2 Timothy 3:6
What does 2 Timothy 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Timothy 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Timothy 3:6 means
Paul describes how false teachers operate: they “creep into houses,” slipping in subtly where trust is assumed, and capture the gullible—here, “silly women laden with sins,” burdened and easily swayed by varied desires. The point is not to demean women but to note that deceivers target the vulnerable, especially those weighed down by guilt and craving quick fixes. They exploit private spaces and personal pains. Timothy must counter this by pastoral attentiveness, sound teaching, and bringing sin and desire under Christ’s lordship. The gospel lifts burdens responsibly; it does not promise freedom while deepening bondage to whims and manipulators.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,
KJV
King James Version · 1611For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For these are they who go secretly into houses, making prisoners of foolish women, weighted down with sin, turned from the way by their evil desires,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for of these there are those coming into the houses and leading captive the silly women, laden with sins, led away with desires manifold,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For of these sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For of these are they who are getting into houses, and leading captive silly women, laden with sins, led by various lusts,
Context
This verse illustrates the command of verse 5 by showing the stealth and predatory nature of those with mere formality of godliness. It leads into verse 7’s description of perpetual but fruitless learning among their victims. Together, verses 6–7 show both the methods of deceivers and the tragic state they foster. This prepares for verse 8’s comparison with Jannes and Jambres, highlighting that such opposition to truth has historical precedent and a recognizable pattern.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- 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.
- Psalms 38:4
For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
- Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Titus 1:11
whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
- 2 Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
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