The Meaning of Titus 2:5 Explained

Titus 2:5

KJV: To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

YLT: sober, pure, keepers of their own houses, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of.

Darby: discreet, chaste, diligent in home work, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of.

ASV: to be'sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[To be] discreet,  chaste,  keepers at home,  good,  obedient  to their own  husbands,  that  the word  of God  be  not  blasphemed. 

What does Titus 2:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Titus 2:1-8 - A Pattern For Old And Young
The supreme test of all Christian teaching and Christian work depends on whether they produce healthy characters, which are not contaminated by the noisome and germ-laden atmosphere around. Our teaching must be healthy and also health-creating. There must be plenty of ozone in it.
The Apostle's strophes are few but fine. In the briefest sentences he seizes the salient features of Christian character. The aged man-strong, calm, patient, full of faith and love. The aged woman-holy, reverent, beloved, honored, and obeyed by the younger women of the same household or church. So also with the young men and women. What a life is sketched here against which the tongue of slander is dumb!
But, after all, these results cannot be realized apart from the personal holiness of their minister and leader. He must furnish a pattern of good works. His attitude to things which are questionable and doubtful must be decided not by his own predilections or fancies, but by the consideration of the effect which his action is likely to have on the keen eyes that are carefully watching him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Titus 2

1  Directions given unto Titus both for his doctrine and life
10  Of the duty of servants, and in general of all Christians

Greek Commentary for Titus 2:5

Workers at home [οικουργους]
So the oldest MSS. (from οικοσ εργου — oikosοικουρους — ergou) instead of κοισο ουρος — oikourous keepers at home (from αγατας — koisoυποτασσομαι — ouros keeper). Rare word, found in Soranus, a medical writer, Field says. Cf. 1 Timothy 5:13. “Keepers at home” are usually “workers at home.” [source]
Kind [ιδιοις]
See note on Romans 5:7. See note on Colossians 3:18; Ephesians 5:22 for the same use of ινα μη βλασπημηται — hupotassomai to be in subjection. Note idiois (their own). See note on 1 Timothy 6:1 for the same negative purpose clause (hina mē blasphēmētai). [source]
Keepers at home [οἰκουργούς]
Wrong. Rend. workers at home. N.T.oolxx, oClass. [source]
Good [ἀγαθάς]
Not attributive of workers at home, but independent. Rend. kindly. The mistress of the house is to add to her thrift, energy, and strict discipline, benign, gracious, heartily kind demeanor. Comp. Matthew 20:15; 1 Peter 2:18; Acts 9:36. See on Acts 11:24; see on Romans 5:7. [source]
Obedient [ὑποτασσομένας]
Better, subject or in subjection. Frequent in Paul, but not often in the active voice. See on James 4:7; see on Romans 8:7; see on Philemon 3:21; and comp. 1 Corinthians 14:34; Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Titus 2:5

1 Timothy 4:12 Purity [ἁγνίᾳ]
Only here and 1 Timothy 5:2. Ἁγνός pure 1 Timothy 5:22; Titus 2:5. In Paul, 2 Corinthians 8:11; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Philemon 4:8. Also in James, Peter, and 1John. Ἁγνότης purity 2 Corinthians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 11:3. olxx, oClass. Ἁγνός always with a moral sense; not limited to sins of the flesh, but covering purity in motives as well as in acts. In 1 John 3:3, of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, of virgin purity. In James 3:17, as a characteristic of heavenly wisdom. Ἁγνῶς purely(Philemon 1:17), of preaching the gospel with unmixed motives. The verb ἁγνίζειν topurify, which in lxx is used only of ceremonial purification, has that meaning in four of the seven instances in N.T. (John 11:55; Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26; Acts 24:18). In the others (James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3) it is used of purifying the heart and soul. [source]
1 Timothy 3:2 Without reproach [ανεπιλημπτον]
Accusative case of general reference with δει — dei and ειναι — einai Old and common verbal One at a time, clearly. Temperate Old adjective. In N.T. only here, 1 Timothy 3:11; Titus 2:2. But see νηπω — nēphō to be sober in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Soberminded (σωπρονα — sōphrona). Another old adjective (from σαος — saos or σως — sōs sound, πρην — phrēn mind) in N.T. only here, Titus 1:8; Titus 2:2, Titus 2:5. Orderly See note on 1 Timothy 2:9. Seemly, decent conduct. Given to hospitality (πιλοχενον — philoxenon). Old word (see πιλοχενια — philoxenia in Romans 12:13), from πιλος — philos and χενος — xenos in N.T. only here, Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 4:9. Apt to teach Late form for old διδασκαλικος — didaskalikos one qualified to teach. In Philo and N.T. only (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24). [source]
1 Timothy 3:2 Temperate [νηπαλιον]
Old adjective. In N.T. only here, 1 Timothy 3:11; Titus 2:2. But see νηπω — nēphō to be sober in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Soberminded (σωπρονα — sōphrona). Another old adjective (from σαος — saos or σως — sōs sound, πρην — phrēn mind) in N.T. only here, Titus 1:8; Titus 2:2, Titus 2:5. Orderly See note on 1 Timothy 2:9. Seemly, decent conduct. Given to hospitality (πιλοχενον — philoxenon). Old word (see πιλοχενια — philoxenia in Romans 12:13), from πιλος — philos and χενος — xenos in N.T. only here, Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 4:9. Apt to teach Late form for old διδασκαλικος — didaskalikos one qualified to teach. In Philo and N.T. only (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24). [source]
1 Timothy 3:2 Soberminded [σωπρονα]
Another old adjective (from σαος — saos or σως — sōs sound, πρην — phrēn mind) in N.T. only here, Titus 1:8; Titus 2:2, Titus 2:5. [source]
2 Timothy 2:9 But the word of God is not bound [ἀλλὰ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται]
Nevertheless, although I am in bonds, the gospel which I preach will prevail in spite of all human efforts to hinder it. Word of God often in Paul. In Pastorals, 1 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:5. Bound, in Paul metaphorically, as here, Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:39. [source]
2 Timothy 2:9 I suffer hardship [κακοπατω]
“I suffer evil.” Old compound “Up to bonds.” A common experience with Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23; Philemon 1:7, Philemon 1:13, Philemon 1:14; Colossians 4:18). As a malefactor One of the charges made against Paul. Is not bound (ou dedetai). Perfect passive indicative of deō to bind. Old verb. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2. I am bound with a chain, but no fetters are on the word of God (Pauline phrase; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 14:36; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Philemon 1:14; Titus 2:5). [source]
2 Timothy 2:9 As a malefactor [κακον εργω]
One of the charges made against Paul. Is not bound (ou dedetai). Perfect passive indicative of deō to bind. Old verb. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2. I am bound with a chain, but no fetters are on the word of God (Pauline phrase; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 14:36; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Philemon 1:14; Titus 2:5). [source]
2 Timothy 2:9 Is not bound [ou dedetai)]
Perfect passive indicative of deō to bind. Old verb. See note on 1 Corinthians 7:27, 1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2. I am bound with a chain, but no fetters are on the word of God (Pauline phrase; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 14:36; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Philemon 1:14; Titus 2:5). [source]
Titus 2:8 That cannot be condemned [ἀκατάγνωστον]
N.T.ooClass. See Mark href="/desk/?q=mr+15:39&sr=1">Mark 15:39. The heathen opposer is meant. Comp. blasphemed, Titus 2:5, and 1 Timothy 6:1. Ἑναντίος contraryin Paul only 1 Thessalonians 2:15. [source]

What do the individual words in Titus 2:5 mean?

self-controlled pure keepers at home kind being subject to the own husbands so that not the word - of God should be maligned
σώφρονας ἁγνάς οἰκουργούς ἀγαθάς ὑποτασσομένας τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ἵνα μὴ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ βλασφημῆται

σώφρονας  self-controlled 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: σώφρων  
Sense: of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses.
ἁγνάς  pure 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἁγνός  
Sense: exciting reverence, venerable, sacred.
οἰκουργούς  keepers  at  home 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: οἰκουργός 
Sense: caring for the house, working at home.
ἀγαθάς  kind 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
ὑποτασσομένας  being  subject 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ὑποτάσσω  
Sense: to arrange under, to subordinate.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἰδίοις  own 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἴδιος  
Sense: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self.
ἀνδράσιν  husbands 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
λόγος  word 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
βλασφημῆται  should  be  maligned 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βλασφημέω 
Sense: to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme.