New Living Translation
Ephesians 5:4
4Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Ephesians 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
- New International Version (NIV)Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
- New King James Version (NKJV)neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Context of Ephesians 5:4
2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 5:4 word by word
καὶ αἰσχρότης καὶ μωρολογία ἢ εὐτραπελία ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐχαριστία.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Neitherκαίkai · andG2532
- filthinessαἰσχρότηςaischrotēs · obscenityG151
- foolish talkingμωρολογίαmōrologia · foolish talkG3473
- norἤē · orG2228
- jestingεὐτραπελίαeutrapelia · vulgar jestingG2160
- whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- areἀνήκωanēkō · be fittingG433
- notοὐou · noG3756
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- giving of thanksεὐχαριστίαeucharistia · thankfulnessG2169
Cross-references for Ephesians 5:4
- Ephesians 4:29Don’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.
- Proverbs 12:23The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
- Ecclesiastes 10:13Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
- Matthew 12:34You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
- Mark 7:22adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
- Colossians 3:8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
- James 3:4And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.
- 2 Peter 2:7But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.
- Jude 1:10But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.
- Romans 1:28Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.
- Philemon 1:8That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.
- Ephesians 5:19singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
- Ephesians 1:16I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,
- Psalms 33:1Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
- Psalms 92:1It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.
Commentaries on Ephesians 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Neither filthiness - · Any thing base or vile in words or acts. Foolish talking - · Scurrility, buffoonery, ridicule, or what tends to expose another to contempt. Nor jesting - · Artfully turned discourses or words, from , well or easily, and , I turn; words that can be easily turned to other meanings; double entendres; chaste words which, from their connection, and the manner in which they are used, convey an obscene or offensive meaning. It also means…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Neither filthiness - That is, obscene, or indecent conversation. Literally, that which is shameful, or deformed - ̓́ aischrotēsThe word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. Nor foolish talking - This word - ́ mōrologia- does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means that kind of talk which is insipid, senseless, stupid, foolish; which is not suited to instruct, edify, profit - the idle “chitchat” which is so common in the world. The…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. 4God’s people should speak in ways that show they are thankful to God (see 4:29; 5:3, 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. filthiness--obscenity in act or gesture. foolish talking--the talk of fools, which is folly and sin together. The Greek of it, and of "filthiness," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. nor--rather, "or" (compare Ep 5:3). jesting--Greek, "eutrapelia"; found nowhere else in the New Testament: implying strictly that versatility which turns about and adapts itself, without regard to principle, to the shifting circumstances of the moment, and to the…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 5:4
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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