Titus 2:5

Contemporary English Version

Each of the younger women must be sensible and kind, as well as a good homemaker, who puts her own husband first. Then no one can say insulting things about God's message.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.

King James Version (1611)
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God bee not blasphemed.

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

English Standard Version
to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

New American Standard Bible
to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

New Century Version
to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind, and to yield to their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Legacy Standard Bible
to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be slandered.

Berean Standard Bible
to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.

Complete Jewish Bible
to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God's message will not be brought into disgrace.

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

Easy-to-Read Version
They will teach them to be wise and pure, to take care of their homes, to be kind, and to be willing to serve their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That they be temperate, chaste, keeping at home, good & subiect vnto their husbands, that the word of God be not euill spoken of.

George Lamsa Translation
To be discreet, chaste, good home keepers, obedient to their own husbands, so that no one can reproach the word of God.

Good News Translation
to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.

Lexham English Bible
to be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, good, being subject to their own husbands, in order that the word of God may not be slandered.

Literal Translation
discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, subject to their own husbands, so that the Word of God may not be blasphemed,

Amplified Bible
to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

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

Bible in Basic English
To be wise in mind, clean in heart, kind; working in their houses, living under the authority of their husbands; so that no evil may be said of the word of God.

Hebrew Names Version
to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God's word may not be blasphemed.

International Standard Version
sensible, pure, managers of their households, and kind, and to submit themselves to their husbands, lest the word of God be discredited.blasphemed">[fn]Romans 2:24; 1 Corinthians 14:34; Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:11; 6:1; 1 Peter 3:1,5;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and to be chaste and holy, well mindful of their houses, and submissive to their husbands, that no man blaspheme the word of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
to be chaste and holy, and to take good care of their households, and to be obedient to their husbands; so that no one may reproach the word of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
(To be) discrete, chaste, house kepers, good, obedient vnto their owne husbandes, that the worde of God be not blasphemed.

English Revised Version
to be soberminded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:

World English Bible
to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God's word may not be blasphemed.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
to love their chidren, Discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Weymouth's New Testament
industrious in their homes, kind, submissive to their husbands, so that the Christian teaching may not be exposed to reproach.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and that thei be prudent, chast, sobre, hauynge cure of the hous, benygne, suget to her hosebondis, that the word of God be not blasfemyd.

Update Bible Version
[to be] sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God not be blasphemed:

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

New English Translation
to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.

New King James Version
to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

New Living Translation
to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

New Life Bible
They are to teach them to think before they act, to be pure, to be workers at home, to be kind, and to obey their own husbands. In this way, the Word of God is honored.

New Revised Standard
to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
soberminded, chaste, workers at home, good, submitting themselves to their own husbands, - that, the word of God, be not defamed;

Douay-Rheims Bible
To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands: that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Revised Standard Version
to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
to be discrete chast huswyfly good and obediet vnto their awne husbandes that the worde of god be not evyll spoken of.

Young's Literal Translation
sober, pure, keepers of [their own] houses, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
to be discrete, chaste, husswyfly, good, obedient vnto their awne hussbandes, that the worde of God be not euell spoken of.

Mace New Testament (1729)
to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, good oeconimists, beneficent, submissive to their husbands,

Simplified Cowboy Version
They should teach them how to be wise and live without a cause for blame. Other things they should teach them are to keep busy in their homes, do good things, and to trust their husbands and take care of them as the husbands are taking care of them. This is the way God wants it and it will keep them from any shame.

Contextual Overview

¹ Titus, you must teach only what is correct. ² Tell the older men to have self-control and to be serious and sensible. Their faith, love, and patience must never fail. ³ Tell the older women to behave as those who love the Lord should. They must not gossip about others or be slaves of wine. They must teach what is proper, ⁴ so the younger women will be loving wives and mothers. ⁵ Each of the younger women must be sensible and kind, as well as a good homemaker, who puts her own husband first. Then no one can say insulting things about God's message. ⁶ Tell the young men to have self-control in everything. ⁷ Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and serious when you teach. ⁸ Use clean language that no one can criticize. Do this, and your enemies will be too ashamed to say anything against you. ⁹ Tell slaves always to please their owners by obeying them in everything. Slaves must not talk back to their owners ¹⁰ or steal from them. They must be completely honest and trustworthy. Then everyone will show great respect for what is taught about God our Savior.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

discreet: Titus 2:2

keepers: Genesis 16:8, Genesis 16:9, Genesis 18:9, Proverbs 7:11, Proverbs 31:10-31, 1 Timothy 5:13

good: Acts 9:36, Acts 9:39, 1 Timothy 5:10

obedient: Genesis 3:16, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Corinthians 14:34, Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 5:33, Colossians 3:18, 1 Timothy 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Peter 3:1-5

that: 2 Samuel 12:14, Psalms 74:10, Romans 2:24, 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Timothy 6:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:1 - the daughter Deuteronomy 24:5 - a man Nehemiah 5:9 - reproach Esther 1:22 - that every man Proverbs 31:13 - worketh Matthew 18:7 - unto John 15:8 - is Romans 12:17 - Provide 2 Corinthians 8:21 - for 1 Timothy 3:7 - lest 2 Peter 2:2 - pernicious ways

Cross-References

Genesis 2:9
The Lord God placed all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of the trees gave life—the other gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong.

Genesis 2:11
The first one is the Pishon River that flows through the land of Havilah,

Genesis 2:12
where pure gold, rare perfumes, and precious stones are found.

Genesis 3:23
So the Lord God sent them out of the Garden of Eden, where they would have to work the ground from which the man had been made.

Genesis 4:2
Later she had another son and named him Abel. Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land.

Genesis 4:12
If you try to farm the land, it won't produce anything for you. From now on, you'll be without a home, and you'll spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.

Job 5:10
God sends showers on earth and waters the fields.

Psalms 104:14
You let the earth produce grass for cattle, plants for our food,

Psalms 135:7
The Lord makes the clouds rise from far across the earth, and he makes lightning to go with the rain. Then from his secret place he sends out the wind.

Jeremiah 14:22
Idols can't send rain, and showers don't fall by themselves. Only you control the rain, so we put our trust in you, the Lord our God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

To be discreet,.... Or temperate in eating and drinking, so the word is rendered in Titus 2:2 or to be sober both in body and mind; or to be wise and prudent in the whole of their conduct, both at home and abroad:

chaste; in body, in affection, words and actions, having their love pure and single to their own husbands, keeping their marriage bed undefiled.

Keepers at home: minding their own family affairs, not gadding abroad; and inspecting into, and busying themselves about other people's matters. This is said in opposition to what women are prone unto. It is reckoned among the properties of women, by the Jews, that they are יוצאניות, "gadders abroad" x: they have some rules about women's keeping at home; they say y,

"a woman may go to her father's house to visit him, and to the house of mourning, and to the house of feasting, to return a kindness to her friends, or to her near relations--but it is a reproach to a woman to go out daily; now she is without, now she is in the streets; and a husband ought to restrain his wife from it, and not suffer her to go abroad but about once a month, or twice a month, upon necessity; for there is nothing more beautiful for a woman, than to abide in the corner of her house; for so it is written, Psalms 45:13 "the king's daughter is all glorious within".''

And this they say z is what is meant by the woman's being an helpmeet for man, that while he is abroad about his business, she is יושבת בבית, "sitting at home", and keeping his house; and this they observe is the glory and honour of the woman. The passage in

Isaiah 44:13 concerning an image being made "after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house" is by the Targum thus paraphrased:

"according to the likeness of a man, according to the praise of a woman, to abide in the house.''

Upon which Kimchi, has this note.

"it is the glory of a woman to continue at home, and not go abroad.''

The tortoise, which carries its house upon its back, and very rarely shows its head, or looks out of it, was, with the ancients, an emblem of a good housewife. These also should be instructed to be "good" or "kind" to their servants, and beneficent to the poor, and to strangers, towards whom, very often, women are apt to be strait handed, and not so generous and liberal as they should be:

obedient to their own husbands; Isaiah 44:13- :,

Isaiah 44:13- :.

that the word of God be not blasphemed; by unbelieving husbands, who, by the ill conduct of their wives, would be provoked to speak ill of the Gospel, as if that taught disaffection and disobedience to them.

x Bereshit Rabba, sect. 45. fol. 40. 3. y Maimon. Hilchot Ishot, c. 13. sect. 11. z Tzeror Hammor, fol. 5. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To be discreet - The same word rendered, in Titus 2:2, “temperate,” and explained in Titus 2:4.

Chaste - Pure - in heart, and in life.

Keepers at home - That is, characteristically attentive to their domestic concerns, or to their duties in their families. A similar injunction is found in the precepts of the Pythagoreans - τὰν γὰρ γύναικα δεῖ οἰκουρεῖν καὶ ἔνδον μένειν tan gar gunaika dei oikourein kai endon menein. See Creuzer’s Symbolik, iii. 120. This does not mean, of course, that they are never to go abroad, but they are not to neglect their domestic affairs; they are not to be better known abroad than at home; they are not to omit their own duties and become “busy-bodies” in the concerns of others. Religion is the patron of the domestic virtues, and regards the appropriate duties in a family as those most intimately connected with its own progress in the world. It looks benignly on all which makes home a place of contentment, intelligence, and peace. It does not flourish when domestic duties are neglected; - and whatever may be done abroad, or whatever self-denial and zeal in the cause of religion may be evinced there, or whatever call there may be for the labors of Christians there, or however much good may be actually done abroad, religion has gained nothing, on the whole, if, in order to secure these things, the duties of a wife and mother at home have been disregarded. Our first duty is at home, and all other duties will be well performed just in proportion as that is.

Good - In all respects, and in all relations. To a wife, a mother, a sister, there can be no higher characteristic ascribed, than to say that she is good. What other trait of mind will enable her better to perform her appropriate duties of life? What other will make her more like her Saviour?

Obedient to their own husbands - Ephesians 5:22-24 note; Colossians 3:18 note.

That the word of God be not blasphemed - That the gospel may not be injuriously spoken of (Notes, Matthew 9:3), on account of the inconsistent lives of those who profess to be influenced by it. The idea is, that religion ought to produce the virtues here spoken of, and that when it does not, it will be reproached as being of no value.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 5. Keepers at home — οικουρους. A woman who spends much time in visiting, must neglect her family. The idleness, dirtiness, impudence, and profligacy of the children, will soon show how deeply criminal the mother was in rejecting the apostle's advice. Instead of οικουρους, keepers of the house, or keepers at home, ACD*EFG, and several of the Itala, have οικουργους, workers at home; not only staying in the house and keeping the house, but working in the house. A woman may keep the house very closely, and yet do little in it for the support or comfort of the family.

That the word of God be not blasphemed. — The enemies of the Gospel are quick-eyed to spy out imperfections in its professors; and, if they find women professing Christianity living an irregular life, they will not fail to decry the Christian doctrine on this account: "Behold your boasted religion! it professes to reform all things, and its very professors are no better than others! Our heathenism is as good as your Christianity." These are cutting reproaches; and much they will have to answer for who give cause for these blasphemies.