Bible Strands
Titus 2:3
Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul instructs Titus on how to teach distinct age and gender groups within the Cretan church. This directive follows the commands for older men and immediately precedes the instructions for younger women.
The words — ἱεροπρεπεῖς (hi'eroprepeis) literally means "reverent" or "worthy of holy regard," while διαβόλους (diabolous) translates directly to "slanderers" or "accusers."
The thread — The prohibition against slander appears in 1 Timothy 3:11 regarding women in ministry, and the call to inner character over outward appearance parallels 1 Peter 3:3. The structural pattern of training older believers to guide younger ones continues in Titus 2:4.
Why it lands — The text commands older women to maintain dignified conduct, avoid destructive speech and wine addiction, and actively instruct others in righteous living. A reader must evaluate their own speech, habits, and teaching focus against these concrete boundaries.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Cross-references
- Titus 2:4 In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children,
- 1 Timothy 3:11 In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.
- 1 Peter 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
- 1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
- Titus 1:7 As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
- Romans 16:2 Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.
- 1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
- 1 Timothy 5:5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
- Ephesians 5:3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
- Hebrews 5:12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!