What Does 1 Timothy 6:11 Mean?
But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue alignment, godliness, trust, love, bearing up, and gentleness.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.THE KEY
The word for “follow after” also belongs to the word family for persecution: here, relentless pursuit is turned toward alignment, trust, love, endurance, and gentleness.
THE MEANING
Your life is not defined only by what you flee; it is shaped by what you pursue. Alignment, devotion, trust, love, endurance, and gentleness form one direction of life with God. Leaving and following are both part of the movement.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that freedom is complete once you get away: this verse gives escape a direction, showing that the pursuit matters too.
THE ROOT
δίωκε
diōke
GROWS FROM
διωκ-
diōk-
Pursue, chase, press after.
“pursue” in this verse is diōke. The Greek word family for pursuit also gives διωγμός (diōgmos), meaning “persecution”, a chase that presses against someone. Here the force of pursuit is directed toward alignment, trust, love, and the other qualities named in the verse.
ALSO GROWS
diōkō: pursue, chase
διώκω
This is the verb’s dictionary form and makes clear that “follow after” carries active pursuit.
diōgmos: persecution, pursuit
διωγμός
This related noun shows how forceful pursuit can become a chase against someone; the verse turns that same pursuit language toward a different aim.
ὑπομονήν
hypomonēn
GROWS FROM
ὑπομένω
hypomenō
Remain under; endure.
“bearing up” in this verse is hypomonēn. The word carries the sense of remaining under pressure rather than simply waiting for time to pass. Beside “pursue,” it gives the verse both forward motion and the capacity to stay through difficulty.
ALSO GROWS
hypomenō: remain under, endure
ὑπομένω
This verb shares the word family and makes the staying-through-pressure sense visible.
menō: remain, abide
μένω
The core idea of remaining helps show the steadiness contained in endurance.
πίστιν
pistin
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust and reliance, with a related sense of reliability.
Trust and firmness belong to the same Greek word family: trust is reliance placed in what is dependable. In this list, it sits alongside the active pursuit of alignment and love.
ALSO GROWS
pisteuō: trust, rely on
πιστεύω
This verb shows the movement of placing reliance that is contained in the noun for trust.
pistos: reliable, trustworthy, firm
πιστός
This related adjective links trust with the steadiness of what can be relied upon.
THE PATTERN
Release from what misdirects takes shape through active pursuit of what aligns life.
Turn aside from evil and do good; seek wholeness and pursue it.Flee the youthful cravings, but pursue alignment, trust, love, and wholeness, with those who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart.Let him turn aside from evil and do good; let him seek wholeness and pursue it.THE THREAD
Flee the youthful cravings, but pursue alignment, trust, love, and wholeness, with those who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart.This verse repeats the same Greek verbs: φεῦγε (pheuge, “flee”) and δίωκε (diōke, “pursue”). It also repeats righteousness, trust, and love, making the paired movement in 1 Timothy 6:11 especially clear.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us