New International Version
Ephesians 4:29
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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Context of Ephesians 4:29
27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone 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. 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. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
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 even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
- Psalms 5:9Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.
- Psalms 52:2You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
- Psalms 73:7From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
- Matthew 12:34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
- Romans 3:13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
- Colossians 3:8But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- Colossians 4:6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
- 2 Peter 2:18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
- Jude 1:13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
- Revelation 13:5The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.
- Deuteronomy 6:6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
- Psalms 37:30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
- Psalms 45:2You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.
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
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