New Living Translation
Ephesians 5:14
14for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Ephesians 5:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
- New International Version (NIV)This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
Context of Ephesians 5:14
12It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 5:14 word by word
πᾶν γὰρ τὸ φανερούμενον φῶς ἐστιν· διὸ λέγει· ἔγειρε ὁ καθεύδων καὶ ἀνάστα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, καὶ ἐπιφαύσει σοι ὁ Χριστός.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
- he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Awake thouἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
- sleepestκαθεύδωkatheudō · to sleepG2518
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- ariseἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- shall giveἐπιφαύσκωepiphauō · to shine onG2017
- theeσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for Ephesians 5:14
- Isaiah 51:17Wake up, wake up, O Jerusalem! You have drunk the cup of the Lord’s fury. You have drunk the cup of terror, tipping out its last drops.
- Isaiah 52:1Wake up, wake up, O Zion! Clothe yourself with strength. Put on your beautiful clothes, O holy city of Jerusalem, for unclean and godless people will enter your gates no longer.
- Isaiah 60:1“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
- Romans 13:11This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
- 2 Timothy 2:26Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
- Ephesians 2:5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
- Isaiah 26:19But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead!
- Ezekiel 37:4Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord!
- John 5:25“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.
- John 11:43Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”
- Romans 6:4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
- Colossians 3:1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
- John 8:12Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
- John 9:5But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Commentaries on Ephesians 5:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Wherefore he saith - It is a matter of doubt and controversy whence this saying is derived. Some think it taken from Isaiah 26:19; : Thy dead men shall live; with my dead body shall they arise; Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust, etc. Others think that it is taken from Isaiah 60:1-3; : Arise, shine; for thy light is come, etc. But these passages neither give the words nor the meaning of the apostle. Epiphanius supposed them to be taken from an…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Wherefore he saith - Margin, or “it.” ̀ ́ Dio legeiThe meaning may be, either that the Lord says, or the Scripture. Much difficulty has been experienced in endeavoring to ascertain “where” this is said. It is agreed on all hands that it is not found, in so many words, in the Old Testament. Some have supposed that the allusion is to Isaiah 26:19, “Thy dead men shall live - awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs,” etc…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. 13-14"Wake up, O sleeper": This could be words from an unknown Christian song. It might be inspired by texts in Isaiah (compare Isaiah 26:19; 52:1; 60:1). It urges God's people to leave their sinful ways and live in the full light of Christ.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. Wherefore--referring to the whole foregoing argument (Ep 5:8, 11, 13). Seeing that light (spiritual) dispels the pre-existing darkness, He (God) saith ... (compare the same phrase, Ep 4:8). Awake--The reading of all the oldest manuscripts is "Up!" or, "Rouse thee!" a phrase used in stirring men to activity. The words are a paraphrase of Is 60:1, 2, not an exact quotation. The word "Christ," shows that in quoting the prophecy, he views it in the light…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 5:14
In the dictionaries
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
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