2 Timothy 4:4

shall turn awaytheir ears Better will. The word for -ears" here and above is literally -the hearing"; it is used in classical Greek for -ear" when there is reference to the act of hearing, not merely as a member of the body. See Alford on Hebrews 5:11, who quotes Philo i. 474, -they have ears but no hearingsin them." Hence the exact propriety of our word in the plural, Mark 7:35, and the significance of Bengel's comment, -non unus in aure meatus."

shall be turned unto The verb Isaiah 2 nd fut. passive, but middle in sense, -will turn themselves aside." So with R.V. will turn aside. The aor. pass. from which this future is formed has occurred 1Ti 1:6; 1 Timothy 5:15, the pres. part. 1 Timothy 6:20, the last with an accusative of the object turned from. Cf. Winer, Gr., § 38. 2, b; § 38. 4.

unto fables The article has the same force as above, 2 Timothy 2:22-23, -these fables" which are now being invented and circulated. Cf. Titus 1:14.