Tree of Life Version
Ephesians 4:28
28The one who steals must steal no longer—instead he must work, doing something useful with his own hands, so he may have something to share with the one who has need.
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
26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27nor give the devil a foothold. The one who steals must steal no longer—instead he must work, doing something useful with his own hands, so he may have something to share with the one who has need. 29Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it. 30Do not grieve the Ruach ha-Kodesh of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Read all of Ephesians 4Ephesians 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“Do not steal.
- Exodus 21:16“Anyone who steals a person and sells him, or is found with him under his hand, must surely be put to death.
- Proverbs 30:9lest I become satisfied and deny You and say, “Who is Adonai?” Or lest I become poor, and steal and profane the Name of my God.
- Jeremiah 7:9Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and perjury, and offer incense to Baal and walk after other gods whom you have not known—
- Hosea 4:2Curse, deceive, murder, steal, commit adultery! They practice violence, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
- Zechariah 5:3He said to me: “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land: everyone who steals will be swept away from here according to it, and everyone who swears will be swept away from here according to it.”
- John 12:6Now he said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. Since he had the moneybox, he used to steal from what was put in it.
- 1 Corinthians 6:10thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.
- Job 34:32Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will not do it again.’
- Proverbs 28:13One who covers up his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them finds mercy.
- Luke 3:8Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance; and don’t even begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
- Luke 19:8But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord. “Look, Master, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have somehow cheated anyone, I repay four times as much!”
- Proverbs 13:11Wealth gained by fraud dwindles, but he who gathers by labor increases it.
- Proverbs 14:23In all hard work there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
- Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my own needs as well as for those with me.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11and aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, just as we directed you—
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
In the dictionaries
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries