1 Timothy 5:3

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

1 Timothy 5:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Honor widows who are truly widows.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 Take care of widows who are destitute.
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 Honor widows that are widows indeed.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 Honor widows who have no families.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 Support widows who are genuinely widows.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 Take care of the widows who really need help.

1 Timothy 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 5:3

Honour widows that are widows indeed.
] Who those are, see in ( 1 Timothy 1:5 1 Timothy 1:9 1 Timothy 1:10 ) . The honour to be given them is not a putting of them into the office of a deaconess, in the church; which office, some think, is referred to in ( Acts 6:1 ) ( 1 Timothy 3:11 ) ( 5:9 ) , and did obtain in some of the primitive churches; and it might be that some of these widows, the apostle here and hereafter speaks of, might be preferred to the rest, and be set over them, and have the care of such, who were more infirm; but then this could only be the case of some, whereas the honour here spoken of is what is to be given to all that are really widows; and therefore rather regards some external honour and respect to be shown them, by words and actions; and especially it designs an honourable provision for them, and maintenance of them; in which sense the word is used in ( 1 Timothy 5:17 ) ( Matthew 15:4-6 ) . So, with the Jews, giving gifts to persons, and making presents to them, is called honour. When Manoah asked the angel's name, that he might do him honour, when his saying came to pass, ( Judges 13:17 ) the sense, according to them, is F17,

``that I may inquire in what place I may find thee, when thy prophecy is fulfilled, and give thee (Nwrwd) , "a gift"; for there is no honour but what signifies a gift, as it is said, ( Numbers 22:17 ) , "honouring I will honour thee".''
So giving gifts to the poor, or providing for their maintenance, is doing them honour; and that this is the sense here, appears by what follows in the context.
FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 10. fol. 199. 4.

1 Timothy 5:3 In-Context

1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

Cross References 1

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