OET interlinear EPH 5:13

5:13a

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible: This sentence continues to explain the metaphor of light. Paul is also further explaining what he meant by “expose them” in 5:11b.

The meaning of the figure of speech can be explained like this: “When we shine light on something, people can clearly see what it looks like. In the same way, when people do evil deeds in secret and we tell them what God’s Word says, it is as if we are bringing their deeds out into the light. We make them see how evil their deeds are in God’s eyes.”

You should retain this figure of light because Paul used it throughout this section.

everything: The word everything refers to the things done in secret in 5:12.

Here are some other ways to translate 5:13:

And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed (GNT)

But the light will show what these things are really like (CEV)

5:13b

The BSB includes this verse part at the end of verse 13 (see also KJV, NASB, RSV). Many other English versions include this verse part at the beginning of verse 14 (see NIV, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NABRE, NET, NRSV). It may be best to follow the numbering system that is used in the major version in your area.

for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself: Scholars have different views on the meaning of this clause. The meaning depends on whether the Greek verb that the BSB translates as illuminated has a passive or active meaning:

1. The verb has a passive meaning. The clause means that anything that has been revealed (by the light) is light or becomes light. Another way of saying it is: the darkness in things is replaced by the light so the things are transformed into light. The REB has perhaps the clearest translation of this interpretation:

   whatever is exposed to the light itself becomes light (REB) (BSB, RSV, GNT, NASB, NJB, REB, NCV, JBP)

2. The verb has an active meaning. The clause means that light reveals/shows what the dark things are really like. This is what light always does. For example:

   Light shows up everything (CEV) (NIV, NLT, NET, GW, CEV, ESV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

Paul was thinking of the Ephesian Christians who were in darkness, but were now living in God’s light (5:8). When God’s light shines on the hearts of unbelievers, they stop doing their evil deeds. They come to the light and they become “children of light,” too. Here is one way to translate this:

For when the light shines on anything that is dark, that thing does not stay dark but becomes light/bright also.