God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 5:3
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.
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
1Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. 2Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God. Don’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. 4It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks ⌞to God⌟. 5You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 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 5:5You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
- Ephesians 4:19Since they no longer have any sense of shame, they have become promiscuous. They practice every kind of sexual perversion with a constant desire for more.
- Numbers 25:1While Israel was staying at Shittim, the men began to have sex with Moabite women
- Deuteronomy 23:17No Israelite man or woman should ever become a temple prostitute.
- Matthew 15:19Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, ⌞other⌟ sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within.
- Mark 7:21Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder,
- Acts 15:20Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat.
- Romans 1:29Their lives are filled with all kinds of sexual sins, wickedness, and greed. They are mean. They are filled with envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips,
- Romans 6:13Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of.
- 1 Corinthians 5:10I didn’t tell you that you could not have any contact with unbelievers who commit sexual sins, are greedy, are dishonest, or worship false gods. If that were the case, you would have to leave this world.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals,
- 1 Corinthians 10:8We shouldn’t sin sexually as some of them did. Twenty-three thousand of them died on one day.
- 2 Corinthians 12:21I’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.
- Galatians 5:19Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity,
- Colossians 3:5Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3It is God’s will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him.
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
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
Commentaries