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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of Ephesians 4:28

26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29Don’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. 30And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on 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 must not steal.
• Exodus 21:16“Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.
• Proverbs 30:9For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
• Jeremiah 7:9Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours,
• Hosea 4:2You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another.
• Zechariah 5:3Then he said to me, “This scroll contains the curse that is going out over the entire land. One side of the scroll says that those who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says that those who swear falsely will be banished from the land.
• John 12:6Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
• 1 Corinthians 6:10or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
• Job 34:32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?
• Proverbs 28:13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
• Luke 3:8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
• Luke 19:8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
• Proverbs 13:11Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
• Proverbs 14:23Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!
• Acts 20:34You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

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