G5100 tis (TEES) — anyone, someone. The same word for a woman or a man; the "he" is added in English.
Word: τις · indefinite pronoun · Strong's G5100
In brief
Tis means "anyone" or "someone." Greek uses the same form, tis, for a man or a woman. When a verse says "if anyone," the Greek has not said who that person is. English translations often follow tis with "he," "him," and "his," or translate it "a man." Those pronouns are added by the translator, and they can make a verse about anyone sound like a verse about men.
Where it appears
- 1 Timothy 3:1 — "If tis aspires to oversight, they desire a good work." The KJV reads "If a man desire the office of a bishop." The Greek says "anyone."
- 1 Timothy 3:5 — "If tis doesn't know how to manage their own household…" Same word, same passage.
- 1 Timothy 5:8 — "If tis doesn't provide for their own…" Few readers think this verse applies only to men.
- 1 Timothy 5:16 — "If tis pistē has widows…" Here tis is paired with a feminine word, "believing woman," which shows tis can refer to a woman.
- James 1:5 — "If tis of you lacks wisdom, let them ask God." The Greek verb "let ask" has no "him."
- John 14:23 — "If tis loves me, they will keep my word." The KJV reads "If a man love me."
What the lexicons say
Lexicons define tis as an indefinite pronoun, "someone, anyone, a certain one". Its form is the same for masculine and feminine; only the neuter, ti, "something," is different. Greek verbs in the third person don't show gender either, so "let him ask" and "let her ask" are the same Greek word.
How translations render it
| Translation | 1 Timothy 3:1 | John 14:23 |
|---|---|---|
| KJV | "If a man desire the office of a bishop" | "If a man love me" |
| ESV | "If anyone aspires to the office of overseer" | "If anyone loves me" |
| NIV (2011) | "Whoever aspires to be an overseer" | "Anyone who loves me" |
| NRSVue | "Whoever aspires to be an overseer" | "Those who love me" |
| CEB | "If anyone has the goal to be a supervisor" | "Whoever loves me" |
Most modern translations now say "anyone" in 1 Timothy 3:1. The pronouns that follow are the harder part. In 1 Timothy 3:2–7, many translations add "he" and "his" again and again where the Greek has none. A reader who sees "he must manage his own household" will picture a man, even though Paul began with "anyone."
See for yourself
- Read 1 Timothy 3:1–7 in an interlinear. Count the English "he," "him," and "his." How many have a Greek word underneath?
- Compare 1 Timothy 3:1 with 1 Timothy 5:8. Both begin "if anyone." Do you read them the same way?
- Read James 1:5 out loud with "she" in place of "he." Does the verse change?
Related words
anthrōpos (G444, person) · anēr (G435, man, husband) · gynē (G1135, woman, wife)