2 Timothy 2:20
New International Version
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.

New Living Translation
In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.

English Standard Version
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

Berean Standard Bible
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.

Berean Literal Bible
Now in a great house, there are not only golden and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some indeed unto honor, but some unto dishonor.

King James Bible
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

New King James Version
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

New American Standard Bible
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor.

NASB 1995
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

NASB 1977
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of clay, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

Amplified Bible
Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).

Christian Standard Bible
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

American Standard Version
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold or silver, but also of wood and of pottery, some of them for honor and some for dishonor.

Contemporary English Version
In a large house some dishes are made of gold or silver, while others are made of wood or clay. Some of these are special, and others are not.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth: and some indeed unto honour, but some unto dishonour.

English Revised Version
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honour, and some unto dishonour.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In a large house there are not only objects made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some objects are honored when they are used; others aren't.

Good News Translation
In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use.

International Standard Version
In a large house there are not only utensils made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some are for special use, while others are for ordinary use.

Literal Standard Version
And in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor:

Majority Standard Bible
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.

New American Bible
In a large household there are vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for lofty and others for humble use.

NET Bible
Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.

New Revised Standard Version
In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary.

New Heart English Bible
Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor.

Webster's Bible Translation
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

Weymouth New Testament
Now in a great house there are not only articles of gold and silver, but also others of wood and of earthenware; and some are for specially honourable, and others for common use.

World English Bible
Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor and some for dishonor.

Young's Literal Translation
And in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour, and some to dishonour:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Lord's Approved Workman
19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.” 20 A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. 21So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.…

Cross References
John 8:49
"I do not have a demon," Jesus replied, "but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

Romans 9:20
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, "Why did You make me like this?"

Romans 9:21
Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

2 Corinthians 4:7
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.


Treasury of Scripture

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

in a.

1 Corinthians 3:9,16,17
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building…

Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1 Timothy 3:15
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

vessels.

Exodus 27:3
And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.

Ezra 1:6
And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

Ezra 6:5
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

and some to honour.

Romans 9:21-23
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? …

Jump to Previous
Articles Clay Common Dishonor Dishonour Earth Earthen Earthenware Gold Great Honor Honour Honourable Honoured House Ignoble Large Noble Others Purposes Silver Specially Use Vessels Wood Wooden
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Articles Clay Common Dishonor Dishonour Earth Earthen Earthenware Gold Great Honor Honour Honourable Honoured House Ignoble Large Noble Others Purposes Silver Specially Use Vessels Wood Wooden
2 Timothy 2
1. Timothy is exhorted again to constancy and perseverance.
17. Of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
19. The foundation of the Lord is sure.
22. He is taught whereof to beware, and what to follow after.














(20) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver.--The Apostle goes on with the same thought of the "Church of God on earth," but he changes the imagery. He has been speaking of this Church as the "foundation-storey that cannot be moved" of a still more glorious edifice. He now, as it were, answers a question which would naturally occur to Timothy and to many a devout reader or hearer of the Epistle when they came to this part of the argument. How comes it, then, one would ask, that in this visible Church on earth are so many unworthy members? How is it that in this changeless, abiding foundation of the great Temple of the future, against which all earthly storms may beat, and yet never shake its massive storeys, so many useless crumbling stones are taken for the building?

In a great house, argues St. Paul--still thinking of the Church, but changing the foundation image for that of a great house--are always found two distinct kinds of vessels--the precious and enduring, and also the comparatively valueless and lasting for out a little while; the first kind are destined for honour, the second for dishonour. In St. Paul's mind, when he wrote these words, the natural sequel to his far-reaching and suggestive comparison of the "foundation" (2Timothy 2:19) were the words of his Master, who had once compared His Church to a drag-net of wide sweep, including in its take something of every kind out of the vast sea-world. The "net"--His Church--was together and to hold in its meshes its great take--the good and the bad, the useful and the useless--till the end of the world. So St. Paul writes how in a great house there must be these varieties of vessels--some for honour, others for dishonour. By these vessels the genuine and spurious members of the Church are represented as forming two distinct classes; and in these classes different degrees of honour and dishonour besides exist--the vessels of gold and silver, the vessels of wood and of earth. To Timothy these comparisons would at once suggest the true and false teachers in his Church at Ephesus; but the reference is a far broader one, and includes all members of the Church of Christ. The enduring nature of the metals gold and silver are contrasted with the perishable nature of the other materials, wood and earth. The former will remain a part of the Church for ever; the latter will only endure until the end of the world.

Verse 20. - Now for but, A.V.; unto for to, A.V. (twice). Now in a great house, etc. "Now" is hardly the right conjunction. It should rather be "howbeit." The object of the figure of the various vessels in the "great house" is to show that, though every one that names the Name of the Lord ought to depart from unrighteousness, yet we must not be surprised if it is not so, and if there are found in the Church some professing Christians whose practice is quite inconsistent with their profession. Perhaps even the vilest members of the visible Church perform some useful function, howbeit they do not mean it. With this mention of the vessels, compare the enumeration in 1 Corinthians 3:12. Of earth (ὀστράκινα); only here and 2 Corinthians 4:7, where it is also applied to σκεύη, "earthen vessels;" as it is in the LXX., e.g. Leviticus 6:28; and to ἄγγος (Numbers 5:17). Ὄστρακον "a tile." (For the same figure, see Romans 9:22, 23.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
A large
μεγάλῃ (megalē)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

house
οἰκίᾳ (oikia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3614: From oikos; properly, residence, but usually an abode; by implication, a family.

contains
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

only
μόνον (monon)
Adverb
Strong's 3440: Alone, but, only. Neuter of monos as adverb; merely.

vessels
σκεύη (skeuē)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4632: A vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband).

of gold
χρυσᾶ (chrysa)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5552: Golden, made of gold, adorned with gold. From chrusos; made of gold.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

silver,
ἀργυρᾶ (argyra)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 693: Made of silver. From arguros; made of silver.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

also
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

of wood
ξύλινα (xylina)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3585: Wooden. From xulon; wooden.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

clay.
ὀστράκινα (ostrakina)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3749: Made of clay, earthen. From ostrakon; earthen-ware, i.e. Clayey; by implication, frail.

Some
(ha)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

indeed
μὲν (men)
Conjunction
Strong's 3303: A primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession; usually followed by a contrasted clause with de.

[are] for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

honorable [use],
τιμὴν (timēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5092: A price, honor. From tino; a value, i.e. Money paid, or valuables; by analogy, esteem, or the dignity itself.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

others
(ha)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

[are] for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

common [use].
ἀτιμίαν (atimian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 819: Disgrace, dishonor; a dishonorable use. From atimos; infamy, i.e. comparative indignity, disgrace.


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NT Letters: 2 Timothy 2:20 Now in a large house there (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)
2 Timothy 2:19
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