God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 4:29
29Don’t say anything that would hurt ⌞another person⌟. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
Ephesians 4:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Context of Ephesians 4:29
27Don’t give the devil any opportunity ⌞to work⌟. 28Thieves must quit stealing and, instead, they must work hard. They should do something good with their hands so that they’ll have something to share with those in need. Don’t say anything that would hurt ⌞another person⌟. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. 30Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free ⌞from the world of sin⌟. 31Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
Read all of Ephesians 4Ephesians 4:29 word by word
Πᾶς λόγος σαπρὸς ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ἐκπορευέσθω ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τις ἀγαθὸς πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χρείας, ἵνα δῷ χάριν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Letἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
- ·πᾶςpas · allG3956
- noμήmē · notG3361
- corruptσαπρόςsapros · rottenG4550
- communicationλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- thatεἰei · ifG1487
- which isτιςtis · oneG5100
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the useχρείαchreia · needG5532
- of edifyingοἰκοδομήoikodomē · buildingG3619
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- it may ministerδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- unto the hearersἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
Cross-references for Ephesians 4:29
- Ephesians 5:3Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people.
- Psalms 5:9Nothing in their mouths is truthful. Destruction comes from their hearts. Their throats are open graves. They flatter with their tongues.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue makes up threats. It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.
- Psalms 73:7Their eyes peer out from their fat faces, and their imaginations run wild.
- Matthew 12:34You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you.
- Romans 3:13Their throats are open graves. Their tongues practice deception. Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes.
- 1 Corinthians 15:32If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus, what have I gained according to the way people look at things? If the dead are not brought back to life, “Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die!”
- Colossians 3:8Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins.
- Colossians 4:6Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
- James 3:2All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does.
- 2 Peter 2:18They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error.
- Jude 1:13Their shame is like the foam on the wild waves of the sea. They are wandering stars for whom gloomy darkness is kept forever.
- Revelation 13:5The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and insulting things. It was given authority to act for 42 months.
- Deuteronomy 6:6Take to heart these words that I give you today.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair.
- Psalms 45:2You are the most handsome of Adam’s descendants. Grace is poured on your lips. That is why God has blessed you forever.
Commentaries on Ephesians 4:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Let no corrupt communication - . Kypke observes that signifies a useless, putrid, unsavory, and obscene word or conversation. Useless, particularly that which has been rendered so by old age and corruption. Putrid, impure; so Aristophanes in Lysistrat., p. 859, calls a bad woman : , · Tune, Spurca! balneum mihi parabis? Calumnious, or reproachful; whatever has a tendency to injure the name, fame, or interest of another. In short, it appears to mean any…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29Let no corrupt communication proceed - see the notes on 1 Corinthians 15:33. The word rendered “corrupt” ( ̀ sapros) means bad, decayed, rotten, and is applied to putrid vegetable or animal substances. Then it is applied to a tree that is of a useless character, that produces no good fruit; Matthew 7:17. Then it is used in a moral sense, as our word “corrupt” is, to denote that which is depraved, evil. contaminating, and may denote here anything that is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-32Verses 29-32 Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29Believers should learn new ways of speaking that encourage others (see also 5:3–4, 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. corrupt--literally, "insipid," without "the salt of grace" (Col 4:6), so worthless and then becoming corrupt: included in "foolish talking" (Ep 5:4). Its opposite is "that which is good to edifying." communication--language. that which, &c.--Greek, "whatever is good." use of edifying--literally, "for edifying of the need," that is, for edifying where it is needed. Seasonably edifying; according as the occasion and present needs of the hearers require…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 4:29
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 4
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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