Ephesians 5:8

Ephesians 5:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
• New International Version (NIV)For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
• English Standard Version (ESV)for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Context of Ephesians 5:8

6Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. 7So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] 9(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].

Ephesians 5:8 word by word

ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ· ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ye wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• sometimesποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
• butδέde · thenG1161
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:8

• Ephesians 2:11Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands—
• Ephesians 4:18for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.
• Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.
• Psalms 74:20Consider the covenant [You made with Abraham], For the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
• Isaiah 9:2The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.
• Isaiah 42:16I will lead the blind by a way they do not know; I will guide them in paths that they do not know. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These things I will do [for them], And I will not leave them abandoned or undone.”
• Isaiah 60:2For in fact, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God, Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the dark and shadowy mountains, And while you are longing for light He turns it into the shadow of death, And makes it into thick darkness.
• Matthew 4:16The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death, Upon them a Light has dawned.”
• Luke 1:79To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”
• Acts 17:30Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives],
• Acts 26:18to open their [spiritual] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.’
• Romans 1:21For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened.
• Romans 2:19and [if you] are confident that you are a [qualified] guide to the blind [those untaught in theology], a light to those who are in darkness,
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
• Colossians 1:13For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

Commentaries on Ephesians 5:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8For ye were sometimes (, formerly) darkness - While ye lived in darkness, ye lived in these crimes. But now are ye light in the Lord - When ye were in heathenish darkness ye served divers lusts and pleasures, but now ye have the light - the wisdom and teaching which come from God; therefore walk as children of the light - let the world see that ye are not slaves to the flesh, but free, willing, rational servants of the Most High; not brutish followers of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Ephesians 2:11-12 notes; 1 Corinthians 6:11 note. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the same abominations. But now are ye light in the Lord - Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that they ought, therefore, to forsake them. Walk as…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. 8Darkness means not knowing God and being controlled by sin (see 4:18). Light in the Lord is the good news of Christ (see John 8:12). As people of light, believers live in fellowship with God, who has no darkness (see 1 John 1:5–7; 5:9; compare Matthew 5:14–16; John 8:12; 12:35–36, 46; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4–8; 1 Peter 2:9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. sometimes--"once." The emphasis is on "were." Ye ought to have no fellowship with sin, which is darkness, for your state as darkness is now PAST. Stronger than "in darkness" (Ro 2:19). light--not merely "enlightened"; but light enlightening others (Ep 5:13). in--in union with the Lord, who is THE LIGHT. children of light--not merely "of the light"; just as "children of disobedience" is used on the opposite side; those whose distinguishing…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 5:8

• Blindness
• Darkness
• Depravity of Man
• Holiness
• Light
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Arise
• Awake
• Dear
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fellowship
• Flesh
• Fruit
• Light
• Melody

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