God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 5:16
16Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days.
Ephesians 5:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- New International Version (NIV)making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
- English Standard Version (ESV)making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
- New King James Version (NKJV)redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Context of Ephesians 5:16
14because light makes everything easy to see. That’s why it says: “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. 17So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants. 18Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 5:16 word by word
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ephesians 5:16
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with ⌞all⌟ your might, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or skill in the grave where you’re going.
- Romans 13:11You know the times ⌞in which we are living⌟. It’s time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers.
- Galatians 6:10Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.
- Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.
- Ephesians 6:13For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.
- Psalms 37:19They will not be put to shame in trying times. Even in times of famine they will be satisfied.
- Ecclesiastes 11:2Divide what you have into seven parts, or even into eight, because you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator when you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years catch up with you. They will make you say, “I have found no pleasure in them.”
- Amos 5:13That is why a wise person remains silent at such times, because those times are so evil.
- John 12:35Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going.
- Acts 11:28One of them was named Agabus. Through the Spirit Agabus predicted that a severe famine would affect the entire world. This happened while Claudius was emperor.
- 1 Corinthians 7:26Because of the present crisis I believe it is good for people to remain as they are.
Commentaries on Ephesians 5:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Redeeming the time - · Buying up those moments which others seem to throw away; steadily improving every present moment, that ye may, in some measure, regain the time ye have lost. Let time be your chief commodity; deal in that alone; buy it all up, and use every portion of it yourselves. Time is that on which eternity depends; in time ye are to get a preparation for the kingdom of God; if you get not this in time, your ruin is inevitable; therefore, buy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Redeeming the time - The word rendered here as “redeeming,” means “to purchase; to buy up” from the possession or power of anyone; and then to redeem, to set free - as from service or bondage; notes, Galatians 3:13. Here it means, to rescue or recover our time from waste; to improve it for great and important purposes. Because the days are evil - Because the times in which you live are evil. There are many allurements and temptations that would lead you…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16redeeming the time: See also Colossians 4:5. the days are evil: see Matthew 24:6–12, 15–22; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Redeeming the time--(Col 4:5). Greek, "Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time" (whenever it occurs) of good to yourselves and to others. Buying off from the vanities of "them that are without" (Col 4:5), and of the "unwise" (here in Ephesians), the opportune time afforded to you for the work of God. In a narrower sense, special favorable seasons for good, occasionally presenting themselves, are referred to, of which believers ought diligently to…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 5:16
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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