1 Timothy 6:9
What does 1 Timothy 6:9 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Timothy 6:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Timothy 6:9 means
To set one’s heart on being rich is perilous. It invites temptation, lays a trap, and awakens “many foolish and hurtful lusts.” These desires promise life but deliver drowning—“destruction and perdition.” The danger is not limited to the wealthy; it targets anyone who resolves to be rich. Such ambition bends the soul, breeding compromises and hardening the heart. Paul’s language is pastoral alarm, not envy: he sees the spiritual casualties. The pursuit of wealth becomes a current that sweeps people away from prudence, simplicity, and faith. The antidote is the contentment and reordered loves he has already urged, anchoring hope in God rather than gain.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and those wishing to be rich, do fall into temptation and a snare, and many desires, foolish and hurtful, that sink men into ruin and destruction,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For they that will become rich fall into temptation and into the snare of the devil and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.
Context
Verses 6–8 commended contentment; verse 9 states the negative alternative and its consequences. This sets up verse 10, which clarifies the root issue: not money itself but the love of it. The warning thus moves from desire (“minded to be rich”) to root affection (“love of money”), showing the internal trajectory that leads to ruin. After this diagnostic section, Paul turns to Timothy in verses 11–12 with strong imperatives, calling him to flee these snares and fight for the faith, anchoring his life in eternal realities rather than transient riches.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
- 2 Peter 2:3
And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.
- Acts 8:20
But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
- Mark 4:19
and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
- 2 Peter 2:15
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
- Zechariah 11:5
whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not.
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