EPH 5:8 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) because you yourselves were once in the darkness but now that you are in Yahweh’s light, you should behave like children of light.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 because formerly you were darkness, but now are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

UST Remember that before you believed in the Lord Jesus, you did not know what was true, just as people who are in a dark place do not know what is around them. But now it is as though you have come out into the light, because the Lord has shown to you what is true. So live in the way that the Lord has shown to you.

BLB For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--

AICNT for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
¶  Walk as children of light

OEB For, although you were once in darkness, now, by your union with the Lord, you are in the light. Live as children of light –

WEBBE For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –

LSV for you were once darkness, and now light in the LORD; walk as children of light,

FBV At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You are to live as children of light

TCNT For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

T4T because formerly you did not know God’s truth [MET], as those who are in darkness do not know what is around them. But now it is as though you are in the light [MET] because you know God’s truth because of your relationship with the Lord Jesus. So do those things that those who know God’s truth [MET] should do.

LEB for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light

BBE For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light

Moff For while once upon a time you were darkness, now in the Lord you are light; lead the life of those who are children of the light

Wymth There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

ASV for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light

DRA For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.

YLT for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,

Drby for ye were once darkness, but now light in [the] Lord; walk as children of light,

RV For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
(For ye/you_all were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light )

SLT For ye were then darkness, and now light in the Lord: walk ye as children of light:

Wbstr For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light;

KJB-1769 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
(For ye/you_all were sometimes darkness, but now are ye/you_all light in the Lord: walk as children of light: )

KJB-1611 For yee were sometimes darkenesse, but now are yee light in the Lord: walke as children of light,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps For ye were sometimes darknesse: but nowe are ye lyght in the Lorde. Walke as chyldren of lyght.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva For ye were once darkenesse, but are nowe light in the Lord: walke as children of light,
(For ye/you_all were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light, )

Cvdl For sometyme ye were darknesse, but now are ye lighte in the LORDE. Walke as the children of lighte.
(For sometyme ye/you_all were darkness, but now are ye/you_all lighte in the LORD. Walk as the children of lighte.)

TNT Ye were once dercknes but are now light in the Lorde. Walke as chyldren of light.
(Ye/You_all were once darkness but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. )

Wycl For ye weren sum tyme derknessis, but now `ye ben liyt in the Lord. Walke ye as the sones of liyt.
(For ye/you_all were some time darkness, but now ye/you_all been light in the Lord. Walk ye/you_all as the sons of light.)

Luth Denn ihr waret weiland Finsternis; nun aber seid ihr ein Licht in, dem HErr’s.
(Because you(pl)/their/her wait once/formerly darkness; now but are you(pl)/their/her a light(n) in, to_him LORD’s.)

ClVg Eratis enim aliquando tenebræ: nunc autem lux in Domino. Ut filii lucis ambulate:
(It_wasis because sometimes darkness: now however light in/into/on Master. As children light walk: )

UGNT ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος, νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ; ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε
(aʸte gar pote skotos, nun de fōs en Kuriōi; hōs tekna fōtos peripateite)

SBL-GNT ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος, νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ· ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε,
(aʸte gar pote skotos, nun de fōs en kuriōi; hōs tekna fōtos peripateite,)

RP-GNT ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος, νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ· ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε -
(aʸte gar pote skotos, nun de fōs en kuriōi; hōs tekna fōtos peripateite -)

TC-GNT ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος, νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ· ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε—
(aʸte gar pote skotos, nun de fōs en Kuriōi; hōs tekna fōtos peripateite— )

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 5:6–14

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.

5:8a–b

you were once darkness, but now you are light: Paul contrasted the way they once were in the past before they were Christians, with the way they now are, now that they are Christians.

darkness…light: The words darkness and light are metaphors here. Many languages use darkness and light as metaphors. In this context, darkness refers to being disobedient and separated from the will and purposes of God. Here, light represents having true knowledge about the will and purposes of God.

Paul uses this metaphor for several verses here, and often in his writings. You should try to keep the metaphors of light and dark, if possible.

5:8a

For you were once darkness,

For formerly you were in darkness,
Because even though your hearts were formerly dark in sin,

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces the reason that the Ephesians should not be partners with evil people. They should not be partners because they are now in the light.

Some versions do not translate this conjunction. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

you were once darkness: Here are some ways to translate this clause:

You used to be like people living in the dark (CEV)

your hearts were dark

you lived/dwelt in the dark

the darkness of disobedience and sin controlled you

5:8b

but now you are light in the Lord.

but now you have entered into the light, because you are united with the Lord.
God has now made your hearts light/bright with truth/goodness because you have become people of the Lord Jesus.

but now you are light: Here are some ways to translate this clause:

now you have light from the Lord (NLT)

now you have entered God’s light of truth and goodness

now God has made your hearts bright with purity and truth

Use expressions that are natural and clear in your language.

in the Lord: The phrase in the Lord means:

since you have become the Lord’s people

in union with the Lord (Jesus)

since you have become united to the Lord

Lord: Here the word Lord refers to Jesus. When Paul used the word Lord in his letters, he almost always meant the Lord Jesus.

5:8c

Walk as children of light,

So behave like people who are in the light.
Behave like people who know the truth should behave.

Walk: The Greek verb that the BSB literally translates as Walk means “behave.” See how you translated “walk/live” in 2:2a, 2:10c and 4:1b.)

as children of light: The phrase children of light here contrasts with the “sons of disobedience” in 5:6b. It refers to people who live in the light of God’s truth, that is, “people who behave as God wants.” All believers are children of light: they have turned away from their sins (darkness) and have come to Christ (light). For example:

people who belong to the light (GNT)

Here are some other ways to translate “Walk as children of light”:

So act like people of the light (CEV)

So you must live like people who belong to the light (GNT)

Live as children who have light. (GW)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος

˱you_all˲_were for (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἦτε γάρ ποτέ σκότος νῦν δέ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ ὡς τέκνα φωτός περιπατεῖτε)

Just as one cannot see in the dark, so people who love to sin cannot see or understand the things of God. Alternate translation: [because formerly you did not understand anything about God]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γάρ

for

The connecting word because introduces a reason-result relationship. The result is stated first (v.7): that the Ephesian believers should not become partners with evil men. The reason is stated second (v. 8): that the Ephesian believers are no longer darkness, but are now light. Use a phrase in your language that connects a reason to a result, using the order that is most natural for your language.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ

now (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἦτε γάρ ποτέ σκότος νῦν δέ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ ὡς τέκνα φωτός περιπατεῖτε)

Just as one can see in the light, so people whom God has saved understand how to please God. Alternate translation: [but now you know God and can live for him]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἦτε γάρ ποτέ σκότος νῦν δέ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ ὡς τέκνα φωτός περιπατεῖτε)

The connecting word but introduces a contrast relationship. The fact that the Ephesian believers were formerly darkness is in contrast to the fact that they are now light.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε

as children (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἦτε γάρ ποτέ σκότος νῦν δέ φῶς ἐν Κυρίῳ ὡς τέκνα φωτός περιπατεῖτε)

To Walk on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. Alternate translation: [Live as people who understand what the Lord wants them to do]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς