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, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — 9for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth — 10testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

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 2:11So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands.
• Ephesians 4:18They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.
• Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
• Psalms 74:20Consider the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of violence.
• Isaiah 9:2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
• Isaiah 42:16I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them.
• Isaiah 60:2For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk. You wait for light, but he brings darkest gloom and makes total darkness.
• Matthew 4:16The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
• Luke 1:79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
• Acts 17:30“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,
• Acts 26:18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
• Romans 1:21For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
• Romans 2:19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
• Colossians 1:13He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

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