EPH 5:9 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. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129878
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. (for
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129879
1. καρπός
2. karpos
3. +the fruit
4. -
5. 25900
6. N····NMS
7. ˓the˒ fruit
8. ˓the˒ fruit
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129880
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GNS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129881
1. φωτός
2. fōs
3. light is
4. light
5. 54570
6. N····GNS
7. light ‹is›
8. light ‹is›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129882
1. πνεύματος
2. pneuma
3. -
4. -
5. 41510
6. N····GNS
7. spirit
8. spirit
9. -
10. -
11. 129883
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129884
1. πάσῃ
2. pas
3. all
4. -
5. 39560
6. E····DFS
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129885
1. ἀγαθωσύνῃ
2. agathōsunē
3. goodness
4. goodness
5. 190
6. N····DFS
7. goodness
8. goodness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129886
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129887
1. δικαιοσύνῃ
2. dikaiosunē
3. righteousness
4. right
5. 13430
6. N····DFS
7. righteousness
8. righteousness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129888
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129889
1. ἀληθείᾳ
2. alētheia
3. truth
4. -
5. 2250
6. N····DFS
7. truth
8. truth
9. -
10. Y64
11. 129890

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–20: Paul described behavior which is fitting for believers

In chapter 5, Paul continued with the subject of Christian behavior, which he had begun in the last section of chapter 4. So it is not necessary to start a new section here. One reason to start a new section here is to help the reader, as the previous section is already long. Some English versions begin a new section at 5:1 (BSB, GNT, NLT, NET, GW, NCV, ESV, NASB, NKJV), and some do not (NIV, RSV, NRSV, NJB, CEV, REB, KJV). You may want to consult your national translation and follow their example.

In this section, Paul exhorted the Christians to imitate God and avoid the sins of the pagan people surrounding them.

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

Living in the light (GNT, NLT, NCV)

Imitate God (GW)

Paragraph 5:6–14

Some English versions begin a new paragraph at 5:6. Others begin a new paragraph at 5:8.

In this paragraph, Paul used the words “darkness” and “light” in a metaphorical sense. These words will be discussed further below.

5:9

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Because light produces/makes everything that is good and right and true.
I say this because if people have the light of the truth, the result is that they behave in good, upright and honest ways.

In some English versions, verse 5:9 is marked by parentheses; that is, it is an extra thought added in between “walk as children of light” (5:8b) and “test and prove what pleases the Lord” (5:10). You could show this by starting the verse:

I say this because….

If you rearranged 5:5c you may want to rearrange this verse in the same way. If not, consider following the example of the BSB and set this verse apart with a comma. Or, you could use parentheses, as some English versions do (see the NIV).

for the fruit of the light: The phrase the fruit of the light contains two metaphors. Paul continues to use the metaphor of “light” introduced in 5:8b–c. Here in 5:9 he is introducing the metaphor of fruit of the light. Light is compared to a plant or a field that produces a harvest (fruit). Just as a plant produces fruit, so also spiritual light produces spiritual fruit: goodness, righteousness and truth.

In some languages, it may be necessary to drop the metaphor of fruit.

So here are some ways to translate this without using the metaphor of fruit:

For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. (NLT)

-or-If people live in the light, the result is that they behave in good, upright and honest ways.

The light of the truth causes people to do good and upright and true things.

consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth: These are the qualities or kinds of behavior that people who are in the light (that is, Christians) should have.

goodness: The Greek word that the BSB translates as goodness means being good, kind and generous. In some languages it may not be natural to use nouns for qualities such as goodness. In that case it may be more natural to use a verb to express this idea. For example:

to do good things

be good

To act kindly

righteousness: The Greek word that the BSB translates as righteousness means being upright, moral, doing things that please God (see 4:24b).

Some other ways righteousness may be translated here include:

honest (CEV)

(everything) that has God’s approval (GW)

live a straight life

See righteous in the Glossary for more information.

truth: The word truth in this verse means “to behave in an honest, sincere manner.” It is not referring to something that is true and not false.

General Comment on 5:9

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate all three of these nouns (“goodness,” “righteousness,” and “truth”) in a form that is not a noun. For example:

for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true

The people who walk in the light will bear fruit. They will do good behavior, walk the straight path, and speak the truth.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ & καρπὸς τοῦ φωτὸς ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ, καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ, καὶ ἀληθείᾳ

the & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ γάρ καρπός τοῦ φωτός ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ καί δικαιοσύνῃ καί ἀληθείᾳ)

Here, fruit is a metaphor for “result” or “outcome.” Alternate translation: [the result of living in the light is good work, right living, and truthful behavior]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ γάρ καρπός τοῦ φωτός ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ καί δικαιοσύνῃ καί ἀληθείᾳ)

The connecting word for introduces the reason of a reason-result relationship. The reason is that fruit of the light is goodness and righteousness and truth. The result is that the Ephesian believers should walk as children of light. Use a phrase in your language that connects a reason to a result.

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

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 5:9

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

Section 5:1–20: Paul described behavior which is fitting for believers

Paragraph 5:6–14

5:9

General Comment on 5:9

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