1 Timothy 5:4

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

BSB

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

KJV

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

ASV

But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

BBE

But if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes of God.

Original Greek

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εἰ ei If G1487 δέ de however G1161 τις tis any G5100 χήρα chēra widow G5503 τέκνα tekna children G5043 ἢ ē or G2228 ἔκγονα ekgona grandchildren G1549 ἔχει echei has G2192 μανθανέτωσαν manthanetōsan they should learn G3129 πρῶτον prōton first G4413 τὸν ton (the) G3588 ἴδιον idion [her] own G2398 οἶκον oikon household G3624 εὐσεβεῖν eusebein to be devout G2151 καὶ kai and G2532 ἀμοιβὰς amoibas recompense G287 ἀποδιδόναι apodidonai to give G591 τοῖς tois (the) G3588 προγόνοις progonois to parents G4269 τοῦτο touto this G3778 γάρ gar for G1063 ἐστιν estin is G1510 καλὸν kalon good G2570 καὶ kai and G2532 ἀπόδεκτον apodekton pleasing G587 ἐνώπιον enōpion before G1799 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 θεοῦ.¶ theou God G2316

The early church

"But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents." Observe the discretion of Paul; how often he urges men from human considerations. For he does not here lay down any great and lofty motive, but one that is easy to be understood: "to requite their parents." How? For bringing them up and educating them. As if he should say, Thou hast received from them great care. They are departed. Thou canst not requite them. For thou didst not bring them forth, nor nourish them. Requite them in their descendants, repay the debt through the children. "Let them learn first to show piety at home." Here he more simply exhorts them to acts of kindness; then to excite them the more, he adds, "For that is good and acceptable before God." And as he had spoken of those "who are widows indeed," he declares who is indeed a widow.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Timothy

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 3–8

Honour widows that are widows indeed, relieve them, and maintain them. It is the duty of children, if their parents are in need, and they are able to relieve them, to do it to the utmost of their power. Widowhood is a desolate state; but let widows trust in the Lord, and continue in prayer. All who live in pleasure, are dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins. Alas, what numbers there are of this description among nominal Christians, even to the latest period of life! If any men or women do not maintain their poor relations, they in effect deny the faith. If they spend upon their lusts and pleasures, what should maintain their families, they have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels. If professors of the gospel give way to any corrupt principle or conduct, they are worse than those who do not profess to believe the doctrines of grace.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 5 →

Cross-references

16

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.