1 Timothy 6:10
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
Paul is warning against those who turned godliness into a moneymaking scheme, exposing the spiritual ruin that comes from craving wealth.
What Does 1 Timothy 6:10 Mean?
Paul identifies not money but the love of money as a root from which all kinds of evil can grow, warning that craving it leads people away from faith and into grief.
This is one of the most misquoted verses in Scripture. Paul does not say money is evil; he names the love of money -- greed, the inner craving -- as the dangerous root. Money itself is neutral and can do much good; it is the heart's attachment to it that corrupts. He uses a vivid image: greed is a root, and from it "all evil" can sprout, because the desire for gain can drive almost any sin. Then he traces the damage. Some, reaching after riches, have "erred from the faith" -- their pursuit of wealth pulled them off the path of trusting God. And they have "pierced themselves through with many sorrows," a striking picture of self-inflicted wounds, as though greed turns into a sword the person drives into his own life. The tragedy is that these sorrows are self-chosen. The verse is not anti-wealth but anti-idolatry, urging readers to examine what truly holds their hearts, since the love of money promises security yet delivers sorrow.
In the Original Language
"The love of money" is philargyria, literally the love of silver, and "root" is rhiza, the source from which something grows.
Cross References
Application
Examine not how much money you have but how tightly it holds your heart, since the craving for it leads to grief.