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1 Timothy 5:4

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

But if a widow has kids or grandkids, they need to step up and learn how to take care of family first, paying back their parents and grandparents for everything they did. That's exactly what God wants to see.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Taking care of your family isn't just nice, it's what God expects from you.

📚 Historical Context

In the first century, widows in the Roman Empire often faced poverty and social isolation without male relatives to support them, making them a key concern for early Christian communities. Paul, writing to his young protege Timothy to guide church leadership, emphasized that family members should take the lead in caring for widows before the church intervenes, reflecting the cultural and biblical value of familial duty. This fits into the broader New Testament emphasis on honoring parents and maintaining household order as a reflection of godly living.

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