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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

Context of Ephesians 4:28

26“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 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. 29Do 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. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Let himκλέπτωkleptō · to stealG2813
• thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• no moreμηκέτιmēketi · never againG3371
• butδέde · thenG1161
• ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• let himκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
• workingἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• withχείρcheir · handG5495
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he may haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• to giveμεταδίδωμιmetadidōmi · to shareG3330
• needethχρείαchreia · needG5532

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:28

• Exodus 20:15“You shall not steal.
• Exodus 21:16“Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.
• Proverbs 30:9Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
• Jeremiah 7:9“ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,
• Hosea 4:2There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
• Zechariah 5:3And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.
• John 12:6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
• 1 Corinthians 6:10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
• Job 34:32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
• Proverbs 28:13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
• Luke 3:8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
• Luke 19:8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
• Proverbs 13:11Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
• Proverbs 14:23All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told 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