God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 5:4
4It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks ⌞to God⌟.
Ephesians 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
- New International Version (NIV)Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
- New King James Version (NKJV)neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Context of Ephesians 5:4
2Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God. 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. It’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. 6Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey him.
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 5:4 word by word
καὶ αἰσχρότης καὶ μωρολογία ἢ εὐτραπελία ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐχαριστία.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Neitherκαίkai · andG2532
- filthinessαἰσχρότηςaischrotēs · obscenityG151
- foolish talkingμωρολογίαmōrologia · foolish talkG3473
- norἤē · orG2228
- jestingεὐτραπελίαeutrapelia · vulgar jestingG2160
- whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- areἀνήκωanēkō · be fittingG433
- notοὐou · noG3756
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- giving of thanksεὐχαριστίαeucharistia · thankfulnessG2169
Cross-references for Ephesians 5:4
- Ephesians 4:29Don’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.
- Proverbs 12:23A sensible person ⌞discreetly⌟ hides knowledge, but foolish minds preach stupidity.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
- Ecclesiastes 10:13A fool starts out by talking foolishness and ends up saying crazy things that are dangerous.
- Matthew 12:34You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you.
- Mark 7:22adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person.
- Colossians 3:8Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins.
- James 3:4The same thing is true for ships. They are very big and are driven by strong winds. Yet, by using small rudders, pilots steer ships wherever they want them to go.
- 2 Peter 2:7Yet, God rescued Lot, a man who had his approval. Lot was distressed by the lifestyle of people who had no principles and lived in sexual freedom.
- Jude 1:10Whatever these people don’t understand, they insult. Like animals, which are creatures of instinct, they use whatever they know to destroy themselves.
- Romans 1:28And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things.
- Philemon 1:8Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing.
- Ephesians 5:19by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.
- Ephesians 1:16I never stop thanking God for you. I always remember you in my prayers.
- Psalms 33:1Joyfully sing to the Lord, you righteous people. Praising ⌞the Lord⌟ is proper for decent people.
- Psalms 92:1It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to praise your name, O Most High.
Commentaries on Ephesians 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Neither filthiness - · Any thing base or vile in words or acts. Foolish talking - · Scurrility, buffoonery, ridicule, or what tends to expose another to contempt. Nor jesting - · Artfully turned discourses or words, from , well or easily, and , I turn; words that can be easily turned to other meanings; double entendres; chaste words which, from their connection, and the manner in which they are used, convey an obscene or offensive meaning. It also means…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Neither filthiness - That is, obscene, or indecent conversation. Literally, that which is shameful, or deformed - ̓́ aischrotēsThe word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. Nor foolish talking - This word - ́ mōrologia- does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means that kind of talk which is insipid, senseless, stupid, foolish; which is not suited to instruct, edify, profit - the idle “chitchat” which is so common in the world. The…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. 4God’s people should speak in ways that show they are thankful to God (see 4:29; 5:3, 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. filthiness--obscenity in act or gesture. foolish talking--the talk of fools, which is folly and sin together. The Greek of it, and of "filthiness," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. nor--rather, "or" (compare Ep 5:3). jesting--Greek, "eutrapelia"; found nowhere else in the New Testament: implying strictly that versatility which turns about and adapts itself, without regard to principle, to the shifting circumstances of the moment, and to the…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 5:4
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
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