Ephesians 4:17

Ephesians 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
• New International Version (NIV)So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
• New Living Translation (NLT)With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

Context of Ephesians 4:17

15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Ephesians 4:17 word by word

Τοῦτο οὖν λέγω καὶ μαρτύρομαι ἐν κυρίῳ μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καθὼς καὶ τὰ ἔθνη περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• testifyμαρτύρομαιmarturomai · to testifyG3143
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• that yeσύsu · youG4771
• henceforthμηκέτιmēketi · never againG3371
• walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• otherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• otherλοιπόςloipoi · remainingG3062
• Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• the vanityματαιότηςmataiotēs · futilityG3153
• of theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• mindνοῦςnous · mindG3563

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:17

• 1 Corinthians 1:12Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
• 2 Corinthians 9:6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
• Galatians 3:17And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
• Colossians 2:4Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
• Nehemiah 9:29And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, ‘Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear.
• Nehemiah 13:15In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.
• Jeremiah 42:19“The Lord has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
• Acts 2:40And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
• Acts 18:5When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
• Acts 20:21testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 5:3And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:6that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
• 1 Timothy 5:21I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
• 1 Timothy 6:13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Walk not as other Gentiles walk - Ye are called to holiness by the Gospel, the other Gentiles have no such calling; walk not as they walk. In this and the two following verses the apostle gives a most awful account of the conduct of the heathens who were without the knowledge of the true God. I shall note the particulars. 1. They walked in the vanity of their mind, ̔· In the foolishness of their mind; want of genuine wisdom is that to which the apostle…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord - I bear witness in the name of the Lord Jesus, or ministering by his authority. The object of this is, to exhort them to walk worthy of their high calling, and to adorn the doctrine of the Saviour. With this view, he reminds them of what they were before they were converted, and of the manner in which the pagan around them lived. That ye henceforth walk not - That you do not henceforth live - the Christian…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that having professed the gospel, they should not be as the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in vain fancies and carnal affections. Do not men, on every side, walk in the vanity of their minds? Must not we then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians? They were void of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness, and loved it rather than…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17God's people are called to live in a way that is different from unbelievers in the world.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. therefore--resuming the exhortation which he had begun with, "I therefore beseech you that ye walk worthy," &c. (Ep 4:1). testify in the Lord--in whom (as our element) we do all things pertaining to the ministry (1Th 4:1 [Alford]; Ro 9:1). henceforth ... not--Greek, "no longer"; resumed from Ep 4:14. other--Greek, "the rest of the Gentiles." in the vanity, &c.--as their element: opposed to "in the Lord." "Vanity of mind" is the waste of the rational…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:17

• Adultery
• Amusements and Worldly Pleasures
• Conscience
• Depravity of Man
• Example
• Gentiles
• Lasciviousness
• Obedience
• Pride
• Vanity
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Forbear
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• 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