1 Timothy 5 13

1 Timothy 5:13 kjv

And 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.

1 Timothy 5:13 nkjv

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

1 Timothy 5:13 niv

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.

1 Timothy 5:13 esv

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

1 Timothy 5:13 nlt

And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people's business and talking about things they shouldn't.

1 Timothy 5 verses

1 Timothy 5 13 Meaning

The verse addresses the tendency for younger widows to become idle and prone to gossip and meddling in the affairs of others. It emphasizes that this idleness leads them away from productive activities and spiritual focus.

1 Timothy 5 13 Context

This verse is part of Paul's instruction to Timothy on church administration, specifically concerning the care and conduct of widows within the early Christian community. Chapter 5 distinguishes between different categories of widows and outlines the criteria for providing church support. The focus shifts to younger widows, suggesting they may not have the same spiritual maturity or established responsibilities as older widows who are honored and supported. Paul addresses the potential dangers of idleness and misuse of time for these younger women, warning against behaviors that could bring reproach upon the church.

1 Timothy 5 13 Word Analysis

• epiteleu de (Greek: ἐπιτελεῖ δὲ): "and moreover" or "furthermore." This conjunction signals a transition and an addition to the previous point, introducing a specific behavior of these younger widows.
• to tou (Greek: τὸ τοῦ): "the of the." A common Greek construction indicating possession or relationship.
• logou (Greek: λόγου): "word" or "reason," but here used idiomatically to mean "account" or "speech" in the sense of spreading stories or gossip.
• gune (Greek: γυνὴ): "woman."
• plen (Greek: πλὴν): "but," "only," "except." It serves as a restrictive or adversative conjunction.
• aeira (Greek: αἴρει): "lifts up" or "takes up," implying an adoption or assumption of an identity or practice.
• kenou (Greek: κενοῦ): "empty," "vain," "idle." It describes their state or actions as lacking purpose or substance.
• erchomenai (Greek: ἔρχεσθαι): "coming" or "going." Denotes movement from place to place.
• kat (Greek: κατὰ): "down," "according to," "throughout." Here it implies "from" or "through" concerning the places they visit.
• oikou (Greek: οἴκου): "house" or "household." Refers to their dwelling places or residences.
• eila (Greek: εἰς): "into," "to," "for." Indicates movement towards a destination.
• pantas (Greek: πάντα): "all" or "every." Referring to all the houses they visit.
• delousin (Greek: δηλοῦσιν): "to make manifest," "to declare," "to reveal." Implies they are showing or demonstrating this idleness.
• to madaein (Greek: τὸ μαθαίνειν): "to learn," "to be taught." Suggests this is a learned or practiced habit.
• polytropous (Greek: πολυτρόπους): "many-turned," "versatile," meaning cunning, crafty, or talkative in a bad sense. It describes their discourse and manner.

Word Group Analysis:

• "learn to be idle" (to madaein aeira kenou): This phrase signifies that idleness is not merely a state but a developed habit or practice they have adopted. It implies a deficiency in learning or applying themselves to productive and godly activities.
• "going from house to house" (erchomenai kat oikou eila pantas): This describes their movement. The repetition of "house to house" suggests aimless wandering and likely indicates the context of gossip and intrusion into other people's affairs, as is often associated with such movement in ancient societies.
• "talkative, busybodies" (delousin to madaein polytropous): This highlights the outward manifestation of their idleness and wandering. They become known for their garrulous and meddlesome nature, spreading matters that are not their concern, potentially damaging reputations and sowing discord. The Greek word "polytropous" carries a negative connotation of being deceitful or trafficking in empty talk.

1 Timothy 5 13 Bonus Section

The behavior described in 1 Timothy 5:13 reflects a concern for maintaining order and propriety within the Christian community and its witness to the outside world. The "enemy" mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:14, though not explicitly defined, likely refers to external detractors who would seize upon any moral failing within the church as grounds for slander. Gossip and idleness were seen as weaknesses that made individuals, and by extension the community, vulnerable to such criticism. The emphasis on "working at home" for women is a recurring theme in Pauline letters, aiming to secure their focus on household management and godly influence within the family, which would also contribute to a more stable and respectable church.

1 Timothy 5 13 Commentary

This verse warns against a specific danger faced by younger widows in the early church: the propensity towards idleness, which can easily devolve into harmful gossip and meddling. The church was encouraged to provide for widows, but it was also important for these individuals to remain occupied with productive and edifying activities. Younger widows, potentially without the responsibilities of caring for very young children or facing the deeper sorrows that might occupy older widows, were susceptible to filling their time with frivolous pursuits. This idleness, manifesting as wandering from home to home, was often a breeding ground for gossip and an intrusion into the lives of others. Paul's admonition is practical: unproductiveness and idle chatter can bring a bad reputation not only to the individual but to the church itself. He later suggests marriage as a potential avenue to keep them purposefully engaged (1 Tim 5:14).