1 Timothy 6 9

1 Timothy 6:9 kjv

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:9 nkjv

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:9 niv

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6:9 esv

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6:9 nlt

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 9 meaning

This verse serves as a sober warning, delineating the spiritual peril faced by those whose deepest longing is to accumulate wealth. It explains that such an intense desire leads them into a progressive and destructive trap: first, they are drawn into temptation, then entangled in a spiritual snare, followed by an increasing capitulation to irrational and destructive cravings. Ultimately, these unchecked desires overwhelm individuals, pulling them down into utter moral and spiritual devastation.

1 Timothy 6 9 Context

First Timothy, an epistle from Paul to his protege Timothy in Ephesus, provides guidance on church leadership, sound doctrine, and Christian conduct. Chapter 6 specifically addresses matters of Christian slaves, false teachers who exploit religion for financial gain (v. 5), and then segues into warnings against materialism. Verse 9 specifically contrasts with the previous admonition in verse 6 to pursue "godliness with contentment," laying bare the dire consequences of chasing after worldly riches as an opposing path. Culturally, Ephesus was a thriving port city, rich in commerce and often associated with the worship of Artemis, which also had significant economic implications. The allure of wealth and status was ever-present, making Paul’s warning a highly relevant and direct challenge to contemporary societal values and potentially even false teachings circulating in the church that might have conflated faith with financial prosperity.

1 Timothy 6 9 Word analysis

• But (de / δέ): A strong conjunction marking a stark contrast with the preceding verses, especially the positive outcome of "godliness with contentment" (v. 6). It introduces an alternative, perilous path.

• those who desire (hoi de thelontes / οἱ δὲ θέλοντες): The Greek verb thelō (θέλω) here implies a strong, deliberate inclination or a fixed purpose to achieve something. It signifies a driving ambition or active choice to want to be rich, not merely a passive wish or an accidental state of wealth.

• to be rich (plouteō / πλουτέω): To gain wealth, to be abundant in possessions. The danger highlighted is not the existence of wealth itself, but the consuming craving to attain this state as a primary life goal.

• fall into (empiptō / ἐμπίπτω): To fall headlong, to rush or plunge into something. It suggests an uncontrolled descent, a sudden or swift entanglement, and often implies being trapped or overcome without a clear exit.

• temptation (peirasmos / πειρασμός): A trial, testing, or enticement to evil. It's the immediate entry point into a dangerous situation where one's faithfulness and moral integrity are tested, often by promises of immediate gratification or power from wealth.

• a snare (pagis / παγίς): A trap or net, originally for catching animals. It speaks of entrapment, something designed to capture and hold, from which escape is difficult. The desire for wealth creates circumstances that lead to spiritual and moral capture.

• and many (kai pollas / καὶ πολλάς): Emphasizes the multiplicity and variety of the negative desires that follow. It's not just one misguided craving, but a myriad of different corrupting impulses.

• foolish (anoētos / ἀνόητος): Literally "without mind" or "senseless." Describes desires that are irrational, lacking spiritual discernment, and inherently contrary to divine wisdom. They are attractive on the surface but ultimately lead to self-inflicted harm.

• and harmful (kai blaberas / καὶ βλαβεράς): Injurious, damaging, detrimental. These desires cause real and severe damage, not only to an individual's spiritual well-being and character but potentially to others and their relationships.

• desires (epithymias / ἐπιθυμίας): A strong longing or craving. While epithymia can be neutral, here, modified by "foolish and harmful," it unequivocally refers to covetous, ungodly, and morally illicit inner passions.

• that plunge (haitines bythizousin / αἵτινες βυθίζουσιν): To cause to sink, to submerge, to drown. It is a powerful, active verb portraying a violent and irreversible descent into the deep, an overwhelming and total engulfment leading to complete destruction.

• people (anthrōpous / ἀνθρώπους): Humanity generally, but specifically those individuals driven by the relentless desire for riches.

• into ruin (eis olethron / εἰς ὄλεθρον): Destruction, ruin, perishing, often implying spiritual death or ultimate condemnation in a Pauline context. It denotes the complete undoing, loss, or corruption of well-being.

• and destruction (kai apōleian / καὶ ἀπώλεian): Annihilation, utter perishing, absolute loss. Similar to olethros but can intensify the sense of utter waste or permanent damnation, emphasizing no hope of recovery. The combination stresses the totality and finality of the disaster.

• "those who desire to be rich": This phrase pinpoints the initiating impulse—a focused, intense yearning for wealth as a primary objective. It highlights the heart's posture and active pursuit, distinguishing it from merely possessing riches.

• "fall into temptation, a snare": This sequence illustrates the immediate dangers. The fervent desire for wealth creates conditions where one becomes susceptible to enticements and soon finds themselves ensnared, caught in circumstances that restrict freedom and compel compromise. It describes a progression from being lured to being trapped.

• "many foolish and harmful desires": This describes the consequence of being trapped. The snare leads to a proliferation of irrational and damaging cravings. "Foolish" signifies a lack of spiritual sense or wisdom, while "harmful" underscores their injurious nature, corrupting moral character and spiritual health.

• "plunge people into ruin and destruction": This highlights the dire, ultimate outcome. The cumulative effect of these ungodly desires and the associated entrapment is a violent, overwhelming descent into utter devastation. The strong Greek terms olethron and apōleian signify complete and irrecoverable spiritual, moral, and potentially eternal undoing.

1 Timothy 6 9 Bonus section

• The vivid and strong metaphorical language used in this verse ("fall into," "snare," "plunge," "ruin," "destruction") employs graphic imagery to underscore the severity and almost inevitable doom associated with the fervent pursuit of riches. This makes the warning deeply impactful, appealing to an intuitive understanding of danger.
• This passage functions as a direct challenge to certain contemporary beliefs prevalent in the Roman world and potentially among false teachers, which often linked material prosperity to divine favor or moral virtue. Paul dismantles this notion by exposing the spiritually destructive reality of avarice.
• Crucially, the focus is on the "desire" (thelō) to become rich, rather than on the state of being rich. The Bible does not inherently condemn wealth but strongly cautions against the lust for it and the trust placed in it. Wealth itself can be used for good, but the ambition driven by covetousness corrupts the heart.
• The progressive nature of the decline, from an internal desire to external actions (temptation), spiritual entrapment (snare), a proliferation of evil inner motivations (foolish and harmful desires), and finally, an overwhelming catastrophe (plunge into ruin and destruction), details a profound process of spiritual decay.

1 Timothy 6 9 Commentary

First Timothy 6:9 stands as a stark caution that an intense longing to amass wealth, rather than merely possessing it, sets a dangerous course. This yearning initiates a destructive sequence, first luring individuals into temptations that promise gratification but lead to spiritual compromise. Subsequently, it ensnares them, catching them in a trap of material obsession and compromising circumstances. From this ensnared position, a multitude of "foolish" (irrational and unwise) and "harmful" (damaging to faith and character) desires spring forth, eroding spiritual discernment and moral integrity. Ultimately, these unchecked, proliferating cravings act as a spiritual undertow, forcefully "plunging" individuals into comprehensive "ruin and destruction"—a state of utter moral, spiritual, and potentially eternal devastation. This warns against covetous ambition as a foundational spiritual hazard.

• Example: A Christian executive compromises ethical standards to secure a major business deal for financial gain, leading to legal troubles, a corrupted conscience, and alienated relationships.
• Example: A person becomes consumed by spending endless hours chasing a higher income, neglecting family, church, and personal spiritual growth, only to feel empty despite material accumulation.