Tree of Life Version
Ephesians 5:17
17For this reason do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Context of Ephesians 5:17
15So pay close attention to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise. 16Make the most of your time because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18And do not get drunk on wine, for that is recklessness. Instead, be filled with the Ruach, 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord—
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 5:17 word by word
διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνίετε τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
- Whereforeοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- be yeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- notμήmē · notG3361
- unwiseἄφρωνaphrōn · foolishG878
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- understandingσυνίημιsuniēmi · to understandG4920
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- the willὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
Cross-references for Ephesians 5:17
- Ephesians 5:15So pay close attention to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise.
- Colossians 4:5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
- Deuteronomy 4:6You must keep and do them, for it is your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the peoples, who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
- 1 Kings 3:9So give Your servant a mind of understanding to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil—for who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
- Job 28:28And He said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord —that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.”’
- Psalms 111:10The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom. All who follow His precepts have good understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Psalms 119:27Help me discern the way of Your precepts, so I may meditate on Your wonders.
- Proverbs 2:5then you will know the fear of Adonai and discover the knowledge of God.
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to consider his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
- Proverbs 23:23Acquire truth and do not sell it, acquire wisdom, instruction and understanding.
- Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are foolish. They do not know Me. They are senseless children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they do not know.”
- John 7:17If anyone wants to do His will, he will know whether My teaching comes from God or it is Myself speaking.
- Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Colossians 1:9For this reason also, ever since we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We keep asking God that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding—
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and appeal in the Lord Yeshua—just as you received from us the way you ought to walk and please God (as in fact you are walking)—that you keep progressing more and more.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.
Commentaries on Ephesians 5:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise - · Do not become madmen. Here is a most evident allusion to the orgies of Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like madmen; running about, tossing their heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing to be in every sense completely frantic. See the whole of the passage in Livy, to which I have referred on Ephesians 5:12. But understanding what the will of the Lord is - It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Be ye not unwise - Be not fools in the employment of your time, and in your manner of life. Show true wisdom by endeavoring to understand what the will of the Lord is, and then doing it.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-20Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Wherefore--seeing that ye need to walk so circumspectly, choosing and using the right opportunity of good. unwise--a different Greek word from that in Ep 5:15. Translate, "foolish," or "senseless." understanding--not merely knowing as a matter of fact (Lu 12:47), but knowing with understanding. the will of the Lord--as to how each opportunity is to be used. The Lord's will, ultimately, is our "sanctification" (1Th 4:3); and that "in every thing,"…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 5:17
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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