1 Timothy 5:9

Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

BSB

A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,

KJV

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

ASV

Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, [having been] the wife of one man,

BBE

Let no woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,

Original Greek

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χήρα chēra A widow G5503 καταλεγέσθω katalegesthō should ld be enrol G2639 μὴ mē not G3361 ἔλαττον elatton less G1640 ἐτῶν etōn than years [old] G2094 ἑξήκοντα hexēkonta sixty G1835 γεγονυῖα gegonuia having been G1096 ἑνὸς henos of one G1520 ἀνδρὸς andros man G435 γυνή gunē [the] wife G1135

The early church

He had said, "Let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents." He had also said, "She that liveth in pleasure is dead whilst she liveth." He had said, "If she provides not for her own she is worse than an infidel." Having mentioned the qualities which not to have would render a woman unworthy to be reckoned among the widows, he now mentions what she ought to have besides. What then? are we to receive her for her years? What merit is there in that? It is not her own doing that she is threescore years old. Therefore he does not speak of her age merely, as, if she has even reached those years, she may not yet, he says, without good works, be reckoned among the number. But why then is he particular about the age? He afterwards assigns a cause not originating with himself, but with the widows themselves.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Timothy

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 9–16

Every one brought into any office in the church, should be free from just censure; and many are proper objects of charity, yet ought not to be employed in public services. Those who would find mercy when they are in distress, must show mercy when they are in prosperity; and those who show most readiness for every good work, are most likely to be faithful in whatever is trusted to them. Those who are idle, very seldom are only idle, they make mischief among neighbours, and sow discord among brethren. All believers are required to relieve those belonging to their families who are destitute, that the church may not be prevented from relieving such as are entirely destitute and friendless.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 5 →

Cross-references

9

Topics

LovePoorRighteousnessWorksWifeKindnessWidow

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