1 Timothy 4:8

KJV1611 – Modern English

For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἡ γὰρ σωματικὴ γυμνασία πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶν ὠφέλιμος: ἡ δὲ εὐσέβεια πρὸς πάντα ὠφέλιμός ἐστιν, ἐπαγγελίαν ἔχουσα ζωῆς τῆς νῦν, καὶ τῆς μελλούσης.

Transliteration

The gar sōmatikē gymnasia pros oligon estin ōphelimos: the de eusebeia pros panta ōphelimos estin, epangelian echousa zōēs tēs now, and tēs mellousēs.

Grammar Details

• *gar*: conjunction, postpositive - for/because
• *sōmatikē*: nominative, feminine, singular - bodily/physical
• *gymnasia*: nominative, feminine, singular - exercise/training
• *pros*: preposition + accusative - for/toward
• *oligon*: accusative, neuter, singular - little/small/brief
• *estin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - is
• *ōphelimos*: nominative, feminine, singular - profitable/useful/beneficial
• *de*: conjunction, postpositive - but/and
• *eusebeia*: nominative, feminine, singular - godliness/piety
• *panta*: accusative, neuter, plural - all things
• *epangelian*: accusative, feminine, singular - promise
• *echousa*: present, active, participle, nominative, feminine, singular - having/holding
• *zōēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of life
• *tēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of the
• *mellousēs*: present, active, participle, genitive, feminine, singular - coming/future

Word Meanings

• *sōmatikē gymnasia*: bodily exercise/physical training
• *oligon*: little/brief time/small extent
• *ōphelimos*: profitable/beneficial/useful
• *eusebeia*: godliness/piety/reverence toward God
• *panta*: all things/every way
• *epangelian*: promise/pledge
• *zōēs*: life/existence
• *mellousēs*: coming/future/about to be

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For bodily training is of some value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  for{G1063} bodily{G4984} exercise{G1129} is{G2076} profitable{G5624} for a little;{G3641} but{G1161} godliness{G2150} is{G2076} profitable{G5624} for all things,{G3956} having{G2192} promise{G1860} of the life{G2222} which now is,{G3568} and{G2532} of that which is to come.{G3195}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} bodily{G4984} exercise{G1129} profiteth{G2076}{(G5748)}{(G5624)} little{G4314}{G3641}: but{G1161} godliness{G2150} is{G2076}{(G5748)} profitable{(G5624)} unto{G4314} all things{G3956}, having{G2192}{(G5723)} promise{G1860} of the life{G2222} that now is{G3568}, and{G2532} of that which is to come{G3195}{(G5723)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For bodely exercise proffiteth lyttll: But godlines is good vnto all thynges as a thynge which hath promyses of the lyfe that is now and of the lyfe to come.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For bodely exercyse profyteth litle, but godlynes is profytable vnto all thinges, as a thinge which hath promyses of the life that is now, and of the life for to come.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For bodily exercise profiteth litle: but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things, which hath the promes of the life present, and of that that is to come.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For bodyly exercise profiteth litle: but godlinesse is profitable vnto all thinges, hauing promise of the lyfe that is nowe, and of that which is to come.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value for all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for the bodily exercise is unto little profit, and the piety is to all things profitable, a promise having of the life that now is, and of that which is coming;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For the training of the body is of profit for a little, but religion is of profit in every way, giving hope for the life which now is, and for that which is to come.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For“physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 6:33 : 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• 1 Tim 6:6 : 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
• Rev 3:21 : 21 To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne.
• Mark 10:30 : 30 Who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life.
• Ps 84:11 : 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
• Job 5:19-26 : 19 He shall deliver you in six troubles: yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. 20 In famine he shall redeem you from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue: nor shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh: nor shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. 24 And you shall know that your dwelling shall be at peace; and you shall visit your home, and shall not sin. 25 You shall also know that your seed shall be great, and your offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 You shall come to your grave at a full age, like a sheaf of grain comes in its season.
• Ps 37:3-4 : 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; so you shall dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.
• Ps 37:9 : 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
• Ps 145:19 : 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him; he also will hear their cry and will save them.
• Prov 3:16-18 : 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her: and happy is everyone who retains her.
• Prov 19:23 : 23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
• Prov 22:4 : 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.
• Eccl 8:12 : 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
• Isa 1:11-16 : 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? says the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals; and I delight not in the blood of oxen, or of lambs, or of goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble to me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And when you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: indeed, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;
• Isa 3:10 : 10 Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
• Isa 32:17-18 : 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
• Isa 33:16 : 16 He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given to him; his water will be sure.
• Isa 58:3-5 : 3 Why have we fasted, they say, and you do not see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no notice? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure and exact all your labors. 4 Behold, you fast for strife and debate and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You shall not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. 5 Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
• Isa 65:13-14 : 13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed; 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and wail for vexation of spirit.
• Jer 6:20 : 20 To what purpose does incense come to me from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me.
• Amos 5:21-24 : 21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though you offer me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; nor will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; for I will not hear the melody of your lutes. 24 But let judgment run down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
• Matt 5:3-9 : 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• Ps 37:11 : 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
• Ps 37:16-19 : 16 A little that the righteous has is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. 18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
• Ps 37:29 : 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and live in it forever.
• Ps 50:7-9 : 7 Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, even your God. 8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before Me. 9 I will take no bull from your house, nor goats from your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you: for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving; and pay your vows to the Most High: 15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
• Job 22:2 : 2 Can a person be beneficial to God, as one who is wise may benefit themselves?
• Deut 28:1-9 : 1 And it shall come to pass, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you, and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of the LORD your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your kine, and the flocks of your sheep. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your store. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 The LORD shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face: they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouses, and in all that you set your hand unto; and He shall bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 9 The LORD shall establish you a holy people unto Himself, as He has sworn unto you, if you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and walk in His ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the LORD shall make you plentiful in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD shall open unto you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you shall lend unto many nations, and you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you listen unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them: 14 And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
• 1 Sam 15:22 : 22 And Samuel said, Does the LORD have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
• Ps 91:10-16 : 10 No evil shall befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder: the young lion and the dragon you shall trample underfoot. 14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.
• Ps 112:1-3 : 1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. 2 His descendants shall be mighty upon the earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness shall endure forever.
• Ps 128:1-6 : 1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. 2 For you shall eat the labor of your hands; happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine by the sides of your house; your children like olive plants around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless you out of Zion; and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Yes, you shall see your children's children, and peace upon Israel.
• Luke 12:31-32 : 31 But rather seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you. 32 Do not fear, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
• Matt 19:29 : 29 And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.
• Mark 10:19-20 : 19 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. 20 And he answered and said to him, Master, all these I have kept from my youth.
• 1 Cor 3:22 : 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
• 1 Cor 8:8 : 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we better, nor if we do not eat are we worse.
• Col 2:21-23 : 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 Which all concern things which perish with the using, according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
• Titus 3:8 : 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
• Heb 9:9-9 : 9 Which was a symbol for the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience; 10 Concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
• Heb 13:9 : 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
• 2 Pet 1:3-4 : 3 According to his divine power, he has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to glory and virtue: 4 By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• 1 John 2:25 : 25 And this is the promise that he has promised us—eternal life.
• Rev 3:12 : 12 He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
• Rom 8:28 : 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.