Ephesians 5:3

Ephesians 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
• New International Version (NIV)But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

Context of Ephesians 5:3

1Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. 4Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. 5For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God].

Ephesians 5:3 word by word

Πορνεία δὲ καὶ ἀκαθαρσία πᾶσα ἢ πλεονεξία μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν καθὼς πρέπει ἁγίοιςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• fornicationπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• uncleannessἀκαθαρσίαakatharsia · impurityG167
• orἤē · orG2228
• covetousnessπλεονεξίαpleonexia · greedinessG4124
• let itὀνομάζωonomazō · to nameG3687
• not be onceμηδέmēde · norG3366
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• becomethπρέπωprepō · be properG4241
• saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:3

• Ephesians 5:5For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God].
• Ephesians 4:19And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].
• Numbers 25:1Israel settled and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the prostitute with the women of Moab [by being unfaithful to God].
• Deuteronomy 23:17“There shall be no cult prostitute among the daughters of Israel, nor shall there be a cult prostitute (a sodomite) among the sons of Israel.
• Matthew 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming).
• Mark 7:21For from within, [that is] out the heart of men, come base and malevolent thoughts and schemes, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries,
• Acts 15:20but that we write to them that they are to abstain from anything that has been contaminated by [being offered to] idols and from sexual impurity and from [eating the meat of] what has been strangled and from [the consumption of] blood.
• Romans 1:29until they were filled (permeated, saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice and mean-spiritedness. They are gossips [spreading rumors],
• Romans 6:13Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.
• 1 Corinthians 5:10not meaning the immoral people of this world, or the greedy ones and swindlers, or idolaters, for then you would have to get out of the world and human society altogether!
• 1 Corinthians 6:9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor (perversely) effeminate, nor homosexuals,
• 1 Corinthians 10:8We must not indulge in [nor tolerate] sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell [dead] in a single day!
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and decadence which they formerly practiced.
• Galatians 5:19Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),
• Colossians 3:5So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God].
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality;

Commentaries on Ephesians 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3But fornication - It is probable that the three terms used here by the apostle refer to different species of the same thing. The word fornication, , may imply not only fornication but adultery also, as it frequently does; uncleanness, may refer to all abominable and unnatural lusts - sodomy, bestiality, etc., and covetousness, , to excessive indulgence in that which, moderately used, is lawful. As the covetous man never has enough of wealth, so the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3But fornication - A “common” vice among the pagan then as it is now, and one into which they were in special danger of falling; see Romans 1:29 note; 1 Corinthians 6:18 note. And all uncleanness - Impurity of life; see the notes on Romans 1:24; compare Romans 6:19; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; Colossians 3:5. Or covetousness - The “connection” in which this word is found is remarkable. It is associated with the lowest and most debasing vices, and this…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-14Verses 3-14 Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable. that they pollute and poison the hearers. Our cheerfulness should show itself as becomes Christians, in what may tend to God's glory. A covetous man makes a god of his money; places that hope, confidence, and delight, in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5God's people, also called the saints or holy ones, should live a holy life. They must avoid the immoral behavior common among unbelievers (compare 4:19; Colossians 3:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. once named--Greek, "Let it not be even named" (Ep 5:4, 12). "Uncleanness" and "covetousness" are taken up again from Ep 4:19. The two are so closely allied that the Greek for "covetousness" (pleonexia) is used sometimes in Scripture, and often in the Greek Fathers, for sins of impurity. The common principle is the longing to fill one's desire with material objects of sense, outside of God. The expression, "not be even named," applies better to…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 5:3

• Adultery
• Chastity
• Commandments
• Covetousness
• Holiness

In the dictionaries

• Arise
• Awake
• Dear
• Fellowship
• Flesh
• Fruit
• Light
• Melody
• Redeem
• Reverence

Commentaries on Ephesians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings