1 Timothy 5 · Verse 6

1 Timothy 5:6

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

1 Timothy 5:6, King James Version

1 Timothy 5:6 in other translations

BSB	But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
WEB	But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
ASV	But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.
YLT	and she who is given to luxury, living--hath died;
DARBY	But she that lives in habits of self-indulgence is dead while living.
BBE	But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she is living.
Webster	But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth.

What does 1 Timothy 5:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. she that liveth in pleasure--the opposite of such a widow as is described in 1Ti 5:5, and therefore one utterly undeserving of Church charity. The Greek expresses wanton prodigality and excess [Tittmann]. The root expresses weaving at a fast rate, and so lavish excess (see on Jas 5:5). dead while she liveth--dead in the Spirit while alive in the flesh (Mt 8:22; Ep 5:14).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. But she that liveth in pleasure. Marg., delicately. The Greek word σπαταλαω occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in Jas 5:5: "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth." It properly means to live in luxury, voluptuously; to indulge freely in eating and drinking; to yield to the indulgence of the appetites. It does not indicate grossly criminal pleasures; but the kind of pleasure connected with luxurious living, and with pampering the appetites. It is probable that in the time of the apostle, there were professedly Christian widows who lived in this manner--as there are such professing Christians of all kinds in every age of the world.

Is dead while she liveth". To all the proper purposes of life she is as if she were dead. There is great emphasis in this expression, and nothing could convey more forcibly the idea that true happiness is not to be found in the pleasures of sense. There is nothing in them that answers the purposes of life. They are not the objects for which life was given, and as to the great and proper designs of existence, such persons might as well be dead.

(+) "liveth" "rioteth" (b) "dead" Rev 3:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 But she that liveth in pleasure - Ἡ δε σπαταλωσα· She that liveth delicately - voluptuously indulging herself with dainties; it does not indicate grossly criminal pleasures; but simply means one who indulges herself in good eating and drinking, pampering her body at the expense of her mind. The word is used in reference to what we term petted and spoiled children; and a remarkable passage, is produced by Kypke, from an epistle of Theanus to Eubulus, found in Opusc. Myth. Galaei, page 741, where he says: "What can be done with that boy, who, if he have not food when and as he pleases, bursts out into weeping; and, if he eats, must have dainties and sweetmeats? If the weather be hot he complains of fatigue; if it be cold, he trembles; if he be reproved, he scolds; if every thing be not provided for him according to his wish, he is enraged. If he eats not, he breaks out into fits of anger. He basely indulges himself in pleasure; and in every respect acts voluptuously and effeminately. Knowing then, O friend, ὁτι τα σπαταλωντα των παιδιων, ὁταν ακμασῃ προς ανδρας, ανδραποδα γινεται, τας τοιαυτας ἡδονας αφαιρει· that boys living thus voluptuously, when they grow up are wont to become slaves; take away, therefore, such pleasures from them." I have introduced this long quotation, the better to fix the meaning of the apostle, and to show that the life of pleasure mentioned here does not mean prostitution or uncleanness of any kind, though such a life may naturally lead to dissolute manners. Is dead while she liveth - No purpose of life is answered by the existence of such a person. Seneca, in Epist. 60, says of pleasure-takers, and those who live a voluptuous life: Hos itaque animalium loco numeremus, non hominum: quosdam vero ne animalium quidem, sed mortuorum - mortem antecesserunt. "We rank such persons with brutes, not with men; and some of them not even with brutes, but with dead carcasses. They anticipate their own death." Such persons are, as the apostle says elsewhere, dead in trespasses, and dead in sins.

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 5:6 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.

ἡhēSheG3588

δὲdehoweverG1161

σπαταλῶσαspatalōsaliving in self-indulgenceG4684

ζῶσαzōsa[while] livingG2198

τέθνηκεν.tethnēkenhas died.G2348

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 5:6

James 5:5
Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Revelation 3:1
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 18:7
How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Luke 15:24
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Ephesians 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Psalms 73:5-7
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Matthew 8:22
But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Luke 15:13
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Luke 7:25
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
Amos 6:5-6
That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

she.
1Sa 25:6; Job 21:11-15; Ps 73:5-7; Isa 22:13; Am 6:5,6; Lu 12:19
Lu 15:13; 16:19; Jas 5:5; Re 18:7
in pleasure. or, delicately.
De 28:54,56; 1Sa 15:32; Pr 29:21; Isa 47:1; Jer 6:2; La 4:5; Lu 7:25
dead.
Mt 8:22; Lu 15:24,32; 2Co 5:14,15; Eph 2:1,5; 5:14; Col 2:13; Re 3:1

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

Context

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.
1 Timothy 5:6
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
1 Timothy 5:7
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

Read all of 1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Pero la que vive en delicias, viviendo está muerta.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais celle qui vit dans le plaisir est morte en vivant.
German Elberfelder 1871	Die aber in Üppigkeit lebt, ist lebendig tot.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nam quæ in deliciis est, vivens mortua est.