I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.
- KJV But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
- NKJV And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
- NASB But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
- NLT I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul does not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man in the assembly. This is a verse faithful Christians interpret differently.
Overview
Paul restricts certain authoritative teaching roles, directing instead toward quietness. Faithful Christians disagree on its application: complementarians see an abiding principle for church office, while egalitarians read it in light of the specific Ephesian situation. Both sides seek to honor Scripture; the passage should be handled with care and charity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- 1 Cor 14:34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 2:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.
How traditions read this
How 1 Timothy 2:12 applies to the church today.
Paul grounds his instruction in the creation order (vv. 13–14): the office of elder/pastor and authoritative teaching of the gathered church are for qualified men, while women serve vitally in countless other ways.
Key points · Rooted in creation, not only culture; equal worth, distinct roles; cf. the elder qualifications (1 Tim 3; Titus 1).
Wayne Grudem; John Piper
The restriction addressed a specific Ephesian situation (false teaching, untrained women); Scripture also shows women prophesying, teaching (Priscilla), and leading (Phoebe, Junia). Gifting, not gender, governs ministry.
Key points · Galatians 3:28; women leaders across the New Testament; the disputed verb and the local context.
Gordon Fee; N.T. Wright (broadly)
Each view is stated as that tradition would put it, with representative sources. Limitless Word presents them side by side and endorses none — see the methodology.