on all sides. "For Adam," says he, "was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. Not only does he require women to be modest, but also silent and submissive; for through silence, …
A commentator
John ChrysostomTreatise on the Priesthood, Book 3 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
The divine law indeed has excluded women from the ministry, but they endeavor to thrust themselves into it; and since they can effect nothing of themselves, they do all through the agency of others; and they have become invested with so much power that they can appoint or eject priests at their will: things in fact are turned upside down, and the proverbial saying may be seen realized—"The ruled lead the rulers:" and would that it were men who do this instead of women, who have not received a commission to teach. Why do I say teach? for the blessed Paul did not suffer them even to speak in the Church. But I have heard some one say that they have obtained such a large privilege of free speech, as even to rebuke the prelates of the Churches, and censure them more severely than masters do their own domestics.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Likewise, he states what things are not permitted to women, saying nor to use authority over the man: but to be in silence. Consequently, he forbids them to teach. Against this, the vision wherewith his mother instructed him (Prov 31:1). I answer that some teaching …
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But I suffer not a woman to teach, They may teach in private, in their own houses and families; they are to be teachers of good things, Tit 2:3. They are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; nor is the law or doctrine of a mother to be forsaken, any more than the instruction of a father; see Pro 1:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Nor to usurp authority - A woman should attempt nothing, either in public or private, that belongs to man as his peculiar function. This was prohibited by the Roman laws: In multis juris nostri articulis deterior est conditio foeminarum quam masculorun,; l. 9, Pap. Lib. 31, Quaest. Foeminoe ab omnibus officiis civilibus vel publicis remotae sunt; et ideo nec judicis esse possunt, nec magistratum gerere, nec postulare, nec pro alio invenire, nec procuratores existere; l. 2, de Reg. Juris. Ulp. Lib. i. Ad Sab. - Vid. Poth. Pand.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But I suffer not a woman to teach - see the notes on 1Co 14:34. Nor to usurp authority over the man - notes, 1Co 11:3.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διδάσκειν | didaskein | To teach | G1321 → | 96 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| γυναικὶ | gunaiki | a woman | G1135 → | 211 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐπιτρέπω | epitrepo | I do permit | G2010 → | |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| αὐθεντεῖν | authentein | to use authority over | G831 → | |
| ἀνδρὸς | andros | a man | G435 → | 216 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| εἶναι | einai | to be | G1511 → | 123 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἡσυχίᾳ. | hesuchia | quietness. | G2271 → |
διδάσκεινTo teach
didaskeinG1321 →96 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
γυναικὶa woman
gunaikiG1135 →211 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐπιτρέπωI do permit
epitrepoG2010 →
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
αὐθεντεῖνto use authority over
authenteinG831 →
ἀνδρὸςa man
androsG435 →216 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
εἶναιto be
einaiG1511 →123 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἡσυχίᾳ.quietness.
hesuchiaG2271 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 2:11–12
A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
- Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
- Numbers 30:3–13
And if a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge,
- 1 Corinthians 14:35
If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
- Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
- 1 Timothy 2:11–12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Timothy

This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 26; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 9; John Chrysostom, Treatise on the Priesthood, Book 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.
