Ephesians 5:8

Ephesians 5:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
• English Standard Version (ESV)for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
• New Living Translation (NLT)For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

Context of Ephesians 5:8

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8 word by word

ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ· ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ye wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• sometimesποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
• butδέde · thenG1161
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:8

• Ephesians 2:11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—
• Ephesians 4:18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
• Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
• Psalms 74:20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
• Isaiah 9:2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
• Isaiah 42:16I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
• Isaiah 60:2See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
• Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom.
• Matthew 4:16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
• Luke 1:79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
• Acts 17:30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
• Acts 26:18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
• Romans 1:21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
• Romans 2:19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
• Colossians 1:13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Commentaries on Ephesians 5:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8For ye were sometimes (, formerly) darkness - While ye lived in darkness, ye lived in these crimes. But now are ye light in the Lord - When ye were in heathenish darkness ye served divers lusts and pleasures, but now ye have the light - the wisdom and teaching which come from God; therefore walk as children of the light - let the world see that ye are not slaves to the flesh, but free, willing, rational servants of the Most High; not brutish followers of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Ephesians 2:11-12 notes; 1 Corinthians 6:11 note. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the same abominations. But now are ye light in the Lord - Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that they ought, therefore, to forsake them. Walk as…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-14Verses 3-14 Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable. that they pollute and poison the hearers. Our cheerfulness should show itself as becomes Christians, in what may tend to God's glory. A covetous man makes a god of his money; places that hope, confidence, and delight, in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Darkness means not knowing God and being controlled by sin (see 4:18). Light in the Lord is the good news of Christ (see John 8:12). As people of light, believers live in fellowship with God, who has no darkness (see 1 John 1:5–7; 5:9; compare Matthew 5:14–16; John 8:12; 12:35–36, 46; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4–8; 1 Peter 2:9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. sometimes--"once." The emphasis is on "were." Ye ought to have no fellowship with sin, which is darkness, for your state as darkness is now PAST. Stronger than "in darkness" (Ro 2:19). light--not merely "enlightened"; but light enlightening others (Ep 5:13). in--in union with the Lord, who is THE LIGHT. children of light--not merely "of the light"; just as "children of disobedience" is used on the opposite side; those whose distinguishing…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 5:8

• Blindness
• Darkness
• Depravity of Man
• Holiness
• Light
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Arise
• Awake
• Dear
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fellowship
• Flesh
• Fruit
• Light
• Melody

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