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Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Timothy 1:7

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Doctor;   Doctrines;   Minister, Christian;   Strife;   Vanity;   Scofield Reference Index - Satan;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Leaders;   Religious;   Teacher, Divine;   The Topic Concordance - Teaching;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Vanity;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Elder;   Ephesus;   Gifts of the spirit;   Pastor;   Teacher;   Timothy, letters to;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Atonement;   Ministry, Gospel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - John the Apostle;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Timothy, Epistles to;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Confidence;   Doctor (2);   Lawyer;   Timothy;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Confidence;   Zenas;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 24;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
Geneva Bible (1587)
They would be doctours of the Law, and yet vnderstande not what they speake, neither whereof they affirme.
Christian Standard Bible®
They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.
Hebrew Names Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
Darby Translation
desiring to be law-teachers, not understanding either what they say or concerning what they [so] strenuously affirm.
Easy-to-Read Version
They want to be teachers of the law, but they don't know what they are talking about. They don't even understand the things they say they are sure of.
Amplified Bible
wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.
American Standard Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
Berean Standard Bible
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
Contemporary English Version
They want to be teachers of the Law of Moses. But they don't know what they are talking about, even though they think they do.
Complete Jewish Bible
They want to be teachers of Torah, but they understand neither their own words nor the matters about which they make such emphatic pronouncements.
International Standard Version
They want to be teachers of the law, yet they do not understand either what they are talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.1 Timothy 6:4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
seeking to become teachers of the law, while they understand not what they speak, nor that concerning which they contend.
Murdock Translation
because they wished to be teachers of the law, while they understood not what they speak, nor the thing about which they contend.
King James Version (1611)
Desiring to bee teachers of the Law, vnderstading neither what they say, nor whereof they affirme.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Couetyng to be doctours of the lawe, not vnderstandyng what they speake, neither wherof they affirme.
English Revised Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
Lexham English Bible
wanting to be teachers of the law, although they do not understand either the things which they are saying or the things concerning which they are speaking confidently.
Literal Translation
wishing to be teachers of law, neither understanding what they say, nor about that which they confidently affirm.
New American Standard Bible
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
New Century Version
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about.
New English Translation
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.
New King James Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
New Living Translation
They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don't know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
New Revised Standard
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Desiring to be law-teachers, - not understanding, either what they say or whereof they confidently affirm.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Desiring to be teachers of the law: understanding neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.
George Lamsa Translation
Desiring to be teachers of the law; not understanding what they speak, nor even whereof they argue.
Good News Translation
They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.
World English Bible
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither the things they say, nor those concerning which they confidently affirm.
Weymouth's New Testament
They are ambitious to be teachers of the Law, although they do not understand either their own words or what the things are about which they make such confident assertions.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and willith to be techeris of the lawe, and vndurstonden not what thingis thei speken, nether of what thingis thei affermen.
Webster's Bible Translation
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor concerning what they affirm.
Revised Standard Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
because they wolde be doctours the scripture and yet vnderstonde not what they speake nether wherof they affirme.
Update Bible Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
Young's Literal Translation
willing to be teachers of law, not understanding either the things they say, nor concerning what they asseverate,
Bible in Basic English
Desiring to be teachers of the law, though they have no knowledge of what they say or of the statements which they make so certainly.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
wyllinge to be doctours of the scripture, and vnderstonde not what they speake, nether wherof they affirme.
Mace New Testament (1729)
pretending to be doctors of the law, tho' they neither understand what they advance, nor upon what it is founded.
New Life Bible
Some of them want to be teachers of the Law. But they do not know what they are talking about even if they act as if they do.
Simplified Cowboy Version
They say they are "teachers of the Code", but they don't know anything more'n a fencepost. They talk big, but they ain't got no salt to back it up.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Legacy Standard Bible
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

Contextual Overview

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to: Acts 15:1, Romans 2:19-21, Galatians 3:2, Galatians 3:5, Galatians 4:21, Galatians 5:3, Galatians 5:4, Titus 1:10, Titus 1:11

understanding: 1 Timothy 6:4, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 29:14, Jeremiah 8:8, Jeremiah 8:9, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 21:27, Matthew 23:16-24, John 3:9, John 3:10, John 9:40, John 9:41, Romans 1:22, 2 Timothy 3:7, 2 Peter 2:12

Reciprocal: Job 32:12 - behold Job 38:2 - General Colossians 2:18 - intruding 2 Timothy 1:11 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Genesis 1:9
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Genesis 1:11
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:15
And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:24
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Job 26:8
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
Psalms 104:10
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
Psalms 148:4
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Desiring to be teachers of the law,.... They were very fond of being called Rabbi, Rabbi, and styled doctors of the law, and of being thought to have skill in interpreting the law, and good talents in expounding it, and preaching upon it; which was now most in vogue, and gained the greatest applause, when the preaching of the Gospel was treated with contempt, not only by the unbelieving Jews, but by judaizing Christians, and carnal professors.

Understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm: they did not understand the law, the nature and end, the purity and spirituality, and perfection of it, which they were so fond of teaching, and went into many foolish and unlearned questions about it; see 2 Timothy 2:23, and which they as foolishly answered: these are the ignorant and unlearned men, who, notwithstanding their vain show of learning, and pretence to skill in interpreting the law, wrested the Scriptures to their own destruction, and that of others; they were ignorant of the things they talked of, and knew not by what arguments to confirm them, and yet were very bold and confident in their assertions: and generally speaking so it is, that those who can prove least assert most, and that with the greatest assurance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Desiring to be teachers of the law - That is, to have the credit and reputation of being well versed in the law of Moses, and qualified to explain it to others. This was a high honor among the Jews, and these teachers laid claim to the same distinction.

Understanding neither what they say - That is, they do not understand the true nature and design of that law which they attempt to explain to others. This was true of the Jewish teachers, and equally so of those in the church at Ephesus, who attempted to explain it. They appear to have explained the law on the principles which commonly prevailed among the Jews, and hence their instructions tended greatly to corrupt the faith of the gospel. They made affirmations of what they knew nothing of, and though they made confident observations, yet they often pertained to things about which they had no knowledge. One needs only a slight acquaintance with the manner of teaching among Jewish rabbies, or with the things found in their traditions, to see the accuracy of this statement of the apostle. A sufficient illustration of this may be found in Allen’s “Modern Judaism.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. Teachers of the law — To be esteemed or celebrated as rabbins; to be reputed cunning in solving knotty questions and enigmas, which answered no end to true religion. Of such the rabbinical teaching was full.

Understanding neither what they say — This is evident from almost all the Jewish comments which yet remain. Things are asserted which are either false or dubious; words, the import of which they did not understand, were brought to illustrate them: so that it may be said, They understand not what they say, nor whereof they affirm. I will give one instance from the Jerusalem Targum, on Genesis 1:15: And God made two great lights, and they were equal in splendour twenty-one years, the six hundred and seventy-second part of an hour excepted: and afterwards the moon brought a false accusation against the sun, and therefore she was lessened; and God made the sun the greater light to superintend the day, &c. I could produce a thousand of a similar complexion.


 
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