2 Timothy 2:6
What does 2 Timothy 2:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Timothy 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Timothy 2:6 means
Paul’s third image is the hardworking farmer, who is entitled to be first to partake of the crops. Farming is strenuous, often hidden work that demands patience. The point is not selfishness but rightful share: those who labor in the gospel may expect spiritual fruit and God’s provision. The farmer’s early share also motivates continued diligence; tasting the fruit anticipates the full harvest. For Timothy, this means persistent, unseen faithfulness—plowing, sowing, watering—trusting God for the increase. It assures him that God is not unjust to forget labor done for Christ, and that present toil will yield future joy, including the reward of seeing people established in the truth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It is right for the worker in the fields to be the first to take of the fruit.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The husbandman that laboureth must first partake of the fruits.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The husbandman must labour before partaking of the fruits.
Context
Completing the trio of metaphors (soldier, athlete, farmer), verse 6 adds the theme of patient, strenuous labor rewarded in due time. Having presented these pictures, Paul will immediately call Timothy to reflect on them, promising the Lord’s help in understanding (v.7). This meditation prepares Timothy to keep the gospel’s center—Jesus Christ, risen and David’s seed—before him (v.8), even as Paul points to his own suffering and to the unstoppable advance of God’s word (v.9).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 21:33
Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.
- Matthew 9:37
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
- Matthew 20:1
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
- Isaiah 28:24
Doth he that ploweth to sow plow continually? doth he continually open and harrow his ground?
- John 4:35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest.
- 1 Corinthians 9:23
And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.
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