1 Timothy 3 · Verse 4

1 Timothy 3:4

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1 Timothy 3:4, King James Version

1 Timothy 3:4 in other translations

BSB	An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
WEB	one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
ASV	one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
YLT	his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,
DARBY	conducting his own house well, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
BBE	Ruling his house well, having his children under control with all serious behaviour;
Webster	One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

What does 1 Timothy 3:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. ruleth--Greek, "presiding over." his own house--children and servants, as contrasted with "the church" (house) of God (1Ti 3:5, 15) which he may be called on to preside over. having his children--rather as Greek, "having children (who are) in subjection" (Tit 1:6). gravity--propriety: reverent modesty on the part of the children [Alford]. The fact that he has children who are in subjection to him in all gravity, is the recommendation in his favor as one likely to rule well the Church.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. One that ruleth well his own house. This implies that a minister of the gospel would be, and ought to be, a married man. It is everywhere in the New Testament supposed that he would be a man who could be an example in all the relations of life. The position which he occupies in the church has a strong resemblance to the relation which a father sustains to his household; and a qualification to govern a family well, would be an evidence of a qualification to preside properly in the church. It is probable that, in the early Christian church, ministers were not unfrequently taken from those of mature life, and who were, at the time, at the head of families; and, of course, such would be men who had had an opportunity of showing that they had this qualification for the office. Though, however, this cannot be insisted on now as a previous qualification for the office, yet it is still true that, if he has a family, it is a necessary qualification, and that a man in the ministry should be one who governs his own house well. A want of this will always be a hinderance to extensive usefulness.

Having his children in subjection with all gravity. This does not mean that his children should evince gravity, whatever may be true on that point; but it refers to the father, he should be a grave or serious man in his family; a man free from levity of character, and from frivolity and fickleness, in his intercourse with his children. It does not mean that he should be severe, stern, morose--which are traits that are often mistaken for gravity, and which are as inconsistent with the proper spirit of a father as frivolity of manner --but that he should be a serious and sober-minded man. He should maintain proper dignity, (σεμνοτης;) he should maintain self-respect, and his deportment should be such as to inspire others with respect for him.

(a) "ruleth well" Ps 101:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 The fourteenth qualification of a Christian bishop is, that he ruleth well his own house; του ιδιου οικου καλως προΐσταμενον, one who properly presides over and governs his own family. One who has the command, of his own house, not by sternness, severity, and tyranny, but with all gravity; governing his household by rule, every one knowing his own place, and each doing his own work, and each work having the proper time assigned for its beginning and end. This is a maxim of common sense; no family can be prosperous that is not under subjection, and no person can govern a family but the head of it, the husband, who is, both by nature and the appointment of God, the head or governor of his own house. See the note on Eph 5:22.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:1-7

If a man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men, was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that service, he sought to be employed in a good work, and his desire should be approved, provided he was qualified for the office. A minister must give as little occasion for blame as can be, lest he bring reproach upon his office. He must be sober, temperate…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 3:1-7 →

1 Timothy 3:4 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.

τοῦtou<the>G3588

ἰδίουidiou[his] ownG2398

οἴκουoikouhouseG3624

καλῶςkalōswellG2573

προϊστάμενον,proistamenonmanaging,G4291

τέκναteknachildrenG5043

ἔχονταechontahavingG2192

ἐνeninG1722

ὑποταγῇhupotagēasubmissionG5292

μετὰmetawithG3326

πάσηςpasēsallG3956

σεμνότητος.¶semnotētosdignity —.G4587

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 3:4

Titus 1:6
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Genesis 18:19
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
1 Timothy 3:12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Titus 2:2
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Acts 10:2
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Titus 2:7
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Psalms 101:2-8
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. …
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

ruleth.
12; Ge 18:19; Jos 24:15; Ps 101:2-8; Ac 10:2; Tit 1:6
with.
Php 4:8; *Gr:
Tit 2:2,7

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

Context

1 Timothy 3:3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1 Timothy 3:4
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1 Timothy 3:5
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Read all of 1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Que gobierne bien su casa, que tenga sus hijos en sujeción con toda honestidad;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	conduisant bien sa propre maison, tenant ses enfants soumis en toute gravité.
German Elberfelder 1871	der dem eigenen Hause wohl vorsteht, der seine Kinder in Unterwürfigkeit hält mit allem würdigen Ernst
Latin Clementine Vulgate	suæ domui bene præpositum: filios habentem subditos cum omni castitate.