OET interlinear EPH 5:11

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ συνκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους

not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καὶ μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ ἐλέγχετε)

Paul speaks of the useless, sinful things that unbelievers do as if they are evil deeds that people do in the dark so no one will see them. Alternate translation: “do not do useless, sinful things with unbelievers”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους

˱with˲_the works ¬the unfruitful ¬the ˱of˲_darkness

Here Paul is comparing evil actions to an unhealthy tree that produces nothing good. Alternate translation: “actions that do nothing good, useful, or profitable, caused by darkness”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους

˱with˲_the works ¬the unfruitful ¬the ˱of˲_darkness

The word darkness is often used to represent sin. In this instance, these works result from sinful motives. Alternate translation: “deeds that are worthless because they were done from sinful motives”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

μᾶλλον δὲ

rather but

The connecting phrase but rather introduces contrast relationship. Participating in the works of darkness is in contrast to exposing them.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐλέγχετε

/be/_rebuking_‹them›

Speaking against the works of darkness is spoken of as bringing them out into the light so that people can see them. Alternate translation: “bring them out into the light” or “uncover them” or “show and tell people how wrong these actions are”