1 Timothy 2 · Verse 10

1 Timothy 2:10

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1 Timothy 2:10, King James Version

1 Timothy 2:10 in other translations

BSBbut with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.
WEBbut with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness.
ASVbut (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.
YLTbut--which becometh women professing godly piety--through good works.
DARBYbut, what becomes women making profession of the fear of God, by good works.
BBEBut clothed with good works, as is right for women who are living in the fear of God.
WebsterBut (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

What does 1 Timothy 2:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 2:9-10

9-10. The context requires that we understand these directions as to women, in relation to their deportment in public worship, though the rules will hold good on other occasions also. in modest apparel--"in seemly guise" [Ellicott]. The adjective means properly. orderly, decorous, becoming; the noun in secular writings means conduct, bearing. But here "apparel." Women are apt to love fine dress; and at Ephesus the…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. That is, it is not appropriate for women who profess to be the followers of the Saviour, to seek to be distinguished for personal, external decorations. If they are Christians, they have seen the vanity of these things, and have fixed the heart on more substantial realities. They are professed followers of Him "who went about doing good," and the performance of good works especially becomes them. They profess to have fixed the affections on God their Saviour, and to be living for heaven; and it is not becoming in them to seek such ornaments as would indicate that the heart is supremely attached to worldly things. There is great beauty in this direction. Good works, or deeds of benevolence, eminently become a Christian female. The nature of woman seems to be adapted to the performance of all deeds demanding kindness, tenderness, and gentleness of feeling; of all that proceeds from pity, sympathy, and affection; and we feel, instinctively, that while acts of hardy enterprise and daring in a good cause peculiarly become a Christian man, there is something exquisitely appropriate to the female character in deeds of humble and unobtrusive sympathy and benevolence. God seems to have formed her mind for just such things, and in such things it occupies its appropriate sphere, rather than in seeking external adorning.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 But (which becometh, etc. - That is: Good works are the only ornaments with which women professing Christianity should seek to be adorned. The Jewish matrons were accustomed to cry to the bride: "There is no need of paint, no need of antimony, no need of braided hair; she herself is most beautiful." The eastern women use a preparation of antimony, which they apply both to the eyes and eyelids, and by which the eye itself acquires a wonderful lustre.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:8-15

Under the gospel, prayer is not to be confined to any one particular house of prayer, but men must pray every where. We must pray in our closets, pray in our families, pray at our meals, pray when we are on journeys, and pray in the solemn assemblies, whether more public or private. We must pray in charity; without wrath, or malice, or anger at any person. We must pray in faith, without doubting, and without…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 2:8-15 →

1 Timothy 2:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ὃhowith whatG3739
πρέπειprepeiis becomingG4241
γυναιξὶνgunaixinto womenG1135
ἐπαγγελλομέναιςepangellomenaisprofessingG1861
θεοσέβειαν,theosebeian[the] fear of God,G2317
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
ἔργωνergōnworksG2041
ἀγαθῶν.agathōngood.G18

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 2:10

  • 1 Peter 2:12

    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  • 1 Peter 3:3-5

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

  • Revelation 2:19

    I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

  • Proverbs 31:31

    Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

  • Acts 9:36

    Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

  • 2 Peter 1:6-8

    And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Titus 3:8

    This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

  • 2 Peter 3:11

    Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

  • Ephesians 2:10

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

  • Acts 9:39

    Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

  • 1 Timothy 5:6-10

    But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
women.
1Pe 3:3-5; 2Pe 3:11
with.
5:6-10; Pr 31:31; Ac 9:36,39; Eph 2:10; Tit 2:14; 3:8; 1Pe 2:12
2Pe 1:6-8; Re 2:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 2:9

    In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

  • 1 Timothy 2:10

    But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

  • 1 Timothy 2:11

    Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

Read all of 1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Sino de buenas obras, como conviene á mujeres que profesan piedad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
mais par de bonnes œuvres, ce qui sied à des femmes qui font profession de servir Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871
sondern was Weibern geziemt, die sich zur Gottesfurcht bekennen, durch gute Werke.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
sed quod decet mulieres, promittentes pietatem per opera bona.