EPH 5:19 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, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing psalms in your heart to the Lord,

UST Sing to each other Psalms and songs about the Messiah and songs that God’s Spirit gives you. Let this music come from deep within you as sincere praise to the Lord.

MSB Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

BLB speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

AICNT speaking to one another [in][fn] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord,

5:19, in: NA28[] ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR

OEB Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

WEBBE speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

WMBB (Same as above)

NET speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,

LSV speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD,

FBV Share together with one another, using psalms and hymns and sacred songs, singing and making music to the Lord to express what you feel.

TCNT speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord,

T4T Sing to each other ◄Psalms/songs with words from the Scriptures►, sing other songs that the congregation knows, and songs that God’s Spirit gives you. Sing these Psalms and other songs sincerely to praise the Lord Jesus.

LEB speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing praise in your heart to the Lord,

BBE Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Moff converse with one another in the music of psalms, in hymns, and in songs of the spiritual life, praise the Lord heartily with words and music,

Wymth but drink deeply of God's Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and offer praise in your hearts to the Lord.

ASV speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

DRA Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord;

YLT speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Drby speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;

RV speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

SLT Speaking to yourselves on harps, and songs, and spiritual odes, singing and playing on the harp in your heart to the Lord;

Wbstr Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

KJB-1769 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

KJB-1611 Speaking to your selues, in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and Spirituall songs, singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord,
(Speaking to yourselves, in Psalms, and Hymnes, and Spirituall songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,)

Bshps Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hymnes, and spirituall songues, syngyng and makyng melodie to the Lorde in your heartes:
(Speaking unto yourselves in psalms and hymnes, and spiritual songs, synging and making melody to the Lord in your hearts:)

Gnva Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing, and making melodie to the Lord in your hearts,
(Speaking unto yourselves in psalms, and hymnes, and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, )

Cvdl and talke amoge youre selues of Psalmes, and ymnes, and spirituall songes, synginge and makynge melody vnto the LORDE in youre hertes
(and talk among yourselves of Psalms, and ymnes, and spiritual songs, synginge and making melody unto the LORD in your(pl) hearts)

TNT speakynge vnto youre selves in psalmes and ymnes and spretuall songes synginge and makinge melodie to the Lorde in youre hertes
(speaking unto your(pl) selves in psalms and ymnes and spretuall songs synginge and making melody to the Lord in your(pl) hearts )

Wycl and ymnes, and spiritual songis, syngynge and seiynge salm in youre hertis to the Lord;
(and ymnes, and spiritual songs, singing and saying psalm in your(pl) hearts to the Lord;)

Luth und redet untereinander von Psalmen und Lobgesängen und geistlichen Liedern; singet und spielet dem HErr’s in euren Herzen.
(and talks each_other from Psalmen and Lobgesängen and clergy songs; sing and spielet to_him LORD’s in your(s)(pl) heart(s).)

ClVg loquentes vobismetipsis in psalmis, et hymnis, et canticis spiritualibus, cantantes et psallentes in cordibus vestris Domino,
(speaking to_you(pl)metipsis in/into/on psalmss, and hymns, and songss spiritual, cantantes and psallentes in/into/on hearts yours Master, )

UGNT λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ἐν ψαλμοῖς, καὶ ὕμνοις, καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς; ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ;
(lalountes heautois en psalmois, kai humnois, kai ōdais pneumatikais; adontes kai psallontes taʸ kardia humōn tōi Kuriōi;)

SBL-GNT λαλοῦντες ⸀ἑαυτοῖς ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ᾄδοντες καὶ ⸀ψάλλοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ κυρίῳ,
(lalountes ⸀heautois psalmois kai humnois kai ōdais pneumatikais, adontes kai ⸀psallontes taʸ kardia humōn tōi kuriōi,)

RP-GNT λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ κυρίῳ,
(lalountes heautois psalmois kai humnois kai ōdais pneumatikais, adontes kai psallontes en taʸ kardia humōn tōi kuriōi,)

TC-GNT λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς [fn]ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες [fn]ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ,
(lalountes heautois psalmois kai humnois kai ōdais pneumatikais, adontes kai psallontes en taʸ kardia humōn tōi Kuriōi, )

5:19 ψαλμοις ¦ εν ψαλμοις NA

5:19 ψαλλοντες εν 85.7% ¦ εν MSS 8.1% ¦ ψαλλοντες CT 0.8%

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)

5:19–21

In 5:18 Paul gave the command “be filled with the Spirit.” In the Greek text, this sentence does not end at 5:18, but continues until 5:21. The BSB and some other versions begin a new sentence here. You must decide whether it is more natural in your language to begin a new sentence here or to translate 5:19a as a continuation of 5:18c. For example:

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts (NLT)

In 5:19–21, Paul lists four kinds of good behavior that we should do when we are “filled” (controlled) by the Holy Spirit. We should:

encourage one another with songs,
sing to praise the Lord,
give thanks and
submit to one another.

5:19a

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Sing^(plur) psalms, hymns and other spiritual songs to one another.
Sing^(plur) to one another songs that David wrote and other songs of praise.

Speak to one another: People normally “sing” psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. They generally do not Speak them. So when Paul said Speak to one another, he could have meant:

sing songs to one another. For example:
as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves (NRSV, NLT, CEV, NJB, JBP)
speak or recite the words of these songs to one another. For example:
by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good (BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, NASB, REB, KJV, NCV, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as this seems to fit the context better and has more commentary support. See also Colossians 3:16 where Paul used the verb “sing” in a similar context.

psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs: Paul here mentioned three types of songs. (Compare this phrase with Colossians 3:16.)

psalms: The word psalms refers to the psalms in the Old Testament. King David wrote most of these songs.

hymns: These hymns were in honor of God and Jesus. The early Christians wrote these songs.

spiritual songs: Scholars are not certain of the meaning of spiritual songs. These songs may have been spontaneous singing inspired by the Holy Spirit.

If you do not have three different terms, use short, descriptive phrases to translate these terms. You could combine two of the terms. For example:

songs of David and other songs praising God

5:19b

Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

Sing songs and make other music to the Lord with all your^(plur) heart.
Praise the Lord by singing and making music heartily/enthusiastically.

Sing and make music: The verb Sing obviously means with the voice. So the clause make music may indicate other types of music, for example, playing instruments. However, this clause should remain generic in the translation.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Sing songs and make other music

Singing and making melody (RSV)

in your hearts: There are at least two ways to understand the phrase in your hearts:

It means sing with all your hearts, in other words, sing with enthusiasm. For example:
…as you praise the Lord with all your heart. (RSV, NASB, ESV, GW, REB, CEV)
It means literally sing in your heart. This would mean singing privately in your own heart without making any sound. For example:
…making music in your hearts for the ears of the Lord! (BSB, NIV, GNT, NRSV, NET, NLT, JBP, NJB, KJV, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This fits the prior clause well, since Paul was writing about public singing.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

ψαλμοῖς, καὶ ὕμνοις, καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς

psalms (Some words not found in SR-GNT: λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ἐν ψαλμοῖς καί ὕμνοις καί ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ᾄδοντες καί ψάλλοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ)

This could mean: (1) Paul is using these words as a merism for “all sorts of songs to praise God” (2) Paul is listing specific forms of music.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ψαλμοῖς

psalms

Paul assumes that his readers will understand that these psalms are probably songs from the Old Testament book of Psalms that believers sang in worship. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: the lyrical poems of David and others

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὕμνοις

hymns

These hymns are songs of praise and worship that may have been written specifically for Christians to sing.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς

songs spiritual

This could mean: (1) these are songs that the Holy Spirit inspires a person to sing right at that moment (2) spiritual songs and “hymns” form a doublet. They mean basically the same thing, and you could use one word for these instead of two.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν

˱in˲_the heart ˱of˲_you_all

Here, heart is a metonym for a person’s thoughts or inner being. This could mean: (1) they should do this with true motives and sincerity. Alternate translation: [from deep within your being] or [sincerely] (2) they should do this with enthusiasm: Alternate translation: [with all of your being] or [enthusiastically]

Parallel EPH 5:19

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

5:19–21

5:19a

5:19b