1 Timothy 5:5

5 And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,

1 Timothy 5:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 5:5

Now she that is a widow indeed
A real widow, whom the Jews ^F18 call (hrwmg) , "a perfect one", in opposition to one that is divorced, or a brother's widow, that has had the shoe plucked off for her: and such an one as the apostle means, is one that is

desolate,
or "alone": who has neither husband to take care of her, nor children or nephews to show kindness to her, nor any worldly substance to subsist upon:

but trusteth in God:
not in man, nor in an arm of flesh, but in the living God, the giver of all good things, the Judge of widows; who vindicates their cause, avenges the injuries done them, protects and defends them, and relieves their wants, and gives all encouragement to them, to trust in him; see ( Jeremiah 49:11 ) .

and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day;
as the widow Anna did, ( Luke 2:36 Luke 2:37 ) . A Widow indeed is one that has no outward dependence, betakes herself to the Lord, puts her confidence in him, and cries to him continually for a daily supply; and such an one, amidst all her poverty and meanness, is a living believer, one that lives by faith on the Lord; and is profitable, and useful to the church by her prayers and supplications made for them, as well as for herself; whereas she that is in the next verse described is just the reverse.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Jarchi in Exek. xliv. 22.

1 Timothy 5:5 In-Context

3 honour widows who are really widows;

4 and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.

5 And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,

6 and she who is given to luxury, living -- hath died;

7 and these things charge, that they may be blameless;