Ephesians 5:3

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.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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

In Context

2Do everything in a way that shows that you love people, just like Christ loved us and willingly died for us. He offered himself to God as a sacrifice that was very pleasing to God, just like Jewish priests offered sweet-smelling animal sacrifices to God [MET].

4Do not use obscene/shameful language when you talk to people. Do not talk foolishly. Do not use vulgar/indecent language, because it is not appropriate/fitting that God’s people should talk like that. Instead, tell people how much you thank God for all he does for you.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Cross References

Exodus 18:21But in addition, you should choose some other men to help you. Choose men who have reverence for God and who will not accept bribes. Appoint some of them to make decisions for groups of ten people, some for groups of 50 people, some for groups of 100 people, and some for groups of 1,000 people.

Exodus 23:13Make certain that you obey everything that I have commanded you to do. Do not pray to [MTY] other gods. Do not even mention their names.”

Numbers 25:1While the Israelis were camped at a place called Acacia Grove, some of the men caused themselves to become unacceptable to God by having sex with some of the women of the Moab people-group who lived in that area.

Joshua 7:21Among the things in Jericho that I saw was a beautiful coat from Babylonia. I also saw 200 pieces of silver and some gold that weighed as much as 50 pieces of silver. I wanted those things very much for myself, so I took them. I buried them all in the ground under my tent. You will find them there. The silver is buried under the other things.”

Psalms 10:3They brag about the evil things that they want to do. They praise people who seize from others things that do not belong to them, and they curse you, Yahweh.

Proverbs 28:16Rulers who do not have good sense cruelly oppress the people they rule, but rulers who do not want to become rich by cheating/deceiving people will live (OR, rule) for a long time.

Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:2-3

Cautions against Impurity. ( a. d. 61.) 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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