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.
The love of money - not the money, but the love of it-wishing to be rich (1 Timothy 6:9) - 'is a root (not "the root") of all evils.' "The root" is defensible, as the article of the Greek predicate may be omitted. The wealthiest may be rich, not in a bad sense; the poorest may covet to be so. Love of money is not the sole root of evils, but a leading "root of bitterness" (Hebrews 12:15); for it 'destroys faith, the root of all good' (Bengel); its offshoots are 'temptation, a snare, lusts, destruction, perdition.'
Coveted after, х oregomenoi (G3713)] - 'stretching to reach.'
Erred from, х apeplaneetheesan (G635)] - 'have been made to err from the faith' (1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 4:1).
Pierced (Luke 2:35 ) ... with many sorrows - `pains:' the "thorns" (Matthew 13:22) which choke the word (Proverbs 1:32). Bengel, the gnawings of conscience; remorse for wealth badly acquired; harbingers of the future "perdition" (1 Timothy 6:9).