Verse 13 starts with a connective that marks the information that follows as an addition to the information given in the preceding verses. This connective is represented in Revised Standard Version by Besides that and in Good News Translation by “also.” It is clear therefore that further reasons are given in this verse for not including the younger widows in the roll of real widows. In addition to their desire for sexual satisfaction, these younger widows also learn to be idlers; the term here can be taken either in a neutral sense as referring to being inactive and not doing any work, but more likely in a judgmental sense, indicating deliberate wasting of time (compare Good News Translation) and habitual refusal to engage in any meaningful activity. Learn is in the present tense (literally “are learning”), which seems to indicate that idling around is not yet a set habit but is in the process of development.

Part of their idling around is gadding about from house to house. Gadding about translates a present Greek participle that can be literally rendered “going around” (Good News Translation). This is in contrast to the activities of the real widow that are centered in her own home. These younger widows not only waste their time but those of other people as well. Gadding about will be rendered in some languages as “going into this house and that house,” and in others there will be specific idioms for this very common type of activity. Contemporary English Version‘s model for this first sentence is a good one: “Besides, they will become lazy and get into the habit of going from house to house.”

Furthermore, these young widows engage in activities that are “worse” (Good News Translation). Several things need to be noticed. First, the Revised Standard Version rendering not only idlers is what the text literally says, but the context clearly suggests that the activities subsequently mentioned are worse than simply refusing to engage in meaningful work. Secondly, this last part of this verse is governed by the verb learn (compare Good News Translation), which again indicates that these bad states have not yet become habitual among the younger widows but are in the process of becoming part of their nature.

Gossips translates a noun derived from a verb that means “to talk nonsense,” that is, to speak without making sense and without any understanding of what is being said. Gossiping may be included in this activity, since it also involves talking nonsense about other people’s affairs; these young widows may have engaged in this activity as they went around from house to house. The term, however, can be understood in a more generic way to include any speech activity that is not only nonsensical but irresponsible as well. In many languages there will be vivid expressions for this kind of activity; for example, “good at whispering behind other peoples’ backs.” Busybodies, on the other hand, translates a word that means “to meddle in someone else’s business.” The last part of the verse, saying what they should not, seems to refer primarily to talking nonsense and not to meddling in other people’s affairs, unless this latter activity is interpreted as also primarily verbal, in which case saying what they should not would be related to both activities. This latter interpretation seems the more likely one.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .