2 Timothy 2 · Verse 6

2 Timothy 2:6

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

2 Timothy 2:6, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:6 in other translations

BSB	The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
WEB	The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.
ASV	The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
YLT	the labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake;
DARBY	The husbandman must labour before partaking of the fruits.
BBE	It is right for the worker in the fields to be the first to take of the fruit.
Webster	The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.

What does 2 Timothy 2:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. must be first partaker--The right of first partaking of the fruits belongs to him who is laboring; do not thou, therefore, relax thy labors, as thou wouldest be foremost in partaking of the reward. Conybeare explains "first," before the idler.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. The husbandman that laboureth. The margin is, "labouring first, must be partaker." The idea, according to the translation in the text, is, that there is a fitness or propriety (δει) that the man who cultivates the earth, should enjoy the fruits of his labour. See the same image explained 1Cor 9:10. But if this be the meaning here, it is not easy to see why the apostle introduces it. According to the marginal reading, the word 'first' is introduced in connexion with the word labour--" labouring first, must be partaker." That is, it is a great law that the husbandman must work before he receives a harvest. This sense will accord with the purpose of the apostle. It was to remind Timothy that labour must precede reward; that if a man would reap, he must sow; that he could hope for no fruits, unless he toiled for them. The point was not that the husbandman would be the first one who would partake of the fruits; but that he must first labour before he obtained the reward. Thus understood, this would be an encouragement to Timothy to persevere in his toils, looking onward to the reward. The Greek will bear this construction, though it is not the most obvious one.

(2) "that laboureth" "labouring first must be partaker"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 The husbandman that laboureth - That is: The husbandman must first till his ground before he can expect a crop; and he must till it according to the proper rules of agriculture, else he cannot have a crop. The combatant must fight and conquer, and fight according to the laws of the agones, before he can be crowned; so the Christian minister must labor in the spiritual vineyard, and labor too under the eye and according to the direction of his Master, before he can expect that crown of righteousness that fadeth not away.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:1-7

As our trials increase, we need to grow stronger in that which is good; our faith stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Christ stronger. This is opposed to our being strong in our own strength. All Christians, but especially ministers, must be faithful to their Captain, and resolute in his cause. The great care of a Christian must be to please Christ. We are to strive to get the mastery of our lusts…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 2:1-7 →

2 Timothy 2:6 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.

τὸνtonFor theG3588

κοπιῶνταkopiōntahardworkingG2872

γεωργὸνgeōrgonfarmerG1092

δεῖdeiit is necessaryG1163

πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413

τῶνtōnof theG3588

καρπῶνkarpōnfruitsG2590

μεταλαμβάνειν·metalambaneinto partake;G3335

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

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:6

Hebrews 10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
1 Corinthians 9:7-11
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. …
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
John 4:35-38
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Luke 10:2
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
1 Corinthians 9:23
And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Matthew 20:1
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Matthew 21:33-41
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. …
Matthew 9:37-38
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Isaiah 28:24-26
Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

husbandman.
Isa 28:24-26; Mt 9:37,38; 20:1; 21:33-41; Lu 10:2; Joh 4:35-38
1Co 3:6-9; 9:7-11
that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. or,labouring first, must be partaker of the fruits.
1Co 9:23; Heb 10:36

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

Context

2 Timothy 2:5
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2 Timothy 2:6
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2 Timothy 2:7
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El labrador, para recibir los frutos, es menester que trabaje primero.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	il faut que le laboureur travaille premièrement, pour qu’il jouisse des fruits.
German Elberfelder 1871	Der Ackerbauer muß, um die Früchte zu genießen, zuerst arbeiten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Laborantem agricolam oportet primum de fructibus percipere.