1 Timothy 5 · Verse 3

1 Timothy 5:3

Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1 Timothy 5:3, King James Version

1 Timothy 5:3 in other translations

BSBHonor the widows who are truly widows.
WEBHonor widows who are widows indeed.
ASVHonor widows that are widows indeed.
YLThonour widows who are really widows;
DARBYHonour widows who are really widows;
BBEGive honour to widows who are truly widows.
WebsterHonor widows that are widows indeed.

What does 1 Timothy 5:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Honour--by setting on the church roll, as fit objects of charitable sustenance (1Ti 5:9, 17, 18; Ac 6:1). So "honor" is used for support with necessaries (Mt 15:4, 6; Ac 28:10). widows indeed--(1Ti 5:16). Those really desolate; not like those (1Ti 5:4) having children or relations answerable for their support, nor like those (in 1Ti 5:6) "who live in pleasure"; but such as, from their earthly desolation as to friends, are most likely to trust wholly in God, persevere in continual prayers, and carry out the religious duties assigned to Church widows (1Ti 5:5). Care for widows was transferred from the Jewish economy to the Christian (De 14:29; 16:11; 24:17, 19).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Honour widows. The particular attention and respect which are enjoined here, seem to refer to the class of widows who were supported by the church, and who were intrusted with the performance of certain duties towards the other female members, 1Timm 5:9. It is to be remembered that the intercourse of the sexes was much more circumscribed in oriental countries than it is among us; that access to the female members of �he church would be much less free than it is now, and that consequently there might have been a special propriety in intrusting the duty of watching over the younger among them to the more aged. This duty would be naturally intrusted to those who had not the care of families. It would also be natural to commit it, if they were qualified, to those who had not the means of support, and who, while they were maintained by the church, might be rendering a valuable service to it. It would seem, therefore, that there was a class of this description, who were intrusted with these duties, and in regard to whose qualifications it was proper that Timothy should be instructed. The change of customs in society has made this class less necessary, and probably the arrangement was never designed to be permanent, but still it may be a question whether such an arrangement would not now be wise and useful in the church. On this subject, Rom 16:1.

That are widows indeed. Who are truly widows. We associate with the word widow, commonly, not only the idea of the loss of a husband, but many other things that are the usual accompaniments of widowhood--a poor and dependent condition; care and solicitude; sadness and sorrow. This idea is implied in the use of the word employed here--χηρα--which means properly one who is bereaved, (from the adjective χηρος, bereaved,) and which, as Calvin says, conveys the idea of one in distressed circumstances. What Paul regarded as constituting true widowhood, he specifies in verses 1Timm 5:4,5,9,10. He connects with it the idea that she had no persons dependent on her; that she was desolate, and evinced true trust in God; that she was so aged that she would not marry again; and that by her life she had given evidence of possessing a heart of true benevolence, 1Timm 5:10.

(a) "widows indeed" 1Timm 5:5,16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Honor widows that are widows indeed - One meaning of the word τιμαω, to honor, is to support, sustain, etc., Mat 15:4, Mat 15:5; and here it is most obviously to be taken in this sense. Provide for those widows especially which are widows indeed - persons truly destitute, being aged and helpless, and having neither children nor friends to take care of them, and who behave as becometh their destitute state. But see the note on 1Tim 5:10.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 5:3-8
Honour widows that are widows indeed, relieve them, and maintain them. It is the duty of children, if their parents are in need, and they are able to relieve them, to do it to the utmost of their power. Widowhood is a desolate state; but let widows trust in the Lord, and continue in prayer. All who live in pleasure, are dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins. Alas, what numbers there are of this description among nominal Christians, even to the latest period of life! If any men or women do not maintain their poor relations, they in effect deny the faith. If they spend upon their lusts and pleasures, what should maintain their families, they have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels. If professors of the gospel give way to any corrupt principle or conduct, they are worse than those who do not profess to believe the doctrines of grace.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Timothy 5:3 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.

χήραςchērasWidowsG5503
τίμαtimado honorG5091
τὰςtaswho [are]G3588
ὄντωςontōstrulyG3689
χήρας.chēraswidows.G5503

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 5:3

  • Deuteronomy 27:19

    Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • Acts 6:1

    And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

  • Deuteronomy 14:29

    And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

  • Deuteronomy 10:18

    He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:6

    Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

  • Psalms 68:5

    A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

  • Psalms 146:9

    The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

  • Deuteronomy 16:11

    And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

  • 1 Timothy 5:4-5

    But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

  • 1 Timothy 5:16-17

    If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

  • 1 Peter 2:17

    Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

  • Matthew 15:6

    And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Honour.
2,17; Ex 20:12; Mt 15:6; 1Th 2:6; 1Pe 2:17; 3:7
widows.
9; De 10:18; 14:29; 16:11,14; 27:19; Job 29:13; 31:16; Ps 68:5
Ps 94:6; 146:9; Jer 49:11; Mt 23:14; Lu 7:12; Ac 6:1; 9:39; Jas 1:27
indeed.
4,5,9-11,16; Lu 2:37; Joh 1:47

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

Context

  • 1 Timothy 5:2

    The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

  • 1 Timothy 5:3

    Honour widows that are widows indeed.

  • 1 Timothy 5:4

    But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

Read all of 1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Honra á las viudas que en verdad son viudas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Honore les veuves qui sont vraiment veuves;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ehre die Witwen, die wirklich Witwen sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		viduas honora, quæ vere viduæ sunt.