Titus 2 · Verse 8

Titus 2:8

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
Titus 2:8, King James Version

Titus 2:8 in other translations

BSBand wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
WEBand soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
ASVsound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
YLTdiscourse sound, irreprehensible, that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say concerning you.
DARBYa sound word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us:
BBESaying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us.
WebsterSound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say concerning you.

What does Titus 2:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. speech--discourse in public and private ministrations. he that is of the contrary part--the adversary (Tit 1:9; 2Ti 2:25), whether he be heathen or Jew. may be ashamed--put to confusion by the power of truth and innocence (compare Tit 2:5, 10; 1Ti 5:14; 6:1). no evil thing--in our acts, or demeanor. of you--So one of the oldest manuscripts. Other very old manuscripts read, "of US," Christians.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. Sound speech. 1Timm 1:10. He was to use language that would be spiritually healthful (υγιη;) that is, true, pure, uncorrupted.--This word, and its correlatives, is used in this sense, in the New Testament, only by the apostle Paul. It is commonly applied to the body, meaning that which is healthful, or whole. See Lk 5:31, 6:10, 7:10, 15:27, Mt 12:13, 15:31, Mk 3:5, 5:34 Jn 5:4,6,9,11,14,15, 7:23, Acts 4:10, 3Jn 1:2. For Paul's use of the word, see 1Timm 1:10, 6:3, 2Ti 1:13, 4:3, Tit 1:9,13, 2:1,2,8. It does not elsewhere occur.

That cannot be condemned. Such as cannot be shown to be weak, or unsound; such that no one could find fault with it, or such as an adversary could not take hold of and blame. This direction would imply purity and seriousness of language, solidity of argument, and truth in the doctrines which he maintained.

That he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, etc, Ashamed that he has opposed such views.

(b) "Sound speech" 1Timm 6:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Sound speech - Λογον ὑγιη· Sound or healing doctrine. Human nature is in a state of disease; and the doctrine of the Gospel is calculated to remove the disease, and restore all to perfect health and soundness. All false doctrines leave men under the influence of this spiritual disease; the unadulterated doctrine of the Gospel alone can heal men. He that is of the contrary part - Whether this may refer to the Judaizing teachers in general, or to some one who might, by his false doctrine, have been disturbing the peace of the Churches in Crete, we cannot tell. Having no evil thing to say of you - Against a person who is sound in his doctrine, and holy in his life, no evil can be justly alleged. He who reports evil of such a person must be confounded when brought to the test. Instead of περι ὑμων, of You, περι ἡμων, of Us, is the reading of CDEFG, and about forty others; with both the Syriac, all the Arabic, Slavonic, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the primitive fathers. This reading makes a better sense, and is undoubtedly genuine.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Titus 2:1-8

Old disciples of Christ must behave in every thing agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged men be sober; not thinking that the decays of nature will justify any excess; but seeking comfort from nearer communion with God, not from any undue indulgence. Faith works by, and must be seen in love, of God for himself, and of men for God's sake. Aged persons are apt to be peevish and fretful; therefore need to…

Read the full comment on Titus 2:1-8 →

Titus 2:8 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.

λόγονlogonspeechG3056
ὑγιῆ,hugiēsound,G5199
ἀκατάγνωστον,akatagnōstonbeyond reproach,G176
ἵναinaso thatG2443
ὁhohe who isG3588
ἐξexof theG1537
ἐναντίαςenantiascontraryG1727
ἐντραπῇentrapēamay be ashamedG1788
μηδὲνmēdennothingG3367
ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192
λέγεινlegeinto sayG3004
περὶpericoncerningG4012
ἡμῶνhēmōnusG3165
φαῦλον.¶phaulonevil.G5337

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

Cross references for Titus 2:8

  • 1 Peter 2:12

    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  • 1 Peter 2:15

    For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

  • 1 Peter 3:16

    Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

  • 1 Timothy 6:3

    If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

  • Philippians 2:14-16

    Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:14

    And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

  • Nehemiah 5:9

    Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

  • Isaiah 66:5

    Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

  • Mark 12:32

    And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

  • Luke 13:17

    And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

  • 1 Timothy 5:14

    I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

  • Mark 12:34

    And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Sound.
Mr 12:17,28,32,34; 1Ti 6:3
that he.
Ne 5:9; 1Ti 5:14; 1Pe 2:12,15; 3:16
may.
Isa 66:5; Lu 13:17; 2Th 3:14
having.
Php 2:14-16

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

Context

  • Titus 2:7

    In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • Titus 2:9

    Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Read all of Titus 2

Titus 2:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Palabra sana, é irreprensible; que el adversario se avergüence, no teniendo mal ninguno que decir de vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		de parole saine qu’on ne peut condamner, afin que celui qui s’oppose ait honte, n’ayant rien de mauvais à dire de nous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		gesunde, nicht zu verurteilende Rede, auf daß der von der Gegenpartei sich schäme, indem er nichts Schlechtes über uns zu sagen hat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		verbum sanum, irreprehensibile: ut is qui ex adverso est, vereatur, nihil habens malum dicere de nobis.