Ephesians 4:28

Ephesians 4:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
• New International Version (NIV)Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Context of Ephesians 4:28

26Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not give the devil an opportunity. The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:28 word by word

ὁ κλέπτων μηκέτι κλεπτέτω, μᾶλλον δὲ κοπιάτω ἐργαζόμενος ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσὶν τὸ ἀγαθόν, ἵνα ἔχῃ μεταδιδόναι τῷ χρείαν ἔχοντι.¶Read the interlinear

• The one who stealsκλέπτωkleptō · to stealG2813
• must noμηκέτιmēketi · never againG3371
• but ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• he must laborκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
• with his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• whatἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he will haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• to shareμεταδίδωμιmetadidōmi · to shareG3330
• needχρείαchreia · needG5532

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:28

• Exodus 20:15“You shall not steal.
• Exodus 21:16“Now one who kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall certainly be put to death.
• Proverbs 30:9So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And that I will not become impoverished and steal, And profane the name of my God.
• Jeremiah 7:9Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer sacrifices to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
• Hosea 4:2There is oath-taking, denial, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
• Zechariah 5:3Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the entire land; everyone who steals certainly will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be purged away according to the writing on the other side.
• John 12:6Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it.
• 1 Corinthians 6:10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
• Job 34:32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done wrong, I will not do it again’?
• Proverbs 28:13One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
• Luke 3:8Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance, and do not start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children for Abraham.
• Luke 19:8But Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.”
• Proverbs 13:11Wealth obtained from nothing dwindles, But one who gathers by labor increases it.
• Proverbs 14:23In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands served my own needs and the men who were with me.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you,

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Let him that stole steal no more - It is supposed that, among the rabbins, stealing was not entirely discountenanced, provided a portion was given to the poor. The apostle here teaches them a different doctrine: as they should speak truth every man with his neighbor, so they should in every respect act honestly, for nothing contrary to truth and righteousness could be tolerated under the Christian system. Let no man, under pretense of helping the poor…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Let him that stole steal no more - Theft, like lying, was, and is, almost a universal vice among the pagan. The practice of pilfering prevails in, probably, every pagan community, and no property is safe which is not guarded, or so locked up as to be inaccessible. Hence, as the Christian converts at Ephesus had been long addicted to it, there was danger that they would fall into it again; and hence the necessity of special cautions on that head. We are…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-28Verses 25-28 Notice the particulars wherewith we should adorn our Christian profession. Take heed of every thing contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God's people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. If there is just occasion to express displeasure at what is wrong, and to reprove, see that it be without sin. We give place to the devil, when the first…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28Christians should work hard, be honest, and care for others (see 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. Greek, "Let him that stealeth." The imperfect or past tense is, however, mainly meant, though not to the exclusion of the present. "Let the stealing person steal no more." Bandits frequented the mountains near Ephesus. Such are meant by those called "thieves" in the New Testament. but rather--For it is not enough to cease from a sin, but the sinner must also enter on the path that is its very opposite [Chrysostom]. The thief, when repentant, should…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:28

• Commandments
• Frugality
• Industry
• Labor
• Liberality
• Poor
• Righteous
• Theft and Thieves

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Forbear
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• Poor
• Renew
• Steal

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