EPH 5:5 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, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 Indeed, know this for certain, that every sexually immoral or unclean or greedy person—that is, an idolater—has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

UST It is quite true that these people will be excluded from the kingdom of the Messiah who is God: everyone who is sexually immoral or indecent, or who is obsessed with sex, which is the same as worshiping an idol.

BSB For of this you can be sure: [No] immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has [any] inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

BLB For this you know, realizing that any fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

AICNT For this you know, understanding that every sexually immoral person or impure person or greedy person, which is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

OEB For of this you may be sure – that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

WEBBE Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

WMBB Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Messiah and God.

NET For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

LSV for you know this, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

FBV You know it's absolutely sure that no-one who is sexually immoral, or commits indecency, or who is greedy, or is an idol-worshiper will inherit anything in the kingdom of Christ and God.

TCNT For you [fn]know that no one who is a fornicator, impure, or covetous (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5:5 know ¦ know with certainty CT PCK

T4T You can be sure of this: No person who is sexually immoral or who acts indecently/shamefully will be among those people whom God rules over [MET] in heaven. Neither will those who desire more things than they need. Such people worship their possessions instead of worshipping God.

LEB For this you know _⌊for certain_⌋[fn], that every sexually immoral person, or unclean person, or greedy person (who is an idolater), does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

5:5 Literally “for this you know, knowing”

BBE Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Moff Be sure of this, that no one guilty of sexual vice or impurity or lust (that is, an idolater) possesses any inheritance in the realm of Christ and God.

Wymth For be well assured that no fornicator or immoral person and no money-grubber—or in other words idol-worshipper—has any share awaiting him in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

ASV For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

DRA For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

YLT for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.

Drby For this ye are [well] informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and [fn]God.

5.5 Elohim

RV For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
(For this ye/you_all know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, hath/has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. )

SLT For this ye are knowing, that every fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Wbstr For this ye know, that no lewd, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

KJB-1769 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
(For this ye/you_all know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath/has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. )

KJB-1611 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor vncleane person, nor couetous man who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ, and of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For this ye knowe, that no whoremonger, neither vncleane person, nor couetous person, which is a worshipper of images, hath any inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christe, and of God.
(For this ye/you_all know, that no whoremonger, neither unclean person, nor covetous person, which is a worshipper of images, hath/has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.)

Gnva For this ye know, that no whoremonger, neither vncleane person, nor couetous person, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ, and of God.
(For this ye/you_all know, that no whoremonger, neither unclean person, nor covetous person, which is an idolater, hath/has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God. )

Cvdl For be sure, that no whore monger, or vncleane person, or couetous person (which is a worshipper off ymages) hath inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christ and of God.
(For be sure, that no whore monger, or unclean person, or covetous person (which is a worshipper off images) hath/has inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.)

TNT For this ye knowe that no whormonger other vnclene person or coveteous person which is the worshipper of ymages hath eny inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christ and of God.
(For this ye/you_all know that no whormonger other unclean person or coveteous person which is the worshipper of images hath/has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. )

Wycl For wite ye this, and vndurstonde, that ech letchour, or vnclene man, or coueytouse, that serueth to mawmetis, hath not eritage in the kingdom of Crist and of God.
(For wit/know ye/you_all this, and understood, that each letchour, or unclean man, or coueytouse, that serveth/serves to mawmetis, hath/has not heritage in the kingdom of Christ and of God.)

Luth Denn das sollt ihr wissen, daß kein Hurer oder Unreiner oder Geiziger (welcher ist ein Götzendiener) Erbe hat an dem Reich Christi und Gottes.
(Because the should you(pl)/their/her realise, that no/not whore or Unreiner or miser (welcher is a idolsdiener) heritage has at/to to_him kingdom Christi and God’s.)

ClVg Hoc enim scitote intelligentes: quod omnis fornicator, aut immundus, aut avarus, quod est idolorum servitus, non habet hæreditatem in regno Christi et Dei.[fn]
(This because he_knowsote intelligent: that everyone fornicator, or unclean/impure, or avarus, that it_is idols servitus, not/no has inheritance in/into/on kingdom of_Christ and of_God. )

5.5 Avarus. Avaritiam idololatriæ æquat, quia illum avarum significat cujus Deus nummus est, vel quia res Dei quas Deus vult servire indigentibus usurpat sibi et recondit, et Deo præfert sicut idololatria Dei honorificentiam.

5.5 Greedy. Avaritiam idolatry equalt, because him avarum means whose God nummus it_is, or because thing of_God which God wants to_serve they_needibus usurpat to_himself and recondit, and to_God beforefert like idolatry of_God honouriam.

UGNT τοῦτο γὰρ ἴστε, γινώσκοντες ὅτι πᾶς πόρνος, ἢ ἀκάθαρτος, ἢ πλεονέκτης, ὅ ἐστιν εἰδωλολάτρης, οὐκ ἔχει κληρονομίαν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ.
(touto gar iste, ginōskontes hoti pas pornos, aʸ akathartos, aʸ pleonektaʸs, ho estin eidōlolatraʸs, ouk eⱪei klaʸronomian en taʸ basileia tou Ⱪristou kai Theou.)

SBL-GNT τοῦτο γὰρ ⸀ἴστε γινώσκοντες ὅτι πᾶς πόρνος ἢ ἀκάθαρτος ἢ πλεονέκτης, ⸀ὅ ἐστιν εἰδωλολάτρης, οὐκ ἔχει κληρονομίαν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ θεοῦ.
(touto gar ⸀iste ginōskontes hoti pas pornos aʸ akathartos aʸ pleonektaʸs, ⸀ho estin eidōlolatraʸs, ouk eⱪei klaʸronomian en taʸ basileia tou Ⱪristou kai theou.)

RP-GNT Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστε γινώσκοντες, ὅτι πᾶς πόρνος, ἢ ἀκάθαρτος, ἢ πλεονέκτης, ὅς ἐστιν εἰδωλολάτρης, οὐκ ἔχει κληρονομίαν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ χριστοῦ καὶ θεοῦ.
(Touto gar este ginōskontes, hoti pas pornos, aʸ akathartos, aʸ pleonektaʸs, hos estin eidōlolatraʸs, ouk eⱪei klaʸronomian en taʸ basileia tou ⱪristou kai theou.)

TC-GNT Τοῦτο γάρ [fn]ἐστε [fn]γινώσκοντες, ὅτι πᾶς πόρνος, ἢ ἀκάθαρτος, ἢ πλεονέκτης, [fn]ὅς ἐστιν εἰδωλολάτρης, οὐκ ἔχει κληρονομίαν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ.
(Touto gar este ginōskontes, hoti pas pornos, aʸ akathartos, aʸ pleonektaʸs, hos estin eidōlolatraʸs, ouk eⱪei klaʸronomian en taʸ basileia tou Ⱪristou kai Theou. )

5:5 εστε ¦ ιστε CT PCK

5:5 γινωσκοντες ¦ γεινωσκοντες TH

5:5 ος ¦ ο 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)

5:5a

For of this you can be sure:

You must know that
You can be confident of this

For of this you can be sure: The clause For of this you can be sure indicates that Paul was emphasizing his words. He wanted his readers to know that what he was about to say was completely true and sure.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

As a statement. For example:
You can be sure of this (NCV)
For you can be confident of this one thing (NET)
As a command. For example:
Be sure of this (RSV)

5:5b

No immoral, impure, or greedy person

no person who is sexually immoral or perverted or who is greedy
no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy

No immoral, impure, or greedy person: The three adjectives immoral, impure and greedy are each related to the three nouns in 5:3b and 5:3c, and they have the same meanings.

immoral: An immoral person is someone who practices all types of sexual behaviors (such as adultery) that are forbidden in God’s law.

impure: An impure person is someone who practices perverted and unnatural sexual behavior.

greedy person: A greedy person is someone who has a never-ending desire to get more than he has or deserves.

5:5c

(that is, an idolater),

(being greedy is like worshipping idols)
(for greed is a form of idolatry)

The BSB uses parentheses around the clause “that is, an idolater.” (See 5:5c in the Display.) Other versions, such as the NIV, use dashes. The dashes or parentheses show that this clause comes in the middle of the main thought.

In some languages, it is not natural to have a clause like this in the middle of the main sentence. If this is the case in your language, see the General Comment below after 5:5d for other places to put this clause.

(that is, an idolater): There are two main ways to connect the word idolater to the preceding part of the verse.

It is connected only to the word greedy. The GNT clearly shows this interpretation by saying:
for greed is a form of idolatry (GNT) (BSB, GNT, REB, GW, NLT, JBP, NCV)
It is connected to all three words immoral, impure and greedy. For example:
Being greedy, indecent, or immoral is just another way of worshiping idols. (CEV) (NET, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) as it has the most support among commentators and English versions.

idolater: An idolater is someone who worships idols. A greedy person is like an idolater because riches have become his god. It is as if he worships riches or possessions.

If it is difficult in your language to talk about idols or idolaters together with greed, you can say:

People who desire to get many possessions—we can say that they worship those possessions instead of God.

People who desire to get many possessions have made possessions their lord/boss instead of God.

5:5d

has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

will inherit/obtain the good things of the kingdom of Christ and of God.
will have a share in the things that Christ and God give to those they rule.

has any inheritance in: Here Paul used the Greek word that the BSB translates as inheritance in a figurative sense. Inheritance literally refers to the money or property that someone receives when a relative dies. In its figurative sense, inheritance refers to all the good things that God has promised to give his people. It includes salvation and a future life in heaven. (This word also occurs in 1:14a.)

When Paul said that none of these people “has any inheritance in the kingdom…of God,” he meant that none of them will receive the blessings that God will give his people in his kingdom. These people will have no share in God’s kingdom. They will not be members of it or have a part in it.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will never be part of (CEV)

will ever receive a share in (GNT)

the kingdom of Christ and of God: The phrase kingdom of Christ and of God refers to Christ and God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that they rule over. In the Gospels, it is normally referred to as the “kingdom of God.” It refers to the relationship that he has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the people whom Christ and God rule

You will probably want to translate kingdom of…God here in the same way you translated it in the Gospels, for example in Mark 10:25. (For a discussion of the meaning of kingdom of…God, see kingdom in the Glossary.)The phrase “kingdom of God” is used many times in the NT. But Ephesians 5:5 is the only place in the Bible where the phrase “kingdom of Christ and of God” is used. (But Revelation 11:15 has a similar phrase: “the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.”) If you translate “kingdom” as a noun, make sure it is clear in your translation that there are not two kingdoms: (the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of God) but only one kingdom. You can translate it “the kingdom where Christ and God rule,” or “when God and Christ rule.”

General Comment on 5:5a–d

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

^5bno person who is sexually immoral or shameful/perverted or who is greedy ^5dwill have a share in the good things of the kingdom of Christ and of God. ^5cBeing greedy is like worshiping idols.

^5bno person who is immoral or who does shameful things ^5dwill inherit/obtain the things Christ and God give to those they rule. ^5bA person who is greedy ^5dwill not receive a part either, ^5cbecause he worships those things instead of God.