Ephesians 5:16

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

14For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” 15So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:16 word by word

ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν.Read the interlinear

• makingἐξαγοράζωexagorazō · to redeemG1805
• your timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• the daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• are evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:16

• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
• Romans 13:11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.
• Galatians 6:10So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
• Colossians 4:5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
• Ephesians 6:13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
• Psalms 37:19They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty.
• Ecclesiastes 11:2Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
• Amos 5:13Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.
• John 12:35So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
• Acts 11:28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
• 1 Corinthians 7:26I think, then, that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.

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

• Wisdom
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Arise
• Awake
• Dear
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fellowship
• Flesh
• Fruit
• Light
• Melody
• Redeem

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