EPH 5:8-20

Children of Light

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord — walk as children of light — [5:9] for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth — [5:10] discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord. [5:11] And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even expose them. [5:12] For the things being done by them in secret it is shameful even to mention. [5:13] But all things, when exposed by the light, are made manifest — [5:14] for everything being made manifest is light. Therefore it says: "Awake, you who are sleeping, and rise up from among the dead, and Christ will shine upon you." [5:15] See therefore precisely how you walk — not as unwise but as wise — [5:16] buying up the opportune moment, because the days are evil. [5:17] Because of this do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [5:18] And do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [5:19] speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, [5:20] giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God and Father.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, light and darkness were common metaphors for moral and ethical living, often tied to philosophical and religious discourse. For Jewish listeners, 'light' evoked covenantal imagery, recalling God’s creation of light and its association with divine truth and guidance. The phrase 'children of light' would resonate with Jewish apocalyptic thought, where light symbolized righteousness and divine favor, while darkness represented sin and judgment. The call to 'walk as children of light' aligns with Jewish halakhic traditions of living in accordance with God’s will. The emphasis on 'goodness, righteousness, and truth' reflects virtues prized in both Jewish and Greco-Roman ethical systems. The warning against 'fellowship with the works of darkness' would challenge listeners to avoid participation in pagan rituals or immoral practices common in urban Ephesian life. The exhortation to 'expose' these deeds reflects a communal responsibility to uphold purity and integrity. The reference to 'awake, you who sleep' echoes Jewish and early Christian eschatological hope, urging vigilance in anticipation of God’s kingdom.

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How other translations render this

EPH 5:8

KJV: For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
BSB: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
Koinōnos: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord — walk as children of light —

EPH 5:9

KJV: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
BSB: for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Koinōnos: for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth —

EPH 5:10

KJV: Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
BSB: Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
Koinōnos: discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

EPH 5:11

KJV: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
BSB: Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Koinōnos: And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even expose them.

EPH 5:12

KJV: For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
BSB: For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Koinōnos: For the things being done by them in secret it is shameful even to mention.

EPH 5:13

KJV: But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
BSB: But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.
Koinōnos: But all things, when exposed by the light, are made manifest —

EPH 5:14

KJV: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
BSB: So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Koinōnos: for everything being made manifest is light. Therefore it says: "Awake, you who are sleeping, and rise up from among the dead, and Christ will shine upon you.

EPH 5:15

KJV: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
BSB: Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Koinōnos: See therefore precisely how you walk — not as unwise but as wise —

EPH 5:16

KJV: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
BSB: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Koinōnos: buying up the opportune moment, because the days are evil.

EPH 5:17

KJV: Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
BSB: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lordʼs will is.
Koinōnos: Because of this do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

EPH 5:18

KJV: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
BSB: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Koinōnos: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

EPH 5:19

KJV: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
BSB: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
Koinōnos: speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord,

EPH 5:20

KJV: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
BSB: always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Koinōnos: giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God and Father.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

EPH 5:9

goodness:The word translated 'goodness' here often carried the sense of moral excellence and uprightness, not just a general pleasantness, but an active virtue that benefits others.

EPH 5:11

do have fellowship with:The phrase translated 'do have fellowship with' implies a deep, active participation and sharing in something, not just a passive association or acquaintance.

EPH 5:16

redeeming:The word translated 'redeeming' literally means to 'buy out' or 'buy up,' often with the sense of rescuing something from a disadvantageous situation by paying a price.
time,:The word translated 'time' refers not to chronological time (like seconds or minutes), but to a specific, opportune, or decisive moment—a 'season' or 'kairos' for action.