1 Timothy 5 · Verse 4

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.
1 Timothy 5:4, King James Version

1 Timothy 5:4 in other translations

BSBBut if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
WEBBut if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
ASVBut if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
YLTand if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.
DARBYbut if any widow have children or descendants, let them learn first to be pious as regards their own house, and to render a return on their side to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
BBEBut if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes of God.
WebsterBut if any widow hath children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

What does 1 Timothy 5:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. if any widow have children--not "a widow indeed," as having children who ought to support her. nephews--rather, as Greek, "descendants," or "grandchildren" [Hesychius]. "Nephews" in old English meant "grandchildren" [Hooker, Ecclesiastical Polity, 5.20]. let them--the children and descendants. learn first--ere it falls to the Church to support them. to show piety at home--filial piety towards their widowed mother or grandmother, by giving her sustenance. Literally, "to show piety towards their own house." "Piety is applied to the reverential discharge of filial duties; as the parental relation is the earthly representation of God our heavenly Father's relation to us. "Their own" stands in opposition to the Church, in relation to which the widow is comparatively a stranger. She has a claim on her own children, prior to her claim on the Church; let them fulfil this prior claim which she has on them, by sustaining her and not burdening the Church. parents--Greek, (living) "progenitors," that is, their mother or grandmother, as the case may be. "Let them learn," implies that abuses of this kind had crept into the Church, widows claiming Church support though they had children or grandchildren able to support them. good and--The oldest manuscripts omit. The words are probably inserted by a transcriber from 1Ti 2:3.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. But if any widow have children. Who would be dependent on her care, and who might themselves contribute to her support.

Or nephews. The word nephew now commonly means the son of a brother or sister. Formerly the English word also meant grandchildren, or descendants of any description. Webster. The Greek word here εκγονα--has the latter meaning. It denotes those sprung from or born of; and then descendants of any kind--sons, daughters, grandchildren. The Greek word would not, in fact, properly include nephews and nieces. It embraces only those in a direct line.

Let them learn first to show piety at home. Marg., "or kindness." That is, let the children and grandchildren learn to do this. Let them have an opportunity of performing their duty towards their aged parent or grandparent. Do not receive such a widow among the poor and dependent females of the church, to be maintained at public expense, but let her children support her. Thus they will have an opportunity of evincing Christian kindness, and of requiting her for her care? This the apostle calls "showing piety"--ευσεβειν that is, filial piety; piety towards a parent by providing for the wants of that parent in advanced age. The word is commonly used to denote piety towards God, but it is also used to denote proper reverence and respect for a parent. Robinson.

And to requite their parents. To repay them, as far as possible, for all their kindness. This debt can never be wholly repaid, but still a child should feel it a matter of sacred obligation to do as much towards it as possible.

For that is good and acceptable before God. It is a duty everywhere enjoined. Comp. Mt 15:5-7; Eph 6:1,2.

(1) "show piety" "kindness"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 But if any widow have children or nephews - This shows that widows indeed are those that have neither children nor nephews, i.e. no relatives that either will or can help them, or no near relatives alive. Let them learn first to show piety at home - Let these children and nephews provide for their aged or helpless parents or relatives, and not burden the Church with them while they are able to support them. And to requite their parents - Και αμοιβας αποδιδοναι τοις προγονοις· Let them learn to give benefit for benefit. Your parents supported and nourished you when you were young and helpless; you ought therefore to support them when they are old and destitute. This is called showing piety; and there is doubtless an allusion to the fifth commandment: Honour thy father and thy mother - provide for them in their old age and afflictions; God commands this.

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…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 5:3-8 →

1 Timothy 5:4 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.

εἰeiIfG1487
δέdehoweverG1161
τιςtisanyG5100
χήραchērawidowG5503
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
ἢēorG2228
ἔκγοναekgonagrandchildrenG1549
ἔχει,echeihas,G2192
μανθανέτωσανmanthanetōsanthey should learnG3129
πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἴδιονidion[her] ownG2398
οἶκονoikonhouseholdG3624
εὐσεβεῖνeusebeinto be devoutG2151
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀμοιβὰςamoibasrecompenseG287
ἀποδιδόναιapodidonaito giveG591
τοῖςtois<the>G3588
προγόνοις·progonoisto parents;G4269
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
γάρgarforG1063
ἐστινestinisG1510
καλὸνkalongoodG2570
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀπόδεκτονapodektonpleasingG587
ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.¶theouGod.G2316

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 5:4

  • Ephesians 6:1-3

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

  • John 19:26-27

    When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

  • Matthew 15:4-6

    For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 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.

  • Genesis 47:12

    And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

  • Mark 7:11-13

    But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

  • 1 Timothy 2:3

    For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

  • Genesis 45:10-11

    And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

  • Proverbs 31:28

    Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

  • 1 Samuel 22:3-4

    And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

  • Ruth 2:18

    And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

  • Ruth 2:2

    And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

  • Luke 2:51

    And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
nephews.
Jud 12:14; *marg:
Job 18:19; Isa 14:22
learn.
1Sa 22:3,4; Pr 31:28; Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27
piety. or, kindness.
Mt 15:4-6; Mr 7:11-13
to requite.
Ge 45:10,11; 47:12,28; Ru 2:2,18; Eph 6:1-3
good.
2:3

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 1 Timothy 5:5

    Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Read all of 1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero si alguna viuda tuviere hijos, ó nietos, aprendan primero á gobernar su casa piadosamente, y á recompensar á sus padres: porque esto es lo honesto y agradable delante de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais si quelque veuve a des enfants ou des descendants, qu’ils apprennent premièrement à montrer leur piété envers leur propre maison et à rendre à ceux dont ils descendent les soins qu’ils en ont reçus, car cela est agréable devant Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber eine Witwe Kinder oder Enkel hat, so mögen sie zuerst lernen, gegen das eigene Haus fromm zu sein und den Eltern Gleiches zu vergelten; denn dieses ist angenehm vor Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si qua autem vidua filios, aut nepotes habet: discat primum domum suam regere, et mutuam vicem reddere parentibus: hoc enim acceptum est coram Deo.