Ephesians 5:17

Ephesians 5:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Context of Ephesians 5:17

15So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. 16Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. So 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 19by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.

Ephesians 5:17 word by word

διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνίετε τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Whereforeοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• be yeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• notμήmē · notG3361
• unwiseἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• understandingσυνίημιsuniēmi · to understandG4920
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• the willὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:17

• Ephesians 5:15So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people.
• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.
• Deuteronomy 4:6Faithfully obey these laws. This will show the people of the world your wisdom and insight. When they hear about all these laws, they will say, “What wise and insightful people there are in this great nation!”
• 1 Kings 3:9Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
• Job 28:28So he told humans, ‘The fear of the Lord is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.’ ”
• Psalms 111:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Good sense is shown by everyone who follows ⌞God’s guiding principles⌟. His praise continues forever.
• Psalms 119:27Help me understand your guiding principles so that I may reflect on your miracles.
• Proverbs 2:5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and you will find the knowledge of God.
• Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life, but the stupidity of fools misleads them.
• Proverbs 23:23Buy truth (and do not sell it), ⌞that is,⌟ buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
• Jeremiah 4:22“My people are fools. They don’t know me. They are stupid people. They don’t understand. They are experts in doing wrong, and they don’t know how to do good.”
• John 7:17Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts.
• Romans 12:2Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
• Colossians 1:9For this reason we have not stopped praying for you since the day we heard about you. We ask ⌞God⌟ to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1Now then, brothers and sisters, because of the Lord Jesus we ask and encourage you to excel in living a God-pleasing life even more than you already do. Do this the way we taught you.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.

Commentaries on Ephesians 5:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise - · Do not become madmen. Here is a most evident allusion to the orgies of Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like madmen; running about, tossing their heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing to be in every sense completely frantic. See the whole of the passage in Livy, to which I have referred on Ephesians 5:12. But understanding what the will of the Lord is - It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Be ye not unwise - Be not fools in the employment of your time, and in your manner of life. Show true wisdom by endeavoring to understand what the will of the Lord is, and then doing it.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. 1-20Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Wherefore--seeing that ye need to walk so circumspectly, choosing and using the right opportunity of good. unwise--a different Greek word from that in Ep 5:15. Translate, "foolish," or "senseless." understanding--not merely knowing as a matter of fact (Lu 12:47), but knowing with understanding. the will of the Lord--as to how each opportunity is to be used. The Lord's will, ultimately, is our "sanctification" (1Th 4:3); and that "in every thing,"…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 5:17

• Commandments
• Wisdom

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