EPH 4:14 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129409
1. μηκέτι
2. mēketi
3. no longer
4. longer
5. 33710
6. D·······
7. no_longer
8. no_longer
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129410
1. ὦμεν
2. eimi
3. we may be
4. -
5. 15100
6. VSPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ may_be
8. ˱we˲ may_be
9. -
10. Y64; R129220; R128863; R129373
11. 129411
1. ἤπιοι
2. ēpios
3. -
4. -
5. 22610
6. S····NMP
7. gentle
8. gentle
9. -
10. -
11. 129412
1. νήπιοι
2. nēpios
3. infants
4. -
5. 35160
6. S····NMP
7. infants
8. infants
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129413
1. κλυδωνιζόμενοι
2. kludōnizomai
3. being tossed by waves
4. tossed waves
5. 28310
6. VPPM·NMP
7. being_tossed_by_waves
8. being_tossed_by_waves
9. -
10. Y64; R129220; R128863; R129373
11. 129414
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129415
1. περιφερόμενοι
2. periferō
3. being carried about
4. -
5. 40640
6. VPPP·NMP
7. ˓being˒ carried_about
8. ˓being˒ carried_about
9. -
10. Y64; R129220; R128863; R129373
11. 129416
1. παντί
2. pas
3. by every
4. every
5. 39560
6. E····DMS
7. ˱by˲ every
8. ˱by˲ every
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129417
1. ἐμῷ
2. emos
3. -
4. -
5. 16990
6. E···1DNS
7. my
8. my
9. -
10. -
11. 129418
1. ἀνέμῳ
2. anemos
3. wind
4. wind
5. 4170
6. N····DMS
7. wind
8. wind
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129419
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129420
1. διδασκαλίας
2. didaskalia
3. of teaching
4. teaching
5. 13190
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ teaching
8. ˱of˲ teaching
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129421
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129422
1. τῇ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129423
1. κυβείᾳ
2. kubeia
3. trickery
4. trick
5. 29400
6. N····DFS
7. trickery
8. trickery
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129424
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129425
1. ἀνθρώπων
2. anthrōpos
3. of people
4. people
5. 4440
6. N····GMP
7. ˱of˲ people
8. ˱of˲ people
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129426
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129427
1. πανουργίᾳ
2. panourgia
3. craftiness
4. crafty
5. 38340
6. N····DFS
7. craftiness
8. craftiness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129428
1. πρός
2. pros
3. with
4. -
5. 43140
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129429
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129430
1. τῇ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 129431
1. τάς
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 129432
1. μεθοδείαν
2. methodeia
3. scheming
4. scheme
5. 31800
6. N····AFS
7. scheming
8. scheming
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129433
1. μεθοδείας
2. methodeia
3. -
4. -
5. 31800
6. N····AFP
7. schemings
8. schemings
9. -
10. -
11. 129434
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129435
1. πλάνης
2. planē
3. of deception
4. -
5. 41060
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ deception
8. ˱of˲ deception
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129436
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. -
11. 129437
1. διαβόλου
2. diabolos
3. -
4. -
5. 12280
6. S····GMS
7. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ devil
8. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ devil
9. -
10. -
11. 129438

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–16: Believers are united in Christ

In the previous sections, Paul taught the important truths of the Christian faith. In this section, Paul showed how those truths should affect the way we live. He urged the Ephesian Christians to behave in the way that would keep their unity. He explained in detail the basis of this unity. He also explained that Christ gives believers power to do different tasks so that the church may become strong and mature. Mature believers should no longer be influenced by false teaching. Instead, they will proclaim the truth, and the church, with Christ as its head, will grow as it should and become strong.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Unity of the body of Christ

Christ’s gifts to the church

Live in unity, using God’s gifting to strengthen believers

Paul urges the Ephesians to live a life of unity in Christ

Believers in Christ should live in unity, strengthening each other

Paragraph 4:7–16

In 4:4–6 Paul talked about the things that unite Christians. These are things that we have in common. But in 4:7 he talked about special abilities that some Christians have and that others do not have. We all have the same Spirit, we all worship the same Lord, and so on. But to each of us, Christ has given different special abilities.

4:14

This verse describes immature Christians. They are like children who are easily influenced by false teachers. Paul compared such Christians to a boat blown about on the sea during a storm. The false teachers who try to influence believers are cunning and deceitful.

4:14a

Then we will no longer be infants,

In order that we will no longer be like infants.
So that we will no longer be immature like children.

Then: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Then is sometimes translated as:

in order that (RSV)

This conjunction introduces another purpose of 4:11–12a. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural for introducing a purpose in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

In order that

So that

The purpose is that

If we do that, then…

we will no longer be infants: The clause we will no longer be infants is a metaphor. It is a continuation of the figure of speech that Paul used in 4:13. It means “immature,” which is the opposite of “mature” in 4:13b. For example:

we will no longer be immature like children (NLT)

Another way to translate this is as a simile:

we will no longer be like children

4:14b

tossed about by the waves

We will no longer be tossed around by the waves.
The waves will no longer toss us back and forth.
who are easily led astray, like a small boat

4:14c

and carried around by every wind of teaching

We will no longer be blown around by every wind of doctrine.
The new/false teachings/ideas like wind will no longer blow us here and there.
that is sent in different directions by the waves and wind.

4:14b–c

tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching: There are at least two issues you must consider as you translate 4:14b–c.

Issue 1—passives:

There are several passives in 4:14b–c. If it would be more natural in your language to use active clauses here, you could say:

The waves will no longer toss us about, and every wind of teaching will no longer carry us around.

Issue 2—metaphor:

4:14b–c contains another metaphor. Here Paul compared Christians to boats in the water. The NCV makes this explicit when it says:

We will not be tossed about like a ship that the waves carry one way and then another. (NCV)

The waves and wind easily push boats off course. In the same way, cunning men easily deceive weak Christians and “push” them away from true doctrine.

In translating this metaphor, you have several possibilities:

You may want to translate this as a simile:
We will no longer be like boats that the waves toss back and forth and the wind blows here and there.
You may want to translate the direct meaning of the metaphor. If you live in a place where boats and travelling on the water are unknown, people who read your translation may be confused by this figure of speech. If that is true, you may need to translate the meaning with no figure of speech:
^14cCunning men will no longer easily deceive us ^14bto believe false teaching.
Or you may need to use another figure of speech, for example:
We will no longer be like dry leaves that the wind blows around.

by every wind of teaching: The phrase by every wind of teaching means we will no longer be easily deceived “by every type of false teaching.” The word wind is part of the figure of speech that Paul used. The word teaching helps explain the meaning of this figure of speech. Wind easily blows a boat in different directions. In the same way, false teaching easily “blows off course” a weak Christian. That is, it easily causes a weak Christian to leave the truth and follow false teaching.

4:14d

and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

This means, cunning and tricky people will no longer deceive us with their false teaching.
We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. (GW)

by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming: The phrase by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming is also a passive. If it would be more natural in your language to translate this as an active clause, you could say:

Cunning and crafty men will no longer deceive us with their scheming.

clever cunning of men: The two words clever and cunning may be treated as a doublet. Together they add emphasis. Both words indicate men who “deceive” or who “trick” people. Some versions translate this phrase like this:

deceitful people (GNT)

deceitful scheming: The phrase deceitful scheming refers to working in an underhanded, lying way. For example:

tricks (GNT)

Paul used these words to emphasize his point. The meaning is similar to “clever” and “cunning.”

General Comment on 4:14b–c

The clever and cunning men in 4:14d are the ones who do the false teaching mentioned in 4:14c, so in some languages, it will be more natural to put 4:14d before 4:14b–c. For example:

^14dClever and cunning men will no longer be able to deceive us with their false teaching. ^14b–cThis teaching tries to toss us back and forth like boats on the waves or like boats blown here and there by the wind.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The connecting phrase so that introduces a goal relationship. The goal or purpose of gifted people in the church is to bring all the believers to spiritual maturity.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μηκέτι ὦμεν νήπιοι

no_longer ˱we˲_may_be infants

Paul refers to believers who have not grown spiritually as if they were children who have had very little experience in life. Alternate translation: [we may no longer be like children]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κλυδωνιζόμενοι καὶ περιφερόμενοι παντὶ ἀνέμῳ τῆς διδασκαλίας

being_tossed_by_waves (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἵνα μηκέτι ὦμεν νήπιοι κλυδωνιζόμενοι καί περιφερόμενοι παντί ἀνέμῳ τῆς διδασκαλίας ἐν τῇ κυβείᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν πανουργίᾳ πρός τήν μεθοδείαν τῆς πλάνης)

Paul speaks of a believer who has not become mature and follows various wrong teachings as if that believer were a boat and the teachings were the wind and waves that move the boat in different directions on the water..

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ κυβίᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἐν πανουργίᾳ πρὸς τὴν μεθοδίαν τῆς πλάνης

in the in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἵνα μηκέτι ὦμεν νήπιοι κλυδωνιζόμενοι καί περιφερόμενοι παντί ἀνέμῳ τῆς διδασκαλίας ἐν τῇ κυβείᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν πανουργίᾳ πρός τήν μεθοδείαν τῆς πλάνης)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the words trickery, cleverness, and scheming, you could express the same ideas with verbal forms. Alternate translation: [by crafty people who trick believers with clever lies]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. in order that
2. -
3. 24430
5. hina
6. C-·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129409
1. no longer
2. longer
3. 33710
5. mēketi
6. D-·······
7. no_longer
8. no_longer
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129410
1. we may be
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-SPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ may_be
8. ˱we˲ may_be
9. -
10. Y64; R129220; R128863; R129373
11. 129411
1. infants
2. -
3. 35160
5. nēpios
6. S-····NMP
7. infants
8. infants
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129413
1. being tossed by waves
2. tossed waves
3. 28310
5. kludōnizomai
6. V-PPM·NMP
7. being_tossed_by_waves
8. being_tossed_by_waves
9. -
10. Y64; R129220; R128863; R129373
11. 129414
1. and
2. and
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129415
1. being carried about
2. -
3. 40640
5. periferō
6. V-PPP·NMP
7. ˓being˒ carried_about
8. ˓being˒ carried_about
9. -
10. Y64; R129220; R128863; R129373
11. 129416
1. by every
2. every
3. 39560
5. pas
6. E-····DMS
7. ˱by˲ every
8. ˱by˲ every
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129417
1. wind
2. wind
3. 4170
5. anemos
6. N-····DMS
7. wind
8. wind
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129419
1. of
2. teaching
3. 13190
5. didaskalia
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ teaching
8. ˱of˲ teaching
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129421
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129420
1. teaching
2. teaching
3. 13190
5. didaskalia
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ teaching
8. ˱of˲ teaching
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129421
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129422
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129423
1. trickery
2. trick
3. 29400
5. kubeia
6. N-····DFS
7. trickery
8. trickery
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129424
1. of
2. people
3. 4440
5. anthrōpos
6. N-····GMP
7. ˱of˲ people
8. ˱of˲ people
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129426
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129425
1. people
2. people
3. 4440
5. anthrōpos
6. N-····GMP
7. ˱of˲ people
8. ˱of˲ people
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129426
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129427
1. craftiness
2. crafty
3. 38340
5. panourgia
6. N-····DFS
7. craftiness
8. craftiness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129428
1. with
2. -
3. 43140
5. pros
6. P-·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129429
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129430
1. scheming
2. scheme
3. 31800
5. methodeia
6. N-····AFS
7. scheming
8. scheming
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129433
1. of
2. -
3. 41060
5. planē
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ deception
8. ˱of˲ deception
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129436
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129435
1. deception
2. -
3. 41060
5. planē
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ deception
8. ˱of˲ deception
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129436

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear EPH 4:14

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)