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, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. 4Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of 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 know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
• Ephesians 4:19They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
• Numbers 25:1While Israel was staying in the Acacia Grove, the people began to prostitute themselves with the women of Moab.
• Deuteronomy 23:17“No Israelite woman is to be a cult prostitute, and no Israelite man is to be a cult prostitute.
• Matthew 15:19For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
• Mark 7:21For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,
• Acts 15:20but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.
• Romans 1:29They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
• Romans 6:13And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 5:10I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,
• 1 Corinthians 10:8Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died.
• 2 Corinthians 12:21I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.
• Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,
• Colossians 3:5Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep 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