But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Will be rich, х boulomenoi (G1014)] - 'wish to be rich;' to have more than "food and raiment;" not merely willing, but resolved, and earnestly desiring riches at any cost (Proverbs 28:20; Proverbs 28:22). This wishing (not the riches themselves) is fatal to "contentment" (1 Timothy 6:6). Rich men are not told to cast away, but not to "trust" in their riches, and to "do good" with them (1 Timothy 6:17-18; Psalms 62:10).
Fall into temptation - not merely are exposed to, but actually "fall into" it. This is what we are to pray against, "Lead us not into temptation" (James 1:14); such a one is already in a sinful state, even before any overt act. [Gain and temptation contain a play on sounds - porismos (G4200), peirasmos (G3986).]
Snare - a further step downward; 1 Timothy 3:7, "the snare of the devil."
Hurtful (cf. Ephesians 4:22 ) lusts. With the one evil lust ('wish to be rich') many others join themselves: the one is "the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Which, х haitines (G3748)] (hurtful) - 'inasmuch as they.'
Drown - an awful descending climax from "fall into." х Empiptousin (G1706): plunging into greed of gain, they are at last inextricably drowned by it: the last step in the descent (James 1:15). Translated "sink" (Luke 5:7).]
Destruction and perdition, [olethron(GNS-3639 kai (G2532) apooleian (G684)] - destruction in general (temporal or eternal): perdition of body and soul in hell.