1 Timothy 6:10 Meaning: When Love for Money Pierces
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
for a root of all the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;
For the love of money is [the] root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Meaning in one sentence
Learn the true meaning of 1 Timothy 6:10: it's the love of money, not money itself, that is a root of many kinds of evil.
Context
Paul is nearing the end of his first letter to Timothy, a young pastor in Ephesus. The chapter has been warning about false teachers who twist faith for personal gain. Just before this verse, Paul describes people who are determined to be rich: they fall into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts that drown them in ruin. Then he contrasts that with godliness and contentment, reminding us that we brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out. This verse sits in the middle of that contrast, explaining why the craving for wealth is so dangerous.
Key Words
The Greek word behind 'love of money' is philarguria, a compound of philos (friend) and arguros (silver). It means an affectionate attachment to wealth, not just a passing desire. Paul calls this love 'a root', rhiza, not the root, as if it were the only source of evil, but a root that sends out shoots into every area of life.
The verb for 'coveted after' is oregomenoi, which pictures someone stretching out a hand to grasp something. It is the same word Paul uses earlier for aspiring to church leadership, here, the same longing is twisted toward money. And then comes the violent image: 'pierced themselves through' (periepeiran), like an animal falling onto sharp stakes hidden in a trap. The word for sorrows, odunais, means consuming grief, the kind that gnaws from the inside. Paul is not scolding; he is describing what he has watched happen.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have agreed on the central point: Paul is speaking against the love of money, not money itself. But they have differed on how broadly to apply 'all kinds of evil.' Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, argued Paul meant only the evils listed in the surrounding verses, temptation, snares, harmful lusts, not every sin in the world. Other Reformed interpreters, like Matthew Henry, have seen the love of money as a root of many evils in general, noting how it chokes faith and hardens hearts. The Cambridge Bible notes that 'a root' (not 'the root') leaves room for other sources of evil. What unites these readings is the pastoral warning: craving wealth can quietly pull a person away from trust in God and into lasting pain.
A common misunderstanding
Many people misquote this verse as 'money is the root of all evil.' But that is not what Paul wrote. In fact, the verse says 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.' The difference matters. Money itself is not evil; it is a tool. The danger is when our affection for it becomes the driving force in our lives, crowding out faith and leading us into choices we later regret.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the small pulls: the extra hour scrolling listings for things you do not need, the envy that rises when someone else gets a raise, the anxiety that creeps in when your savings dip. Paul is not saying you must feel guilty for wanting to provide for your family. He is asking you to notice when wanting begins to rule you. If you see that in yourself, you are not alone. Many have wandered from the faith that way and ended up pierced with sorrows. The answer is not to pretend you have no needs. It is to bring those needs to God and ask Him to loosen the grip of wanting, so you can breathe again.
Main takeaway: The love of money, not money itself, is a root of many evils, leading those who crave it away from faith and into deep sorrow.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Loving money too much can make us do wrong things and feel sad. God wants us to be happy with what we have and share with others.
For ages 9, 12
Paul warns that loving money too much can pull us away from trusting God. It is like a trap that hurts us with lots of sadness. The answer is not to stop having money, but to keep God first and be content with what He gives. When you feel jealous of what others have, tell God about it and ask Him to help you be thankful for your own blessings.
Questions People Ask
Does the Bible say money is the root of all evil?
No. The verse says 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.' It is the love of money, not money itself, that causes harm. This is a common misquotation, so it helps to read the verse carefully.
What does 'pierced themselves through with many sorrows' mean?
Paul pictures someone falling onto sharp stakes hidden in a trap, an image of self-inflicted pain. The 'sorrows' are the guilt, broken relationships, and regret that come from chasing wealth at any cost. It is a vivid warning that greed does not just lead others astray; it wounds the greedy person too.
Why does Paul say 'a root of all kinds of evil' instead of 'the root'?
The Greek construction points to 'a root' rather than 'the only root.' Paul is not saying every evil in the world comes from loving money. He is showing that this particular craving produces many kinds of harm, like the temptations and lusts he lists in the previous verse. Other sins have other roots, but this one is especially destructive.
What is the difference between 'love of money' and simply needing money to live?
Paul is not condemning working for a living or providing for your family. Earlier he says to be content with food and clothing. The 'love of money' is an inordinate affection, when money becomes the main goal, when you trust in it rather than God, when you are never satisfied no matter how much you have. That is where the danger lies.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study