New English Translation
Ephesians 4:29
29You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Context of Ephesians 4:29
27Do not give the devil an opportunity. 28The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.
Read all of Ephesians 4Ephesians 4:29 word by word
Πᾶς λόγος σαπρὸς ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ἐκπορευέσθω ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τις ἀγαθὸς πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χρείας, ἵνα δῷ χάριν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Letἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
- ·πᾶςpas · allG3956
- noμήmē · notG3361
- corruptσαπρόςsapros · rottenG4550
- communicationλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- thatεἰei · ifG1487
- which isτιςtis · oneG5100
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the useχρείαchreia · needG5532
- of edifyingοἰκοδομήoikodomē · buildingG3619
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- it may ministerδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- unto the hearersἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
Cross-references for Ephesians 4:29
- Ephesians 5:3But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.
- Psalms 5:9For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.
- Psalms 73:7Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.
- Matthew 12:34Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.
- Romans 3:13“Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:32If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
- Colossians 3:8But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
- James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.
- 2 Peter 2:18For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
- Jude 1:13wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.
- Revelation 13:5The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months.
- Deuteronomy 6:6These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind,
- Psalms 37:30The godly speak wise words and promote justice.
- Psalms 45:2You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings.
Commentaries on Ephesians 4:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Let no corrupt communication - . Kypke observes that signifies a useless, putrid, unsavory, and obscene word or conversation. Useless, particularly that which has been rendered so by old age and corruption. Putrid, impure; so Aristophanes in Lysistrat., p. 859, calls a bad woman : , · Tune, Spurca! balneum mihi parabis? Calumnious, or reproachful; whatever has a tendency to injure the name, fame, or interest of another. In short, it appears to mean any…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29Let no corrupt communication proceed - see the notes on 1 Corinthians 15:33. The word rendered “corrupt” ( ̀ sapros) means bad, decayed, rotten, and is applied to putrid vegetable or animal substances. Then it is applied to a tree that is of a useless character, that produces no good fruit; Matthew 7:17. Then it is used in a moral sense, as our word “corrupt” is, to denote that which is depraved, evil. contaminating, and may denote here anything that is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-32Verses 29-32 Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29Believers should learn new ways of speaking that encourage others (see also 5:3–4, 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. corrupt--literally, "insipid," without "the salt of grace" (Col 4:6), so worthless and then becoming corrupt: included in "foolish talking" (Ep 5:4). Its opposite is "that which is good to edifying." communication--language. that which, &c.--Greek, "whatever is good." use of edifying--literally, "for edifying of the need," that is, for edifying where it is needed. Seasonably edifying; according as the occasion and present needs of the hearers require…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 4:29
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries