EPH 5:17 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

UST So be wise, understand well what it is that the Lord Jesus wants you to do, and do it!

5:17 Literally but be understanding (of); CT but understand

AICNT For this reason, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

OEB Therefore do not grow thoughtless, but try to understand what the Lord’s will is.

WEBBE Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.

LSV do not become fools because of this, but—understanding what [is] the will of the LORD,

FBV So don't be ignorant—find out what the Lord's will is.

TCNT Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

T4T So do not be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord Jesus wants you to do, and do it!

LEB ¶ Because of this do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

BBE For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure.

Moff So do not be senseless, but understand what is the Lord's will;

Wymth On this account do not prove yourselves wanting in sense, but try to understand what the Lord's will is.

ASV Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

DRA Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God.

YLT because of this become not fools, but — understanding what [is] the will of the Lord,

Drby For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what [is] the will of the Lord.

RV Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
(Wherefore be ye/you_all not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. )

SLT For this be not foolish, but understanding what the will of the Lord.

Wbstr Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is .

KJB-1769 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
(Wherefore be ye/you_all not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. )

KJB-1611 Wherefore be ye not vnwise, but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Wherfore be ye not vnwise, but vnderstandyng what the wyll of the Lord is.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva Wherefore, be ye not vnwise, but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is.
(Wherefore, be ye/you_all not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. )

Cvdl Wherfore be not ye vnwyse, but vnderstonde what the wil of the LORDE is,
(Wherefore be not ye/you_all unwise, but understood what the will of the LORD is,)

TNT Wherfore be ye not vnwyse but vnderstonde what the will of the Lorde is
(Wherefore be ye/you_all not unwise but understood what the will of the Lord is )

Wycl Therfor nyle ye be maad vnwise, but vndurstondynge which is the wille of God.
(Therefore won’t ye/you_all be made unwise, but understanding which is the will of God.)

Luth Darum werdet nicht unverständig, sondern verständig, was da sei des HErr’s Wille.
(Therefore become not unsensible/understanding, rather sensible/understanding, what/which there be the LORD’s Wille.)

ClVg Propterea nolite fieri imprudentes, sed intelligentes quæ sit voluntas Dei.
(That's_why don't to_be_done reckless, but intelligent which be will/desire(n) of_God. )

UGNT διὰ τοῦτο, μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνίετε τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Κυρίου.
(dia touto, maʸ ginesthe afrones, alla suniete ti to thelaʸma tou Kuriou.)

SBL-GNT διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ ⸀συνίετε τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου·
(dia touto maʸ ginesthe afrones, alla ⸀suniete ti to thelaʸma tou kuriou;)

RP-GNT Διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνιέντες τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου.
(Dia touto maʸ ginesthe afrones, alla sunientes ti to thelaʸma tou kuriou.)

TC-GNT Διὰ τοῦτο μὴ [fn]γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ [fn]συνιέντες τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Κυρίου.
(Dia touto maʸ ginesthe afrones, alla sunientes ti to thelaʸma tou Kuriou. )

5:17 γινεσθε ¦ γεινεσθε TH

5:17 συνιεντες ¦ συνιετε CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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 5:15–17

In 5:15, 5:17 and 5:18, Paul gives three pairs of commands:

5:15 “walk…not as unwise but as wise”

5:17 “do not be foolish, but understand…”

5:18 “do not get drunk…. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (RSV).

In each case Paul gives a negative command (something to not do) followed by “but” or “Instead,” then a positive command (something to do). Think how to translate these commands naturally in your language. Here are some possibilities:

In some languages, it will be better to use a conjunction other than “but” to link the negative and positive commands, for example:
Do not behave like unwise people; instead, behave like wise people.
In some languages, it is best to use no conjunction at all, for example:
Do not behave like unwise people. Behave like wise people!
In some languages, it is more natural to put the positive first. For example:
Behave like wise people; do not behave as unwise people.

5:17a

Therefore do not be foolish,

So do not be foolish people,
For this reason, do not act unwisely,

Therefore: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Therefore introduces an appeal on the basis of what he just said in 5:15–16. Some English versions do not translate it.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

so (NCV)

For this reason (NET)

Translate this connecting phrase in a way that is natural in your language.

foolish: The Greek word that the BSB translates as foolish here is different from the word translated as “unwise” in 5:15b. Their meanings are very similar. If you do not have two words that mean “foolish” or “unwise,” you can translate foolish here as you translated “unwise” in 5:15b. For example:

thoughtlessly (NLT)

5:17b

but understand what the Lord’s will is.

instead try to understand/know what the Lord wants you to do.
rather be wise by trying to find out what the Lord wants you to do and do it.

but: The Greek word that the BSB translates as but indicates a negative, positive contrast between 5:17a and 5:17b. If you need to make this contrast clearer, you could add the words “be wise” to make the contrast with “do not be foolish” more explicit. For example:

^17a…do not be foolish, ^17bbut be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. (NET)

understand what the Lord’s will is: Here are some other ways to translate the clause understand what the Lord’s will is:

understand what the Lord wants you to do (NLT)

try to find out what the Lord wants you to do (GNT)

This clause is similar to what Paul said in 5:10.

Lord: As in 5:10, Paul probably meant the Lord God here. So if you need to specify whether it is the Lord Christ or the Lord God, choose Lord God.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

διὰ τοῦτο

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο μή γίνεσθε ἄφρονες ἀλλά συνίετε τί τό θέλημα τοῦ Κυρίου)

The connecting phrase Because of this introduces the result of a reason-result relationship. The reason is that the days are evil. The result is that the believers will not be foolish, but understand God’s will. Use a phrase in your language that connects a reason to a result.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο μή γίνεσθε ἄφρονες ἀλλά συνίετε τί τό θέλημα τοῦ Κυρίου)

The connecting word but introduces a contrast relationship. Being foolish is in contrast to understanding God’s will.

Parallel EPH 5:17

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

Paragraph 5:15–17

5:17a

5:17b