Titus 2:5

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 BUT you must preach the things which are proper to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be vigilant, sober, pure, sound in faith, in love, charity and patience. ³ Teach the older women likewise, to behave as becomes the worship of God, not false accusers, not enslaved to much wine, but to become teachers of good things; ⁴ That they may teach the young women to be modest, to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ To be discreet, chaste, good home keepers, obedient to their own husbands, so that no one can reproach the word of God. ⁶ Likewise exhort the young to be modest. ⁷ In every thing show yourself an example in all good works, and in your teaching let your word be sound. ⁸ Choose sound words that are instructive so that no man can point the finger of scorn at us, and so that he who is against us may be shamed, when he can find nothing evil to say about us. ⁹ Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters and to please them well in all things not contentious; ¹⁰ Not stealing but manifesting true sincerity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

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
And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which encircles the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

Genesis 2:12
And the gold of that land is good; there is also beryllium and the onyx stone.

Genesis 3:23
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 4:2
And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 4:12
When you till the ground, it shall no more yield to you its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shall you be on the earth.

Job 5:10
Who gives rain upon the earth, and sends water upon the streets;

Psalms 104:14
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth,

Psalms 135:7
He causes the clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain; he brings the wind out of his treasuries.

Jeremiah 14:22
For the gods of the Gentiles cannot bring rain nor cause the heavens to give showers, but thou art our God; therefore we will wait for thee; for thou hast made all these things.

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.