1 Timothy 5:9 kjv
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.
1 Timothy 5:9 nkjv
Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
1 Timothy 5:9 niv
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
1 Timothy 5:9 esv
Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,
1 Timothy 5:9 nlt
A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.
1 Timothy 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Timothy 5:9 | "Let a widow be enrolled if she is sixty years or older, having been the wife of one husband," | Church requirement for enrollment |
| 1 Corinthians 7:8 | "To the unmarried and to the widows I say that it is good for them to remain even as I am." | Counsel to remaining unmarried |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:11 | "and to aspire to live quietly, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands," | Emphasis on industry and quiet life |
| 1 Timothy 5:10 | "and has been known by her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in distress, and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds." | Qualifications for widows |
| Hebrews 13:2 | "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." | Importance of hospitality |
| Acts 2:44-45 | "All the believers were together and had everything in common." | Early church's shared resources |
| Acts 4:32 | "The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common to them." | Early church's shared resources |
| John 13:14 | "If then I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." | Jesus’ example of service |
| Genesis 18:6 | "And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah and said, 'Quickly, mix three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make cakes on the hearth.'" | Abraham’s hospitality |
| Luke 2:37 | "and then she was a widow for eighty-four years and never left the temple, serving God by night and by day with fasting and prayer." | Anna, an exemplary widow |
| Romans 1:20 | "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." | Attributes of God seen in creation |
| Proverbs 16:31 | "The gray-haired head is a crown of glory; it is reached in a life of righteousness." | Honor for aged in righteousness |
| Matthew 15:4 | "For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’" | Command to honor parents |
| Ephesians 6:1-2 | "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise)," | Children's obedience and honor |
| Romans 12:13 | "Contribute to the needs of the saints; seek to show hospitality." | Practical Christian living |
| 1 Timothy 3:11 | "Wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things." | Qualifications for deaconesses |
| Titus 2:3-4 | "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children," | Role of older women |
| Philippians 4:11 | "Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." | Contentment in all circumstances |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace:" | Stewardship of gifts |
| 1 Corinthians 9:14 | "Likewise the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | Support for gospel workers |
| Acts 6:1-7 | Selection of the first deacons, men known for good deeds. | Establishing of a support system |
| James 1:27 | "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." | Definition of pure religion |
1 Timothy 5 verses
1 Timothy 5 9 Meaning
The verse directs that an unmarried woman seeking inclusion in the church's widow-support list must be at least sixty years old. This ensures that only genuinely needy and genuinely unmarried women of a certain maturity and character are supported, preventing fraud and honoring those who have lived faithfully.
1 Timothy 5 9 Context
First Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. The letter addresses issues of church leadership, sound doctrine, and practical Christian living. Chapter 5 specifically deals with how believers should relate to different groups within the church, including elders and widows. Paul is providing guidance on how the church should organize and support its members, particularly those who are vulnerable and in genuine need. The instruction on widows is part of this larger concern for proper church order and compassionate care.
1 Timothy 5 9 Word Analysis
- Let (Gk. kataleghē): To enroll, list, or register. This indicates a formal process for designating women for church support.
- a widow (Gk. chēra): A woman whose husband is dead. The emphasis here is on her state of being alone and potentially vulnerable.
- be enrolled (Gk. kataleghē): Means to be placed on a list or register. This was for official church records to qualify for assistance.
- if (Gk. ean): A conditional particle, setting a requirement.
- she is (Gk. ē): To be, is.
- sixty years (Gk. hexēkontaetōn): Sixty years old. A specific age threshold set for qualification.
- or older (Gk. ē arrēnotokos): While arrēnotokos literally means "bearing male children," in this context, combined with the age requirement and the following phrase, it likely refers to the quality of being married to only one man throughout her life. It's an idiom indicating fidelity to one husband, not a requirement of having borne male children. Some scholars suggest it might be a scribal error or a unique Pauline usage to emphasize lifelong monogamy, which was already stipulated in the preceding phrase.
- having been the wife of one husband (Gk. henos andros genomēnē): This phrase denotes a woman who has been married only once. It's a requirement emphasizing marital faithfulness and continuity, excluding women who have been remarried after the death of a spouse, implying a preference for widows who have maintained their widowhood and committed to marital fidelity. This was important for the testimony of such women in the community.
1 Timothy 5 9 Bonus Section
The "wife of one husband" qualification has been interpreted in various ways, but the prevailing view is monogamy. Some early church writers understood it to exclude women who had been married more than once, while others, like the reformers, believed it referred to a lifelong marital commitment without divorce or remarriage after becoming a widow and being placed on the list. The core idea is faithfulness and constancy in marriage, reflecting a high moral standard expected of those supported by the church. This reflects an Old Testament principle of respecting the aged and ensuring proper care for vulnerable members within the community, mirroring the care mandated for the poor and widowed in Israelite society.
1 Timothy 5 9 Commentary
This verse establishes clear criteria for a woman to be officially recognized and supported by the church as a widow. The age of sixty signifies maturity and likely reduced ability to support herself. The emphasis on having been the "wife of one husband" underscores the value placed on marital fidelity and continuity within the Christian community, reflecting a high standard for those who would be supported and potentially serve as examples. This was not about a woman's perceived virtue based on children, but on her marital history and commitment. It prevented younger widows from claiming support or those with multiple marriages and perhaps less stable histories from being beneficiaries, ensuring resources were used wisely for those most in need and with the best testimony.