Ephesians 5:17
in Ephesians 5Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
KJV
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
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This verse in Ephesians 5
Commentary
11 notes on this verseSince, he says, in the present days wicked people prevail, you, as wise ones, should take care not to give them any occasion against yourselves: for in this consists the will of God, to keep yourselves pure, with the preservation of faith as well.
This site's exposition
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk
on Ephesians 5:15-17
Redeeming the time uses a market term, buying up the opportunity. The days are evil, and the opportunity will not return unbought.
This site's exposition
understand what the Lord’s will is
Foolish renders aphrones, and Clarke hears an allusion to the frenzied rites of Bacchus, which leads into the warning about wine in verse 18. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set understanding above bare knowledge. The Lord's will, they add, is sanctification, as 1 Thessalonians 4:3 states.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Do what you have to do with moderation. This is the will of the Lord. Do not allow commotion and din or discord with bad feeling to give rise to estrangement. So Paul adds these words to what he has said about his wish that …
For indeed intemperance in this renders men passionate and violent, and hot-headed, and irritable and savage. Wine has been given us for cheerfulness, not for drunkenness. Whereas now it appears to be an unmanly and contemptible thing for a man not to get drunk. And what sort of hope then is there of salvation? What? contemptible, tell me, not to get drunk, where to get drunk ought of all things in the world to be most contemptible? For it is of all things right for even a private individual to keep himself far from drunkenness; but how much more so for a soldier, a man who lives amongst swords, and bloodshed, and slaughter: much more, I say, for the soldier, when his temper is sharpened by other causes also, by power, by authority, by being constantly in the midst of stratagems and battles. Wouldest thou know where wine is good? Hear what the Scripture saith, "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul." (Prov. xxxi. 6.) And justly, because it can mitigate asperity and gloominess, and drive away clouds from the brow. "Wine maketh glad the heart of man" (Ps. civ. 15), says the Psalmist. How then does wine produce drunkenness? For it cannot be that one and the same thing should work opposite effects. Drunkenness then surely does not arise from wine, but from intemperance. Wine is bestowed upon us for no other purpose than for bodily health; but this purpose also is thwarted by immoderate use. But hear moreover what our blessed Apostle writes and says to Timothy, "Use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and thine often infirmities." This is the reason why God has formed our bodies in moderate proportions, and so as to be satisfied with a little, from thence at once instructing us that He has made us adapted to another life. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he goes on to teach them how to abide by the precaution, saying: Wherefore that you may be able to redeem the time become not imprudent. Notice that there is a difference between wisdom and prudence. For prudence is a certain type of wisdom, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Wherefore be ye not unwise,....
In the three following verses the apostle warns against some other particular sins, and urges some other duties. He warns against the sin of drunkenness: And be not drunk with wine,
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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," meantime, we should "give thanks" (1Th 5:18; compare above, Eph 5:10).
Wherefore be ye not unwise - Μη γινεσθε αφρονες· 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 Eph 5:12. But understanding what the will of the Lord is - It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy, and pure. Get a thorough understanding of this; acquaint yourselves with God’s will, that ye may know how to glorify him.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Be 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.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διὰ | dia | Because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| γίνεσθε | ginesthe | do be | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἄφρονες, | aphrones | foolish, | G878 → | |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| συνίετε | suniete | do understand | G4920 → | |
| τί | ti | what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θέλημα | thelema | will | G2307 → | 62 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου. | kuriou | Lord [is]. | G2962 → | 711 times |
διὰBecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
γίνεσθεdo be
ginestheG1096 →667 times
ἄφρονες,foolish,
aphronesG878 →
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
συνίετεdo understand
sunieteG4920 →
τίwhat
tiG5101 →563 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
θέλημαwill
thelemaG2307 →62 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίου.Lord [is].
kuriouG2962 →711 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
- Ephesians 4:22–24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- 1 John 2:15–17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 Peter 1:14
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Ephesians 5:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
About Ephesians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 5.17; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.