EPH 5:3 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 But sexual immorality and every impurity or greed must not even be named among you, just as is proper for saints,

UST But there should be no reason for anyone to even suggest that any of you are involved in sexual sin or any kind of immoral or obsessive sexual behavior. Such sins do not belong among God’s people.

BSB But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, [or] of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

BLB But let sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness not even be named among you, as also is proper to saints,

AICNT But sexual immorality and all impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper for saints;

OEB As for sexual immorality and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ’s people,

WEBBE But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned amongst you, as becomes saints;

WMBB But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned amongst you, as becomes holy ones;

NET But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

LSV and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, do not let it even be named among you, as is proper to holy ones;

FBV Sexual immorality or any kind of indecency or greed should never be mentioned concerning you, as God's people should not be doing such things.

TCNT But fornication, impurity of any kind, and covetousness must not even be mentioned among you, because such things are improper for saints.

T4T Do not commit any kind of immoral act [DOU], and do not desire more things than you need. Do not act in such a way that others could even ◄spread rumors/talk► about your acting in such ways, because it is not appropriate/fitting for God’s people to do such things.

LEB But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or greediness, must not even be named among you (as is fitting for saints),

BBE But evil acts of the flesh and all unclean things, or desire for others' property, let it not even be named among you, as is right for saints;

Moff Never let any sexual vice or impurity or lust be so much as mentioned by you — that is the proper course for saints to take;

Wymth But fornication and every kind of impurity, or covetousness, let them not even be mentioned among you, for they ought not to be named among God's people.

ASV But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

DRA But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:

YLT and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

Drby But fornication and all uncleanness or unbridled lust, let it not be even named among you, as it becomes saints;

RV But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
(But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh/becomes saints; )

SLT And fornication, and all uncleanness, or overreaching, let it not be named with you, as becomes the holy;

Wbstr But lewdness and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

KJB-1769 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
(But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh/becomes saints; )

KJB-1611 But fornication and all vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named amongst you, as becommeth Saints:
(But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you, as becometh/becomes Saints:)

Bshps But fornication, and all vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named among you, as it becommeth saintes:
(But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as it becometh/becomes saints:)

Gnva But fornication, and all vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named among you, as it becommeth Saintes,
(But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as it becometh/becomes Saints, )

Cvdl As for whordome and all vnclennes, or couetousnes, let it not be named amoge you, as it becommeth sayntes:
(As for whoredom/prostitution and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be named among you, as it becometh/becomes saints:)

TNT So that fornicacion and all vnclennes or coveteousnes be not once named amonge you as it be commeth saynctes:
(So that fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness be not once named among you as it be cometh/comes saynctes: )

Wycl And fornycacioun, and al vnclennesse, or aueryce, be not named among you, as it bicometh holi men;
(And fornication, and all uncleanness, or averice/greed, be not named among you, as it becometh/becomes holy men;)

Luth Hurerei aber und alle Unreinigkeit oder Geiz lasset nicht von euch gesagt werden, wie den Heiligen zustehet,
(fornication but and all uncleanness or stinginess let not from you said become, as/like the saints/holy_ones zustehet,)

ClVg Fornicatio autem, et omnis immunditia, aut avaritia, nec nominetur in vobis, sicut decet sanctos:
(Fornicatio however, and everyone impurity, or greed/craving, but_not by_nametur in/into/on to_you(pl), like proper/it_is_fitting saints: )

UGNT πορνεία δὲ, καὶ ἀκαθαρσία πᾶσα, ἢ πλεονεξία, μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν, καθὼς πρέπει ἁγίοις;
(porneia de, kai akatharsia pasa, aʸ pleonexia, maʸde onomazesthō en humin, kathōs prepei hagiois;)

SBL-GNT Πορνεία δὲ καὶ ⸂ἀκαθαρσία πᾶσα⸃ ἢ πλεονεξία μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν, καθὼς πρέπει ἁγίοις,
(Porneia de kai ⸂akatharsia pasa⸃ aʸ pleonexia maʸde onomazesthō en humin, kathōs prepei hagiois,)

RP-GNT Πορνεία δὲ καὶ πᾶσα ἀκαθαρσία ἢ πλεονεξία μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν, καθὼς πρέπει ἁγίοις·
(Porneia de kai pasa akatharsia aʸ pleonexia maʸde onomazesthō en humin, kathōs prepei hagiois;)

TC-GNT Πορνεία δὲ καὶ [fn]πᾶσα ἀκαθαρσία ἢ πλεονεξία μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν, καθὼς πρέπει ἁγίοις·
(Porneia de kai pasa akatharsia aʸ pleonexia maʸde onomazesthō en humin, kathōs prepei hagiois; )

5:3 πασα ακαθαρσια ¦ ακαθαρσια πασα 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)

5:3a–b

But among you…there must not be even a hint: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as not be even a hint is literally “not even be named.” There are several ways to understand this expression. It can mean:

There should not even be a reason for rumors or gossip that the Ephesians committed these sins. In other words, Christians should have such pure behavior that it will never cause non-Christians to even talk about Christians doing these kinds of sins. For example:
don’t let it be said that any of you are immoral (CEV) (BSB, NIV, CEV, UBS, SSA)
These sins should not be mentioned by the Ephesians. This means that Christians themselves should not even talk about such sins in their conversation. For example:
don’t even talk about such things (JBP) (GNT, NRSV, REB, GW, ESV, JBP)
These sins should not occur among Christians. For example:
Such sins have no place among God’s people. (NLT) (NET, NLT, NCV)

Paul is urging the Ephesians to keep themselves far away from this sort of sinful behavior. Since Paul is himself, discussing and warning the Ephesians against these sins, (2) seems unlikely. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), but (3) is also acceptable.

5:3a

But among you, as is proper among the saints,

But, because these things are not proper for God’s holy people,
Now, because it is not right/appropriate for God’s holy people to do these things,

as is proper: The word proper means “suitable.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

right (NCV)

it should be

among the saints: The Greek word that the BSB translates as saints is literally “holy ones.” It means “people set apart for God.” This Greek word refers to every believer. It can be translated as:

God’s people

people who belong to God

Many English versions translate this word as saints. All Christians are saints. This word does not refer only to special people that the modern church regards as “saints.”

See how you translated the similar phrase “saints” in 4:12a. And see Holy, Meaning 1, special use in the Glossary, if you want more information.

5:3b

there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,

do not give others a reason/cause to say that you^(plur) are sexually immoral,
do not do anything that would even cause people to talk/gossip about you saying that you are sexually immoral.

sexual immorality: The term sexual immorality refers to all types of sexual behavior that are forbidden in God’s law. It includes adultery and all sexual relations outside of marriage. Another way this phrase has been translated is:

sexual sin (NCV)

5:3c

or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

or perverted, or greedy,
Do not do anything shameful/perverted. Do not be greedy.

impurity: The word impurity is a stronger word for immorality and includes all perverted and unnatural sexual behavior. In the New Testament, this word is often used together with “sexual immorality.” (See Galatians 5:19 and Colossians 3:5.)

In your language, there may not be two different words that mean exactly the same things as “sexual immorality” and impurity. But you can probably find ways to talk about the same things. For example:

adultery and other kinds of sleeping around

taking a woman who is not your wife or other unacceptable actions like that

Try to make your translation clear, but do not use coarse words that are not appropriate to read in public.

greed: The word greed refers to a never-ending desire to get more than you have or deserve. While it is usually associated with material gain, in this context, it could also refer to a strong desire for sexual pleasure.

Your translation of greed should allow for a general understanding of the word.

General Comment on 5:3a–b

In some languages, it will be more natural to reorder parts of 5:3. For example:

^3aSince you are holy people, ^3byou must not do anything sexually immoral or ^3cshameful/perverted, and you must not be greedy. ^3bThere must not even be a cause for rumors of such behavior ^3aamong you.

^3aBut among you ^3bthere must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, ^3cor of any kind of impurity, or of greed, ^3abecause these are improper for Godʼs holy people. (NIV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πορνεία δὲ, καὶ ἀκαθαρσία πᾶσα, ἢ πλεονεξία, μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν

sexual_immorality (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πορνεία Δέ καί ἀκαθαρσία πάσα ἤ πλεονεξία μηδέ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν καθώς πρέπει ἁγίοις)

If your language does not use this passive form, you can state this in active form. Alternative translation: [Do not do anything that would let anyone think that you are guilty of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or greed]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πορνεία Δέ καί ἀκαθαρσία πάσα ἤ πλεονεξία μηδέ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν καθώς πρέπει ἁγίοις)

The connecting word But introduces a contrast relationship. The fragrant offering and sacrifice to God is in contrast to sinful acts and thoughts that are not fitting for saints. Use a connecting word that indicates a contrast in your language.

ἀκαθαρσία πᾶσα

impurity (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πορνεία Δέ καί ἀκαθαρσία πάσα ἤ πλεονεξία μηδέ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν καθώς πρέπει ἁγίοις)