1 Timothy 6 · Verse 7

1 Timothy 6:7

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1 Timothy 6:7, King James Version

1 Timothy 6:7 in other translations

BSBFor we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
WEBFor we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.
ASVfor we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;
YLTfor nothing did we bring into the world-- it is manifest that we are able to carry nothing out;
DARBYFor we have brought nothing into the world: it is manifest that neither can we carry anything out.
BBEFor we came into the world with nothing, and we are not able to take anything out;
WebsterFor we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

What does 1 Timothy 6:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. For--confirming the reasonableness of "contentment." and it is certain--Vulgate and other old versions support this reading. The oldest manuscripts, however, omit "and it is certain"; then the translation will be, "We brought nothing into the world (to teach us to remember) that neither can we carry anything out" (Job 1:21; Ec 5:15). Therefore, we should have no gain-seeking anxiety, the breeder of discontent (Mt 6:25).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. For we brought nothing into this world, etc. A sentiment very similar to this occurs in Job 1:21; and it would seem probable that the apostle had that passage in his eye. Job 1:21. Numerous expressions of this kind occur in the classic writers. See Wetstein, in loc., and Pricaeus, in loc., in the Critici Sacri. Of the truth of what is here said, there can be nothing more obvious. It is apparent to all. We bring no property with us into the world; no clothing, no jewels, no gold; and it is equally clear that we can take nothing with us when we leave the earth. Our coming into the world introduces no additional property to that which the race before possessed, and our going from the world removes none that we may have helped the race to accumulate. This is said by the apostle as an obvious reason why we should be contented if our actual wants are supplied; for this is really all that we need, and all that the world is toiling for.

We can carry nothing out. Comp. Ps 49:17. "For when he [the rich man] dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him."

(b) "it is certain" Ps 49:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 We brought nothing into this world - There are some sayings in Seneca which are almost verbatim with this of St. Paul: Nemo nascitur dives; quisquis exit in lucem jussus est lacte et panno esse contentus; Epist. xx, "No man is born rich; every one that comes into the world is commanded to be content with food and raiment." Excutit natura redeuntem, sicut intrantem; non licet plus auferre, quam intuleris; Epist., cap. ii. "Nature, in returning, shakes off all incumbrances as in entering; thou canst not carry back more than thou broughtest in." Seneca and St. Paul were contemporary; but all the Greek and Latin poets, and especially the stoic philosophers, are full of such sentiments. It is a self-evident truth; relative to it there can be no controversy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Those that make a trade of Christianity to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed; but those who mind it as their calling, will find it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content. When brought into the…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 6:6-10 →

1 Timothy 6:7 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.

οὐδὲνoudenNo [thing]G3762
γὰρgarforG1063
εἰσηνέγκαμενeisēnegkamenwe broughtG1533
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
κόσμον,kosmonworld,G2889
δῆλονdēlonevidentG1212
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
οὐδὲoudeneitherG3761
ἐξενεγκεῖνexenegkeinto carry outG1627
τιtianythingG5100
δυνάμεθα·dunamethaare we able;G1410

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

Cross references for 1 Timothy 6:7

  • Job 1:21

    And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

  • Psalms 49:17

    For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

  • Luke 12:20-21

    But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:15-16

    As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

  • Proverbs 27:24

    For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

  • Luke 16:22-23

    And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we brought.
Job 1:21; Pr 27:24; Ec 5:15,16
certain.
Ps 49:17; Lu 12:20,21; 16:22,23

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

Context

  • 1 Timothy 6:6

    But godliness with contentment is great gain.

  • 1 Timothy 6:7

    For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

  • 1 Timothy 6:8

    And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Read all of 1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque nada hemos traído á este mundo, y sin duda nada podremos sacar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car nous n’avons rien apporté dans le monde, et il est évident que nous n’en pouvons rien emporter.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn wir haben nichts in die Welt hereingebracht, so ist es offenbar, daß wir auch nichts hinausbringen können.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nihil enim intulimus in hunc mundum: haud dubium quod nec auferre quid possumus.