Bible/Ephesians/4

Ephesians 4:29

4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. to give: or, to distribute
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. to: or, to edify profitably

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Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.

4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

What does Ephesians 4:29 mean?

Ephesians 4:29 is a verse in the book of Ephesians, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include σαπρός (sapros), μή (me), λόγος (logos).

Greek interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Letσαπρόςsapros/sap-ros'/G4550from 4595; rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally):--bad, corrupt. Compare 4190.
noμήme/may/G3361a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
corruptσαπρόςsapros/sap-ros'/G4550from 4595; rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally):--bad, corrupt. Compare 4190.
communicationλόγοςlogos/log'-os/G3056from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
proceedἐκπορεύομαιekporeuomai/ek-por-yoo'-om-ahee/G1607from 1537 and 4198; to depart, be discharged, proceed, project:--come (forth, out of), depart, go (forth, out), issue, proceed (out of).
out
ofἐκekG1537or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
yourσύhumon/hoo-mone'/G5216genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).
mouth,στόμαstoma/stom'-a/G4750probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of 5114; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon):--edge, face, mouth.
butἀλλάalla/al-lah'/G235neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
that
whichτίςeiG1536from 1487 and 5100; if any:--he that, if a(-ny) man('s thing, from any, ought), whether any, whosoever.
is
goodἀγαθόςagathos/ag-ath-os'/G18a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well. Compare 2570.
toπρόςpros/pros/G4314a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
the
useχρείαchreia/khri'-ah/G5532from the base of 5530 or 5534; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:--business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.
of
edifying,οἰκοδομήoikodome/oy-kod-om-ay'/G3619feminine (abstract) of a compound of 3624 and the base of 1430; architecture, i.e. (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation:--building, edify(-ication, -ing).
thatἵναhina/hin'-ah/G2443probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.
it
may
ministerδίδωμιdidomi/did'-o-mee/G1325a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
graceχάριςcharis/khar'-ece/G5485from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).
unto
the
hearers.ἀκούωakouo/ak-oo'-o/G191a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
to:
or,
to
edify
profitably

Topics

CommandmentsMissionaries, All Christians Should Be As

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ephesians 4:29.

Matthew 15:11

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Matthew 15:18

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Matthew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 5:37

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Matthew 7:9

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Luke 4:22

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Mark 1:45

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. conceived: Gr. begotten

Frequently asked questions

What does Ephesians 4:29 say?

Ephesians 4:29 (King James Version) reads: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. to: or, to edify profitably"

Is Ephesians 4:29 in the Old or New Testament?

Ephesians 4:29 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ephesians.

Reflect

As you read Ephesians 4:29, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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4:28Read all of Ephesians 44:30