EPH 4:17 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. τοῦτο
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. R····ANS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129491
1. Οὖν
2. oun
3. Therefore
4. So
5. 37670
6. C·······
7. therefore
8. therefore
9. PS
10. Y64
11. 129492
1. λέγω
2. legō
3. I am saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y64; R129220
11. 129493
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129494
1. μαρτύρομαι
2. marturomai
3. I am testifying
4. -
5. 31430
6. VIPM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ testifying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ testifying
9. -
10. Y64; R129220
11. 129495
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129496
1. Κυρίῳ
2. kurios
3. +the master
4. -
5. 29620
6. N····DMS
7. ˓the˒ master
8. ˓the˒ Lord
9. GN
10. Y64
11. 129497
1. μηκέτι
2. mēketi
3. no longer
4. longer
5. 33710
6. D·······
7. no_longer
8. no_longer
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129498
1. ὑμᾶς
2. su
3. you all
4. you
5. 47710
6. R···2A·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y64; R128863
11. 129499
1. περιπατεῖν
2. peripateō
3. to be walking
4. walk
5. 40430
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ walking
8. ˓to_be˒ walking
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129500
1. καθώς
2. kathōs
3. as
4. -
5. 25310
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129501
1. καί
2. kai
3. also
4. -
5. 25320
6. D·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129502
1. τά
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NNP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129503
1. λοιπά
2. loipos
3. -
4. -
5. 30620
6. S····NNP
7. rest
8. rest
9. -
10. -
11. 129504
1. ἔθνη
2. ethnos
3. pagans
4. pagans
5. 14840
6. N····NNP
7. pagans
8. pagans
9. -
10. Y64; F129511; F129516; F129517; F129528; F129534; F129535; F129536
11. 129505
1. περιπατεῖ
2. peripateō
3. is walking
4. -
5. 40430
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ walking
8. ˓is˒ walking
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129506
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129507
1. ματαιότητι
2. mataiotēs
3. +the uselessness
4. -
5. 31530
6. N····DFS
7. ˓the˒ uselessness
8. ˓the˒ uselessness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129508
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129509
1. νοός
2. nous
3. mind
4. -
5. 35630
6. N····GMS
7. mind
8. mind
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129510
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. of them
4. their
5. 8460
6. R···3GNP
7. ˱of˲ them
8. ˱of˲ them
9. -
10. Y64; R129505
11. 129511

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:17–32: We should change our behavior

Paul urged the Christians to stop doing the evil deeds that they used to do before they knew God. He urged them to start doing the good things that people who know Christ should do. He gave examples of old (former) behavior that they must stop doing, for example: lying, theft, anger and slander. Instead they must be kind, tender and forgiving.

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

Live as God’s people (GW)

The old life and the new life (CEV)

Don’t live as pagans but as God’s people

4:17a

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord,

¶ So I say to you and warn you in the name of the Lord,
¶ Therefore, I speak to you with the authority that the Lord gives me. I strongly advise you

So: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as So connects all that Paul has previously taught to the advice that follows. It is similar to 4:1a, where the BSB translates it as “then.” Because God had done so much for the Ephesians, therefore they must not live as they formerly had.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Therefore

On the basis of that

Some versions do not translate the conjunction. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

I tell you this: The words I tell you this show that Paul was emphasising what he said.

this: The word this refers to the advice that he is about to give to his readers. It does not refer to that which Paul had already said. If your language would not use the word this in such a way, you may need to say something like:

So here is what I want to tell you

So I tell you

insist on it in the Lord: To insist means “to advise, warn, strongly urge.” Paul said that he is speaking in the name of the Lord, that is with the Lord’s authority.

the Lord: Here the word Lord refers to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

With the Lord’s authority (NLT)

In the Lord’s name (GNT)

General Comment on 4:17a

One way you can translate 4:17a is like this:

So now listen to these words of mine! With the authority that the Lord gave me, I advise you to…

4:17b

that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do,

do not behave any longer like the pagans.
to stop living/acting like people who do not know God.

that you must no longer walk: The Greek word that the BSB literally translates as walk refers to our daily actions and our behavior. Some ways to translate this word are:

act

behave

(For other references to “walk,” see notes on 2:2a, 2:10c, 4:1b.)

as the Gentiles do: Here the word Gentiles does not mean simply non-Jewish people. Rather, Paul used it to refer to people who do not know God.

Here are some other ways to translate the word Gentiles:

heathen (GNT)

pagan (REB)

Both of these are words that refer to people who do not know God or believe in God. See Gentiles, Meaning 2 in the Glossary.

4:17c

in the futility of their thinking.

Their thoughts are futile/worthless.
The things they think about are of no value.

in the futility of their thinking: The phrase in the futility of their thinking means that that which the pagans think is worthless, empty and a waste of time.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

whose thoughts are worthless (GNT)

for they are hopelessly confused (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῦτο Οὖν λέγω καί μαρτύρομαι ἐν Κυρίῳ μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καθώς καί τά ἔθνη περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοός αὐτῶν)

The connecting word Therefore introduces a reason-result relationship in which Paul tells them what they should no longer do now that they, as believers, are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God. The reason is that Christ wants every believer to become spiritually mature and to serve the other believers. The result is that the Ephesian believers should no longer act as the Gentiles act. Use a phrase in your language that connects a reason to a result.

τοῦτο οὖν λέγω καὶ μαρτύρομαι

this (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῦτο Οὖν λέγω καί μαρτύρομαι ἐν Κυρίῳ μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καθώς καί τά ἔθνη περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοός αὐτῶν)

Alternate translation: [Because of what I have just said, I will now say something more in order to strongly encourage]

ἐν Κυρίῳ

in ˓the˒_Lord

This could be: (1) referring to the authority of the Lord. (2) stating that we all belong to the Lord.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν, καθὼς καὶ τὰ ἔθνη περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν

no_longer you_all ˓to_be˒_walking (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῦτο Οὖν λέγω καί μαρτύρομαι ἐν Κυρίῳ μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καθώς καί τά ἔθνη περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοός αὐτῶν)

Paul commonly uses this metaphor that compares walking to living one’s life. Alternate translation: [you … to stop living like the Gentiles with their worthless thoughts]

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. Therefore
2. So
3. 37670
4. PS
5. oun
6. C-·······
7. therefore
8. therefore
9. PS
10. Y64
11. 129492
1. I am saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y64; R129220
11. 129493
1. this
2. -
3. 37780
5. houtos
6. R-····ANS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129491
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129494
1. I am testifying
2. -
3. 31430
5. marturomai
6. V-IPM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ testifying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ testifying
9. -
10. Y64; R129220
11. 129495
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129496
1. +the master
2. -
3. 29620
4. GN
5. kurios
6. N-····DMS
7. ˓the˒ master
8. ˓the˒ Lord
9. GN
10. Y64
11. 129497
1. you all
2. you
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2A·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y64; R128863
11. 129499
1. to be walking
2. walk
3. 40430
5. peripateō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ walking
8. ˓to_be˒ walking
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129500
1. no longer
2. longer
3. 33710
5. mēketi
6. D-·······
7. no_longer
8. no_longer
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129498
1. as
2. -
3. 25310
5. kathōs
6. C-·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129501
1. also
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. D-·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129502
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NNP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129503
1. pagans
2. pagans
3. 14840
5. ethnos
6. N-····NNP
7. pagans
8. pagans
9. -
10. Y64; F129511; F129516; F129517; F129528; F129534; F129535; F129536
11. 129505
1. is walking
2. -
3. 40430
5. peripateō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ walking
8. ˓is˒ walking
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129506
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129507
1. +the uselessness
2. -
3. 31530
5. mataiotēs
6. N-····DFS
7. ˓the˒ uselessness
8. ˓the˒ uselessness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129508
1. of the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129509
1. mind
2. -
3. 35630
5. nous
6. N-····GMS
7. mind
8. mind
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129510
1. of them
2. their
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GNP
7. ˱of˲ them
8. ˱of˲ them
9. -
10. Y64; R129505
11. 129511

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.