1 TIM 2:11 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Timothy that it was important that believers should pray

In this section Paul told Timothy some things that the believers should do when they met together regularly to worship God. They should pray for everybody. The men should pray in holiness and without anger, and the women should dress and behave modestly and appropriately.

Paragraph 2:9–15

In this paragraph, Paul told Timothy how female believers should dress and behave when they met to worship God. Paul had instructed the men in Ephesus about a problem that was typical for them (2:8). In this paragraph he instructed the women in Ephesus about a problem that was typical for the women.

2:11

A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.

Every woman should listen to what is being taught without interrupting. She should also show complete respect to the one who is teaching.
When other people are teaching the believers, all women should learn by listening quietly and very respectfully.

Paul continued to give instructions to women in general in 2:11–12. In these verses he told Timothy the way that women should behave when believers met together.

A woman: That is, every woman, all women. In some languages it will be better to use a plural here.

must learn: Paul was saying that people must learn about God. This normally happened when believers met together so that someone could teach them from Scripture.Some people interpret this to mean that Paul is commanding that women learn, and is implying that they would be able to teach men after they have learned. They say that the real problem is that women in Ephesus had not learned before they taught. However, this overlooks the fact that Paul is not emphasizing that women learn, but that they learn quietly and submissively. Also, Paul expressly forbids women from teaching men in verse 12. For a more detailed rebuttal, see Schreiner in Women in the Church, pages 121–123.

in quietness: Paul did not mean that women should be totally silent in church. This is clear from 1 Corinthians 11:5, where Paul referred to women praying and prophesying during public worship. Paul probably meant that women were to listen quietly when someone was teaching the believers. They were not to chatter and interrupt the person who was teaching God’s message.

and full submissiveness: Paul meant that women were not to argue publicly with those who taught the believers. They were to be respectful and submit to their authority.

full: The Greek word that the BSB translates as full is literally “all.” Paul meant that women were to be completely respectful to those who taught the believers.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

γυνὴ & μανθανέτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γυνή ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ μανθανέτω ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ)

If your language does not use the third-person imperative in this way, you could state this in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [A woman must learn]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

γυνὴ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γυνή ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ μανθανέτω ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ)

The word woman represents Christian women in general, not one particular woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [believing women] or [female Christians]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γυνὴ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γυνή ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ μανθανέτω ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ)

Here, the word translated woman could refer: (1) generally to any female believer. Alternate translation: [women who believe] (2) specifically to any woman who is married. This is indicated by the switch from the plural “women” in the previous verses to the singular “woman” here. Alternate translation: [a wife] or [wives]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

in quietness

Here, the word translated quietness could describe: (1) learning unobtrusively and peacefully. Paul used a similar word (“quiet”) in [2:2](../02/02.md), where it described a life that is calm and peaceful. Alternate translation: [calmly] or [in peace] (2) learning without speaking. Alternate translation: [in silence] or [without speaking]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

in quietness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of quietness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [quietly]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ

in in all submission

Here Paul does not state to whom or what the women are to be in all submission. If possible, you also should not express to whom or what they are to be in all submission. If you must include the object of submission, Paul could imply that the submission is to: (1) the leaders and teachers of the church. Alternate translation: [in all submission to the leaders] or [in all submission to the people who teach] (2) husbands (or other close male relatives). Alternate translation: [in all submission to their husbands]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ

in in all submission

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of submission, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [always submitting]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 TIM 2:11

SR Greek word order

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Timothy that it was important that believers should pray

Paragraph 2:9–15

2:11

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 TIM 2:11

SR Greek word order

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Timothy that it was important that believers should pray

Paragraph 2:9–15

2:11

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 TIM 2:11