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Eph C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6

Eph 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V29 V30 V31 V32

OET interlinear EPH 4:28

◄ ← EPH 4:28 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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

    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. Ὁ
    2. ho
    3. The one
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. R····NMS
    7. the ‹one›
    8. the ‹one›
    9. S
    10. Y64
    11. 129651
    1. κλέπτων
    2. kleptō
    3. stealing
    4. -
    5. 28130
    6. VPPA·NMS
    7. stealing
    8. stealing
    9. -
    10. Y64; F129657; F129658; F129662; F129667; F129669
    11. 129652
    1. μηκέτι
    2. mēketi
    3. no longer
    4. -
    5. 33710
    6. D·······
    7. no_longer
    8. no_longer
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129653
    1. κλεπτέτω
    2. kleptō
    3. let be stealing
    4. should
    5. 28130
    6. VMPA3··S
    7. ˓let_be˒ stealing
    8. ˓let_be˒ stealing
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129654
    1. μᾶλλον
    2. mallon
    3. rather
    4. -
    5. 31230
    6. D·······
    7. rather
    8. rather
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129655
    1. δέ
    2. de
    3. but
    4. -
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. but
    8. but
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129656
    1. κοπιάτω
    2. kopiaō
    3. let him be labouring
    4. -
    5. 28720
    6. VMPA3··S
    7. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ labouring
    8. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ laboring
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129657
    1. ἐργαζόμενος
    2. ergazomai
    3. working
    4. -
    5. 20380
    6. VPPM·NMS
    7. working
    8. working
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129658
    1. τό
    2. ho
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····ANS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 129659
    1. ἀγαθόν
    2. agathos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 180
    6. S····ANS
    7. good
    8. good
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 129660
    1. ταῖς
    2. ho
    3. with his
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····DFP
    7. ˱with˲ his
    8. ˱with˲ his
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129661
    1. ἰδίαις
    2. idios
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 23980
    6. E····DFP
    7. own
    8. own
    9. -
    10. R129652
    11. 129662
    1. χερσίν
    2. χer
    3. hands
    4. hands
    5. 54950
    6. N····DFP
    7. hands
    8. hands
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129663
    1. τό
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····ANS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129664
    1. ἀγαθόν
    2. agathos
    3. good
    4. good
    5. 180
    6. S····ANS
    7. good
    8. good
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129665
    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. 129666
    1. ἔχῃ
    2. eχō
    3. he may be having
    4. -
    5. 21920
    6. VSPA3··S
    7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ having
    8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ having
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129667
    1. ἔχηται
    2. eχō
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 21920
    6. VSPM3··S
    7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ having
    8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ having
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 129668
    1. μεταδιδόναι
    2. metadidōmi
    3. to be sharing
    4. -
    5. 33300
    6. VNPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ sharing
    8. ˓to_be˒ sharing
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129669
    1. τῷ
    2. ho
    3. to the one
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. R····DMS
    7. ˱to˲ the ‹one›
    8. ˱to˲ the ‹one›
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129670
    1. χρείαν
    2. χreia
    3. need
    4. -
    5. 55320
    6. N····AFS
    7. need
    8. need
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129671
    1. ἔχοντι
    2. eχō
    3. having
    4. -
    5. 21920
    6. VPPA·DMS
    7. having
    8. having
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129672

OET (OET-LV) The one stealing no_longer let_be_stealing, but rather let_him_be_labouring, working the good with_his hands, in_order_that he_may_be_having to_be_sharing to_the one having need.

OET (OET-RV) If you’ve been stealing, then stop it. Instead you should be a hard worker, doing good things with your hands, so that you’ll earn enough to be able to help those who are in need.

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

Paragraph 4:25–28

In this paragraph, Paul gave many commands that talk about specific kinds of behavior that Christians should not do and kinds of behavior that Christians should do.

4:28a

He who has been stealing must steal no longer,

He who has been stealing must steal no longer: Paul is speaking to the Ephesians who would have been thieves before their conversion to Christianity. Paul is reminding the Ephesians that stealing is not acceptable behavior for Christians.

In the Greek text, this is a direct declarative statement. Some English versions translate it as a conditional statement. If it is more natural in your language, you may want to translate this sentence in a conditional form. For example:

If you are a thief, quit stealing. (NLT)

must steal no longer: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

must stop stealing (NCV)

quit stealing (NLT)

must stop robbing (GNT)

4:28b

but must work, doing good with his own hands,

but must: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as but must is literally “but rather.” It is used to show a strong contrast between 4:28a and 4:28b. Translate this phrase is a way that would naturally show a strong contrast in your language.

work…with his own hands: To work…with his own hands is a figure of speech that means “to work for his daily food,” “to work to support himself,” or “to work so he can buy (or make or grow) the things he needs to live.” The thief formerly used his hands to steal, but now he should use his hands to do honest, good, and hard work.

Most people use their hands when they work, for example, farmers and carpenters. But Paul does not mean that former thieves must do only manual work (work with their hands) and no other kind of work.

In some languages, it may not be necessary to explicitly translate the phrase with his own hands. For example:

They should earn an honest living for themselves. (NCV)

doing good: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as doing good is literally “at (something) good.” Commentators are divided as to what it means in this context. The main two interpretations are:

  1. It refers to “honest work.” For example:

    doing honest work… (RSV, GNT, ESV, NJB, NCV)

  2. It refers to good or useful work. For example:

    They should do something good… (BSB, GW, NIV, NLT, NET)

Since both interpretations have good translation and commentary support, either one is acceptable. You may want to follow the interpretation of your national translation.

4:28c

that he may have something to share with the one in need.

that he may have something to share with the one in need: The phrase the one in need refers to people who are poor and in need of food and clothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and then give generously to others in need (NLT)

so you will have something to give to people in need (CEV)

If he does that, he will be able to give to people who don’t have things.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

μᾶλλον δὲ

rather (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ κλέπτων μηκέτι κλεπτέτω μᾶλλον δέ κοπιάτω ἐργαζόμενος ταῖς χερσίν τό ἀγαθόν ἵνα ἔχῃ μεταδιδόναι τῷ χρείαν ἔχοντι)

The connecting phrase But rather introduces a contrast relationship. The way a former thief should work hard to have something to share with others is in contrast to the way he formerly stole for himself.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The connecting phrase so that introduces a goal relationship. The goal or purpose of working hard with ones own hands is to be able to meet the needs of others.

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. The one
    2. -
    3. 35880
    4. S
    5. ho
    6. R-····NMS
    7. the ‹one›
    8. the ‹one›
    9. S
    10. Y64
    11. 129651
    1. stealing
    2. -
    3. 28130
    5. kleptō
    6. V-PPA·NMS
    7. stealing
    8. stealing
    9. -
    10. Y64; F129657; F129658; F129662; F129667; F129669
    11. 129652
    1. no longer
    2. -
    3. 33710
    5. mēketi
    6. D-·······
    7. no_longer
    8. no_longer
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129653
    1. let be stealing
    2. should
    3. 28130
    5. kleptō
    6. V-MPA3··S
    7. ˓let_be˒ stealing
    8. ˓let_be˒ stealing
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129654
    1. but
    2. -
    3. 11610
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. but
    8. but
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129656
    1. rather
    2. -
    3. 31230
    5. mallon
    6. D-·······
    7. rather
    8. rather
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129655
    1. let him be labouring
    2. -
    3. 28720
    5. kopiaō
    6. V-MPA3··S
    7. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ labouring
    8. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ laboring
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129657
    1. working
    2. -
    3. 20380
    5. ergazomai
    6. V-PPM·NMS
    7. working
    8. working
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129658
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····ANS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129664
    1. good
    2. good
    3. 180
    5. agathos
    6. S-····ANS
    7. good
    8. good
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129665
    1. with his
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····DFP
    7. ˱with˲ his
    8. ˱with˲ his
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129661
    1. hands
    2. hands
    3. 54950
    5. χer
    6. N-····DFP
    7. hands
    8. hands
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129663
    1. in order that
    2. -
    3. 24430
    5. hina
    6. C-·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129666
    1. he may be having
    2. -
    3. 21920
    5. eχō
    6. V-SPA3··S
    7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ having
    8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ having
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129667
    1. to be sharing
    2. -
    3. 33300
    5. metadidōmi
    6. V-NPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ sharing
    8. ˓to_be˒ sharing
    9. -
    10. Y64; R129652
    11. 129669
    1. to the one
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. R-····DMS
    7. ˱to˲ the ‹one›
    8. ˱to˲ the ‹one›
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129670
    1. having
    2. -
    3. 21920
    5. eχō
    6. V-PPA·DMS
    7. having
    8. having
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129672
    1. need
    2. -
    3. 55320
    5. χreia
    6. N-····AFS
    7. need
    8. need
    9. -
    10. Y64
    11. 129671

OET (OET-LV) The one stealing no_longer let_be_stealing, but rather let_him_be_labouring, working the good with_his hands, in_order_that he_may_be_having to_be_sharing to_the one having need.

OET (OET-RV) If you’ve been stealing, then stop it. Instead you should be a hard worker, doing good things with your hands, so that you’ll earn enough to be able to help those who are in need.

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.

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◄ ← EPH 4:28 ↑ → ► ║ ©