Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Ephesians 5:4

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

KJV

καὶ αἰσχρότης ἢ μωρολογία ἢ εὐτραπελία, ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐχαριστία.

Greek NT

aut turpitudo, aut stultiloquium, aut scurrilitas, quæ ad rem non pertinet : sed magis gratiarum actio.

Vulgate

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.

ASV

Or obscenity or foolish talking or scurrility, which is to no purpose: but rather giving of thanks.

Douay-Rheims

Open in reader with connections →

In the original Greek

11 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αἰσχρότης
aischrotes
noun · 1×
εὐτραπελία
eutrapelia
noun · 1×
εὐχαριστία
eucharistia
noun · 15×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
μωρολογία
morologia
noun · 1×
μᾶλλον
mallon
adverb · 81×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἀνήκω
aneko
verb · 3×
ἤ
e
particle · 346×
ὅς
os
relative_pronoun · 1404×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν | WH/Treg/NIV: ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν | RP: τὰ οὐκ ἀνήκοντα
  • ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν — SBLGNT
  • ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • τὰ οὐκ ἀνήκοντα — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Historic Christian voices

10 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§1852There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. the Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: "Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. …
2. And why did they at all worship one who was in swaddling clothes? For if He had been a grown man, one might say, that in expectation of the succor they should receive from Him, they cast themselves into a danger which they foresaw; a thing however to the utmost degree unreasonable, that the Persian, the barbarian, and one that had nothing in common with the nation of the Jew…
2. But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery. What mystery? For surely Christ says, Matthew 10:27. ηκούσατε rec. text ἀκούετε What you have heard in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops. How then does he call it a mystery? Because that neither angel nor archangel, nor any other…
1. He has shown from the Priest, from the Priesthood, from the Covenant, that that [dispensation] was to have an end. From this point he shows it from the fashion of the tabernacle itself. How? This, he says, [was] the Holy and the Holy of Holies. The holy place then is a symbol of the former period (for there all things are done by means of sacrifices); but the Holy of Holies …
1. The first virtue, yea the whole of virtue, is to be a stranger to this world, and a sojourner, and to have nothing in common with things here, but to hang loose from them, as from things strange to us; As those blessed disciples did, of whom he says, They wandered about in sheepskins, and in goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented: of whom the world was not worthy.…
Heidelberg Catechism · 2 passages
Q. What does the seventh commandment teach us? A. That God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore thoroughly detest it and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives.
Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires.

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 6:9 — Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
  • 1Thess 5:18 — In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
  • 2Pet 2:18 — For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
  • Col 1:12 — Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
  • Col 3:8 — But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
  • Col 3:8 — But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
  • Col 3:15 — And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
  • Eccl 10:13 — The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
  • Eph 4:29 — Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  • Eph 5:19 — Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
  • Eph 5:20 — Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
  • Heb 13:15 — By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
  • Jas 1:21 — Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
  • Jas 1:26 — If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
  • Jas 3:4 — Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
  • Mark 7:22 — Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
  • Matt 12:34 — O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
  • Phil 4:6 — Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
  • Prov 15:2 — The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
  • Prov 23:16 — Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
  • Prov 26:19 — So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
  • Ps 107:21 — Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
  • Rom 1:28 — And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;