What Does 1 Timothy 5:1 Mean in the King James?
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek sets a verbal strike against a direct appeal: an older man is addressed as a father, not made an opponent.
THE MEANING
This verse holds correction within relationship: an older man is approached as a father, and younger men as brothers. Age shapes the manner of address without making anyone a target outside the family.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that respect requires silence: an appeal is possible without turning correction into a verbal blow.
THE ROOT
ἐπιπλήξῃ
epiplēxēs
GROWS FROM
πλήσσω
plēssō
to strike or smite
The Greek word is built on πλήσσω, “to strike,” giving rebuke an image of verbal impact; it does not mean every rebuke is literally a blow. The verse sets that force against an appeal made with fatherly regard.
ALSO GROWS
plēssō: strike, smite
πλήσσω
The verb beneath “rebuke” makes its force more vivid than the English word alone.
plēktēs: striker, brawler
πλήκτης
This related word for a person characterized by striking keeps the word family’s force concrete.
παρακαλεῖ
parakalei
GROWS FROM
παρακαλέω
parakaleō
to appeal, urge, or comfort
The word translated “intreat” can also mean to urge or comfort, so this is not flattery or silence. It is direct speech whose force comes through appeal rather than a verbal strike.
ALSO GROWS
paraklēsis: appeal, exhortation, comfort
παράκλησις
This related noun shows that appeal and comfort belong to the same word family.
paraklētos: advocate, comforter
παράκλητος
This related word carries the family’s sense of advocacy and support, illuminating the care within the appeal.
ἀδελφούς
adelphous
GROWS FROM
ἀδελφός
adelphos
brother; a male sibling, traditionally connected with δελφύς (delphys), “womb”
The word for “brethren” makes the relationship explicit: younger men are addressed as family. Correction stays inside that kinship rather than making the person a stranger or an enemy.
ALSO GROWS
adelphē: sister
ἀδελφή
The feminine form extends the same family language across siblings.
adelphotēs: brotherhood, kinship
ἀδελφότης
This related word names a community as shared family, widening the verse’s kinship frame.
THE PATTERN
Scripture frames correction with kinship and restraint, leaving room for a person to be restored rather than reduced to a fault.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.THE THREAD
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.“Beseech” is the same Greek appeal word, παρακαλέω (parakaleō), used for “intreat” here, and both verses address their hearers as family. The shared wording shows appeal as direct speech held within kinship.
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