1 Timothy 6:10
What does 1 Timothy 6:10 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Timothy 6:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Timothy 6:10 means
Paul identifies the root: “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Money is a tool; love of it is a tyrant. When the heart reaches for wealth as its hope and joy, many sins sprout—dishonesty, cruelty, abandonment of conscience. Paul notes the sad path of some who, craving riches, “have been led astray from the faith” and “pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Greed promises happiness but delivers pain and spiritual loss. The verse calls believers to examine affections, to refuse idolatry of wealth, and to “lay hold” of the better treasure—life in Christ that satisfies the soul and safeguards from self-inflicted wounds.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the love of money is a root of all evil: and some whose hearts were fixed on it have been turned away from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for a root of all the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the love of money is [the] root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Context
After warning that desiring to be rich leads to ruin (verse 9), Paul exposes the deeper issue in verse 10: misplaced love. He cites examples of apostasy and anguish birthed by greed. This prepares for the personal charge to Timothy in verse 11: as a “man of God,” he must flee these desires and pursue the virtues of a godly life. Verse 12 will continue that charge with combative imagery—fighting the good fight and seizing eternal life—shifting the focus from danger avoided to the positive, strenuous pursuit of God’s calling.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 23:7
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
- Proverbs 1:19
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
- Isaiah 56:11
Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
- Judges 18:19
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be priest unto the house of one man, or to be priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
- Judges 18:29
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
- Revelation 18:13
and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.
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