Ephesians 4:25

Amplified Bible

Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So you must stop telling lies. "You must always speak the truth to each other," because we all belong to each other in the same body.

Revised Standard Version
Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wherfore put awaye lyinge and speake every man truth vnto his neghbour for as moche as we are members one of another.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members one of another.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.

New Century Version
So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body.

Update Bible Version
Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

English Standard Version
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

World English Bible
Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members one of another.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.

Weymouth's New Testament
For this reason, laying aside falsehood, every one of you should speak the truth to his fellow man; for we are, as it were, parts of one another.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For which thing `ye putte awei leesyng, and speke ye treuthe ech man with his neiybore, for we ben membris ech to othere.

English Revised Version
Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Contemporary English Version
We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth.

American Standard Version
Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

Bible in Basic English
And so, putting away false words, let everyone say what is true to his neighbour: for we are parts one of another.

Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, stripping off falsehood, let everyone speak truth with his neighbor , because we are intimately related to each other as parts of a body.

Darby Translation
Wherefore, having put off falsehood, speak truth every one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another.

International Standard Version
Therefore, stripping off falsehood, "let each of us speak the truth to his neighbor,"Zechariah 8:16">[fn] for we are members of one another.Zechariah 8:16; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 3:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
WHEREFORE let lying cease from you, and speak the truth every man with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Murdock Translation
Wherefore, put away from you lying, and speak ye the truth each with his neighbor; for we are members one of another.

King James Version (1611)
Wherefore putting away lying, speake euery man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

New Living Translation
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

New Life Bible
So stop lying to each other. Tell the truth to your neighbor. We all belong to the same body.

New Revised Standard
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore cast off lying, and speake euery man truth vnto his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

George Lamsa Translation
Wherefore you must put away from you lying, and speak the truth every man with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore, stripping off what is false, be speaking truth each one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore, putting away lying, speak ye the truth, every man with his neighbour. For we are members one of another.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore, puttyng away lying, speake euery man trueth vnto his neyghbour, forasmuch as we are members one of another.

Good News Translation
No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

King James Version
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

Literal Translation
Therefore, putting off the false, "speak truth each with his neighbor," because we are members of one another. Zech. 8:16

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore, putting away the lying, speak truth each with his neighbour, because we are members one of another;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore put awaye lyenge, and speake euery man the trueth vnto his neghboure, for as moch as we are membres one of another.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Wherefore leave off the practice of lying, and let every man speak truth to his neighbour: for we are all members of one society.

THE MESSAGE
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

New English Translation
Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor , for we are members of one another.

New King James Version
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," Zechariah 8:16">[fn] for we are members of one another.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Quit your lying ways. Speak the truth and the truth alone.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls], ¹⁸for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart. ¹⁹And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand]. ²⁰But you did not learn Christ in this way! ²¹If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him], ²²that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, ²³and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], ²⁴and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God's image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. ²⁵Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ]. ²⁶BE ANGRY [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], YET DO NOT SIN; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

putting: Leviticus 19:11, 1 Kings 13:18, Psalms 52:3, Psalms 119:29, Proverbs 6:17, Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 21:6, Isaiah 9:15, Isaiah 59:3, Isaiah 59:4, Isaiah 63:8, Jeremiah 9:3-5, Hosea 4:2, John 8:44, Acts 5:3, Acts 5:4, Colossians 3:9, 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:2, Titus 1:12, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15

speak: Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 8:7, Proverbs 12:17, Zechariah 8:16, Zechariah 8:19, 2 Corinthians 7:14, Colossians 3:9

for: Ephesians 5:30, Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:2 - said Genesis 27:24 - I am Exodus 23:1 - an unrighteous witness Exodus 23:7 - far from Leviticus 6:2 - lie Judges 16:11 - If they bind me 1 Samuel 1:14 - put away 1 Samuel 27:10 - And David Job 34:32 - if Psalms 4:2 - leasing Psalms 15:2 - speaketh Psalms 119:163 - hate Proverbs 4:24 - Put Proverbs 13:5 - righteous Proverbs 24:28 - deceive Isaiah 1:16 - cease Jeremiah 9:5 - they will Malachi 2:10 - why Matthew 5:37 - cometh 1 Corinthians 12:14 - General Ephesians 4:22 - ye Ephesians 5:9 - truth Philippians 4:8 - are true

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
Now the man Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have obtained a man (baby boy, son) with the help of the LORD."

Genesis 4:3
And in the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground.

Genesis 4:4
But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the LORD had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering;

Genesis 4:8
Cain talked with Abel his brother [about what God had said]. And when they were [alone, working] in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him.

Genesis 4:10
The LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice].

Genesis 4:11
"And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand.

1 Chronicles 1:1
Adam [his genealogical line], Seth, Enosh,

Luke 3:38
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore putting away lying,.... Which is one of the deeds of the old man, and a branch of the former conversation agreeable to him: a lie is a voluntary disagreement of the mind and speech, with a design to deceive; it is to speak that which is false, contrary to truth shining in the mind; and it is spoken knowingly and willingly, and with a design to impose upon others; hence a man may speak what is false, and not be a liar, if he does not know it to be so; and hence parables, fables, tropes, figures, hyperboles, c. are not lies, because they are not used to deceive, but to illustrate and enforce truth: there are several sorts of lies there is an officious lie, which is told for the service of others, but this is not lawful; for evil is not to be done, that good may come of it; and a man may as well tell a lie to serve himself, as another; and any other sin by the same rule may be allowed of, and tolerated; besides, it is not lawful to lie for God, and therefore not for a creature: and there is a jocose lie; this ought not to be encouraged; all appearance of evil should be abstained from; every idle word must be accounted for; and hereby also an evil habit of lying may be acquired: and there is a lie which is in itself directly hurtful, and injurious; as is every false thing, said with a design to deceive: and there are religious lies, and liars; some practical ones, as those who do not sincerely worship God, and who are dissolute in their lives, and their practice is not according to their profession; and there are others who are guilty of doctrinal lies, as antichrist and his followers, who are given up to believe a lie; and such who deny the deity, incarnation, Messiahship, work, office, grace, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ; and who profess themselves to be Christians, and are not: the springs and causes of lying are a corrupt heart and the lusts of it, which prompt unto it; such as covetousness, malice, and the fear of men; and also a tempting devil, the father of lies; and who is a lying spirit, in the hearts and mouths of men; this is a vice which ought to be put away, especially by professors of religion; the effects of it are sad; it brings infamy, disgrace, and discredit, upon particular persons; and has brought judgments upon nations, where it has in general obtained; and has been the cause of corporeal diseases and death; and even makes men liable to the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death: it is a sin exceeding sinful; it is a breach of God's law; an aping of the devil; it is against the light of nature, and is destructive of civil society, and very abominable in the sight of God: wherefore

speak every man truth with his neighbour; both with respect to civil and religious affairs, in common conversation, in trade and business, and in all things relating to God and men:

for we are members one of another; as men, are all of one blood, descended from one man, and so are related one to another; and as in civil society, belong to one body politic; and in a religious sense, members of the same mystical body, the church; of which Christ, who is the truth itself, is the head; and therefore should not attempt to deceive one another by lying, since there is such a near relation and close union of one to another.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wherefore putting away lying - It may seem strange that the apostle should seriously exhort Christians to put away “lying,” implying that they were in the habit of indulging in falsehood. But we are to remember:

(1) That lying is the universal vice of the pagan world. Among the ancient pagans, as among the moderns, it was almost universally practiced. It has been remarked by a distinguished jurist who had spent much time in India, that he would not believe a Hindu on his oath. The same testimony is borne by almost all the missionaries. of the character of pagans everywhere. No confidence can be placed in their statements; and, where there is the slightest temptation to falsehood, they practice it without remorse.

(2) The Ephesians had been recently converted, and were, to a great extent, ignorant of the requirements of the gospel. A conscience has to be “created” when pagans are converted, and it is long before they see the evils of many things which appear to us to be palpably wrong.

(3) The effects of former habits abide long, often, after a man is converted. He who has been in the habit of profane swearing, finds it difficult to avoid it; and he who has been all his life practicing deception, will find himself tempted to practice it still. It was for reasons such as these, probably, that the apostle exhorted the Ephesians to put away “lying,” and to speak the truth only. Nor is the exhortation now inappropriate to Christians, and there are many classes to whom it would now be proper - such as the following:

(1) He who is in the habit of concealing the defects of an article in trade, or of commending it for more than its real value - “let him put away lying.”

(2) He, or she, who instructs a servant to say that they are not at home, when they are at home: or that they are sick, when they are not sick or that they are engaged, when they are not engaged - “let them put away lying.”

(3) He that is in the habit of giving a coloring to his narratives; of conveying a false impression by the introduction or the suppression of circumstances that are important to the right understanding of an account - “let him put away lying.”

(4) He that is at no pains to ascertain the exact truth in regard to any facts that may affect his neighbor; that catches up flying rumors without investigating them, and that circulates them as undoubted truth, though they may seriously affect the character and peace of another - “let him put away lying.”

(5) He that is in the habit of making promises only to disregard them - “let him put away lying.” The community is full of falsehoods of that kind, and they are not all confined to the people of the world. Nothing is more important in a community than simple “truth” - and yet, it is to be feared that nothing is more habitually disregarded. No professing Christian can do any good who has not an unimpeachable character for integrity and truth - and yet who can lay his hand on his breast and say before God that he is in all cases a man that speaks the simple and unvarnished truth?

For we are members one of another - We belong to one body - the church - which is the body of Christ; see the notes Romans 5:12. The idea is, that falsehood tends to loosen the bonds of brotherhood. In the “human body” harmony is observed. The eye never deceives the hand, nor the hand the foot, nor the heart the lungs. The whole move harmoniously as if the one could put the utmost confidence in the other - and falsehood in the church is as ruinous to its interests as it would be to the body if one member was perpetually practicing a deception on another.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. Wherefore putting away lying — All falsity, all prevarication, because this is opposite to the truth as it is in Jesus, Ephesians 4:21, and to the holiness of truth, Ephesians 4:24.

Speak every man truth with his neighbour — Truth was but of small account among many of even the best heathens, for they taught that on many occasions a lie was to be preferred to the truth itself. Dr. Whitby collects some of their maxims on this head.

Κρειττον δε ελεσθαι ψευδος, η αληθες κακον· "A lie is better than a hurtful truth."-Menander.

Το γαρ αγαθον κρειττον εστι της αληθειας· "Good is better than truth."-Proclus.

Ενθα γαρ τι δει και ψευδος λεγεσθαι, λεγεσθω. "When telling a lie will be profitable, let it be told."-Darius in Herodotus, lib. iii. p. 101.

"He may lie who knows how to do it εν δεοντι καιρῳ, in a suitable time."-Plato apud Stob., ser. 12.

"There is nothing decorous in truth but when it is profitable; yea, sometimes και ψευδος ωνησεν ανθρωπους, και τ' αληθες εβλαψεν, truth is hurtful, and lying is profitable to men."-Maximus Tyrius, Diss. 3, p. 29.

Having been brought up in such a loose system of morality, these converted Gentiles had need of these apostolic directions; Put away lying; speak the truth: Let lying never come near you; let truth be ever present with you.

We are members one of another. — Consider yourselves as one body, of which Jesus Christ is the head; and as a man's right hand would not deceive or wrong his left hand, so deal honestly with each other; for ye are members one of another.