I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Parallel translations
- WEB I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
- BSB So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
- NKJV Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
- NASB Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, have children, manage their households, and give the enemy no opportunity for reproach;
- NLT So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.
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's positive counsel is that younger widows remarry, raise children, and manage their homes, giving the enemy no occasion to slander. Wholesome domestic life guards both them and the church's witness.
Overview
Rather than leaving younger widows to idleness, Paul commends remarriage and the honorable work of managing a household. This protects them from the dangers just named and shields the church's reputation from reproach by the adversary, whether human opponents or Satan. The instruction affirms the goodness of marriage and ordinary faithful living as a setting for godliness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Titus 2:5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
- 1 Tim 6:1Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
- Prov 31:27–29She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
- 1 Cor 7:8–9I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
- Titus 2:8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
- Heb 13:4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
- Dan 6:4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
- Prov 14:1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
- 1 Tim 4:3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
- 1 Tim 2:8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
- 1 Pet 4:14–15If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
- 1 Tim 5:11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
- 2 Cor 11:12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
- Luke 23:35–41And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
- Gen 18:6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
- Rom 14:13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
- Gen 18:9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
- 2 Sam 12:14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
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Original language
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