Titus 2:5

5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Titus 2:5 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
The Message Bible (MSG)
5 be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior.
American Standard Version (ASV)
5 [to be] sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
5 to use good judgment, and to be morally pure. Also, tell them to teach young women to be homemakers, to be kind, and to place themselves under their husbands' authority. Then no one can speak evil of God's word.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 to be sensible, pure, good homemakers, and submissive to their husbands, so that God's message will not be slandered.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
5 The younger women must control themselves. They must be pure. They must take good care of their homes. They must be kind. They must follow the lead of their husbands. Then no one will be able to speak evil things against God's word.

Titus 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Titus 2:5

To be discreet
Or temperate in eating and drinking, so the word is rendered in ( Titus 2:2 ) or to be sober both in body and mind; or to be wise and prudent in the whole of their conduct, both at home and abroad:

chaste;
in body, in affection, words and actions, having their love pure and single to their own husbands, keeping their marriage bed undefiled.

Keepers at home:
minding their own family affairs, not gadding abroad; and inspecting into, and busying themselves about other people's matters. This is said in opposition to what women are prone unto. It is reckoned among the properties of women, by the Jews, that they are (twynauwy) , "gadders abroad" F24: they have some rules about women's keeping at home; they say F25,

``a woman may go to her father's house to visit him, and to the house of mourning, and to the house of feasting, to return a kindness to her friends, or to her near relations--but it is a reproach to a woman to go out daily; now she is without, now she is in the streets; and a husband ought to restrain his wife from it, and not suffer her to go abroad but about once a month, or twice a month, upon necessity; for there is nothing more beautiful for a woman, than to abide in the corner of her house; for so it is written, ( Psalms 45:13 ) "the king's daughter is all glorious within".''

And this they say F26 is what is meant by the woman's being an helpmeet for man, that while he is abroad about his business, she is (tybb tbvwy) , "sitting at home", and keeping his house; and this they observe is the glory and honour of the woman. The passage in ( Isaiah 44:13 ) concerning an image being made "after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house" is by the Targum thus paraphrased:

``according to the likeness of a man, according to the praise of a woman, to abide in the house.''

Upon which Kimchi, has this note.

``it is the glory of a woman to continue at home, and not go abroad.''

The tortoise, which carries its house upon its back, and very rarely shows its head, or looks out of it, was, with the ancients, an emblem of a good housewife. These also should be instructed to be "good" or "kind" to their servants, and beneficent to the poor, and to strangers, towards whom, very often, women are apt to be strait handed, and not so generous and liberal as they should be:

obedient to their own husbands; (See Gill on Ephesians 5:22), (See Gill on Ephesians 5:24).

that the word of God be not blasphemed;
by unbelieving husbands, who, by the ill conduct of their wives, would be provoked to speak ill of the Gospel, as if that taught disaffection and disobedience to them.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 45. fol. 40. 3.
F25 Maimon. Hilchot Ishot, c. 13. sect. 11.
F26 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 5. 4.

Titus 2:5 In-Context

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness

Cross References 4

  • 1. ver 2,6,12; Titus 1:8
  • 2. 1 Timothy 5:14
  • 3. S Ephesians 5:22
  • 4. 1 Timothy 6:1; S Hebrews 4:12
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