1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Study Note
Study Note
'For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' The verse is often misquoted as 'money is the root of all evil' — the text specifies 'love of money' (philargyria) as the problematic orientation. The 'root' metaphor suggests that financial covetousness is generative of an entire family of evils rather than merely one transgression. Paul's specific pastoral concern is the false teachers mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:5 who treat godliness as a means of financial gain, a problem Paul develops in contrast with 'godliness with contentment is great gain' (verse 6).
Other Translations
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
for a root of all the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;
For the love of money is a root of all evil: and some whose hearts were fixed on it have been turned away from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows.
Cross References
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify …
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the …
Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a …
Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; …
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the …
And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was …
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto …
And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went …
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be …