5:10a

and well known for good deeds: This is the third main condition that a widow must fulfill to be included on the list of widows. Paul probably was not speaking about specific good deeds, but referring to the widow’s reputation as someone who frequently did good deeds.

In the rest of this verse Paul gave some examples of good deeds.

and well known: That is, other people know that she is the sort of person who helps others.

General Comment on 5:9a–10a

Paul here gave three conditions that were to be met before a widow could be enrolled or put on the list of widows. In some languages it might be better to make this clear by using three conditional or “if” clauses, like this:

Enroll a widow only if she is over sixty years old, if she has been faithful to her husband, and if people agree that she has always been busy doing good things.

5:10b

such as: In the Berean Standard Bible, the words such as introduce a list of four specific kinds of good deeds (5:10b–e) for which the widow should be known.

bringing up children: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bringing up children refers to caring for children, providing for their physical needs, and training and teaching them what they need to know to be virtuous people.

children: These children may not have been her own children, but most likely her grandchildren. Use the most general word for children that you can.

5:10c

entertaining strangers: Although the Greek word here is different from the one that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “hospitable” in 3:2d, the meaning is the same. A widow must also be a person who welcomes guests into her home for food and shelter.

5:10d

washing the feet of the saints: It was usual in Paul’s time for a guest’s feet to be washed when he arrived. In John 13:1–17, Jesus showed that washing someone else’s feet was an act of humility and love and that it was something believers should do for one another. However, in this context, scholars disagree about whether this expression should be understood:

(1) literally

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) figuratively. For example, the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) says:

served other Christians humbly

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and translate this literally. Paul was listing some specific good deeds and there is no reason to assume that he was speaking figuratively.

If your readers will not understand the reason that someone might wash someone else’s feet, you might need to add an explanation or a cross reference to John 13:1–17 in a footnote.

the saints: The Greek word for saints literally refers to “the holy ones” or “the sanctified ones.” The word saints refers to someone who believes in Christ.

5:10e

imparting relief to the afflicted: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the afflicted refers to people who are in distress, who are suffering in some way, or who are experiencing hardship/difficulties.

5:10f

devoting herself to every good work: This is a general statement that summarizes what Paul had just been saying. The widow must have been faithfully and consistently showing all sorts of kindness to people.

devoting herself to: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devoting herself to means that she should occupy her time with doing good deeds or that she should work diligently to do good deeds. See also the note on 4:13b.

Paragraph 5:11–15

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.