Ephesians 4:32

Amplified Bible

Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.

Revised Standard Version
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Be ye courteouse one to another and mercifull forgevynge one another eve as god for Christes sake forgave you.

Hebrew Names Version
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Messiah forgave you.

New American Standard Bible
Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

New Century Version
Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.

Update Bible Version
and be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

English Standard Version
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

World English Bible
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted; forgiving one another; as God also for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Weymouth's New Testament
On the contrary learn to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and be ye togidere benygne, merciful, foryyuynge togidere, as also God foryaf to you in Crist.

English Revised Version
and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

Berean Standard Bible
Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Contemporary English Version
Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

American Standard Version
and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

Bible in Basic English
And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.

Complete Jewish Bible
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.

Darby Translation
and be to one another kind, compassionate, forgiving one another, so as God also in Christ has forgiven you.

International Standard Version
And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven youus">[fn] in Christ.Matthew 6:14; Mark 11:25; 2 Corinthians 2:10; Colossians 3:12-13;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and be gentle one with another, and affectionate, and forgive one another, even as Aloha in the Meshiha hath forgiven us.

Murdock Translation
and be ye affectionate towards one another, and sympathetic; and forgive ye one another, as God by the Messiah hath forgiven us.

King James Version (1611)
And bee ye kinde one to another. tender hearted, forgiuing one another, euen as God for Christs sake hath forgiuen you.

New Living Translation
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

New Life Bible
You must be kind to each other. Think of the other person. Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ's death on the cross.

New Revised Standard
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Be ye courteous one to another, & tender hearted, freely forgiuing one another, euen as God for Christes sake, freely forgaue you.

George Lamsa Translation
And be kind one to another and tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God has forgiven us through Christ.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And be ye gracious one to another, tenderly affectionate, in favour forgiving one another - even as, God also, in Christ, hath in favour forgiven you;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And be ye kind one to another: merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Be ye curteous one to another, merciful, forgeuing one another, euen as God for Christes sake hath forgeuen you.

Good News Translation
Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

Christian Standard Bible®
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

King James Version
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Lexham English Bible
Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.

Literal Translation
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, having forgiven one another, even as also God forgave you in Christ.

Young's Literal Translation
and become one to another kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as also God in Christ did forgive you.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But be ye curteous one to another, mercifull, and forgeue one another, eue as God hath forgeuen you in Christ.

Mace New Testament (1729)
be mutually kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

New English Translation
Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

New King James Version
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Simplified Cowboy Version
There is a place though for being kind, gentle, and forgiving, just as God has forgiven you through Jesus.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven you.

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

kind: Ruth 2:20, Psalms 112:4, Psalms 112:5, Psalms 112:9, Proverbs 19:22, Isaiah 57:1, *marg. Luke 6:35, Acts 28:2, Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 2 Corinthians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 6:6, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:13, 2 Peter 1:7

tenderhearted: Psalms 145:9, Proverbs 12:10, Luke 1:78, James 5:11

forgiving: Ephesians 5:1, Genesis 50:17, Genesis 50:18, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:14, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 18:21-35, Mark 11:25, Mark 11:26, Luke 6:37, Luke 11:4, Luke 17:4, Romans 12:20, Romans 12:21, 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:10, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:13, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:24 - See that Exodus 34:7 - forgiving Deuteronomy 15:15 - General Judges 10:16 - his soul Psalms 26:3 - For Psalms 32:5 - forgavest Proverbs 19:11 - and Proverbs 20:3 - an Jeremiah 38:12 - Put Micah 6:8 - love Matthew 5:7 - are Matthew 5:22 - Whosoever Matthew 9:6 - that the Matthew 18:22 - but Matthew 18:33 - even Mark 9:50 - have peace Luke 7:42 - he Acts 13:38 - that 1 Corinthians 1:10 - that ye 2 Corinthians 12:20 - debates Ephesians 4:26 - ye Philippians 2:14 - disputings Colossians 1:14 - the Colossians 3:8 - anger 1 Thessalonians 5:14 - be Philemon 1:12 - thou 1 John 4:11 - General

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And be ye kind one to another,.... Good, affable, courteous; which appears in looks, words, and actions; by looking pleasantly on each other, speaking kindly to one another, and mutually doing every good office that lies in their way, and in their power:

tender hearted: which is opposed to a being hard hearted to them that are in distress, and close at hand to the needy; to cruelty and severity to such who are subject to them, or have injured them; and to a rigid and censorious spirit to them that are fallen:

forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you; whatever offences are given, or injuries done by the saints one to another, and so far as they are committed against them, they should forgive, and should pray to God for one another, that he would manifest his forgiveness of them, as committed against him; and this should be done in like manner as God forgives in Christ, and for his sake; that is, fully and freely, and from their hearts; and so as to forget the offences, and not to upbraid them with them hereafter; yea, they should forgive them before they repent, and without asking for it, and that for Christ's sake, and because they are members of his: the Complutensian edition reads, "even as Christ hath forgiven us": the Arabic version also reads us, and so some copies: the words may be rendered, "giving freely to one another, even as God in Christ has given freely to you"; saints should give freely to one another, for outward support, where it is needful; and should impart spiritual gifts and experience for inward comfort, where it is wanted, and as they have ability; and that from this consideration, that all they have, whether in temporals or spirituals, is freely given by God in Christ, and for his sake; with whom he freely gives them all things; in whom he has given them grace, and blessed them with all spiritual blessings; as peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And be ye kind one to another - Benignant, mild, courteous, “polite” - χρηστοὶ chrēstoi. 1 Peter 3:8. Christianity produces true courteousness, or politeness. It does not make one rough, crabby, or sour; nor does it dispose its followers to violate the proper rules of social contact. The secret of true politeness is “benevolence,” or a desire to make others happy; and a Christian should be the most polite of people. There is no religion in a sour, misanthropic temper; none in rudeness, stiffness, and repulsiveness; none in violating the rules of good breeding. There is a hollow-hearted politeness, indeed, which the Christian is not to aim at or copy. His politeness is to be based on “kindness;” Colossians 3:12. His courtesy is to be the result of love, good-will, and a desire of the happiness of all others; and this will prompt to the kind of conduct that will render his conversation. with others agreeable and profitable.

Tender-hearted - Having a heart disposed to pity and compassion, and especially disposed to show kindness to the faults of erring brethren; for so the connection demands.

Forgiving one another - see the notes on Matthew 6:12.

As God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you - As God, on account of what Christ has suffered and done, has pardoned you. He has done it:

(1) “freely” - without merit on your part - when we were confessedly in the wrong.

(2) “fully;” he has forgiven “every” offence.

(3) “Liberally;” he has forgiven “many” offences, for our sins have been innumerable.

This is to be the rule which we are to observe in forgiving others. We are to do it “freely, fully, liberally.” The forgiveness is to be entire, cordial, constant. We are not to “rake up” old offences, and charge them again upon them; we are to treat them as though they had not offended, for so God treats us Learn:

(1) That the forgiveness of an offending brother is a duty which we are not at liberty to neglect.

(2) The peace and happiness of the church depend on it. All are liable to offend their brethren, as all are liable to offend God; all need forgiveness of one another, as we all need it of God.

(3) There is no danger of carrying it too far. Let the rule be observed, “As God has forgiven you, so do you forgive others.” Let a man recollect his own sins and follies; let him look over his life, and see how often he has offended God; let him remember that all has been forgiven; and then, fresh with this feeling, let him go and meet an offending brother, and say, “My brother, I forgive you. I do it frankly, fully, wholly. So Christ has forgiven me; so I forgive you. The offence shall be no more remembered. It shall not be referred to in our contact to harrow up your feelings; it shall not diminish my love for you; it shall not prevent my uniting with you in doing good. Christ treats me, a poor sinner, as a friend; and so I will treat you.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ephesians 4:32. Be ye kind one to another — γινεσθε χρηστοι. Be kind and obliging to each other; study good breeding and gentleness of manners. A Christian cannot be a savage, and he need not be a boor. Never put any person to needless pain.

Tender-hearted — ευσπλαγχνοι. Compassionate; having the bowels easily moved (as the word implies) to commiserate the state of the wretched and distressed.

Forgiving one another — Should you receive any injury from a brother, or from any man, be as ready to forgive him, on his repentance and acknowledgment, as God was, for Christ's sake, to forgive you when you repented of your sins, and took refuge in his mercy.

1. THE exhortations given in this chapter, if properly attended to, have the most direct tendency to secure the peace of the individual, the comfort of every family, and the welfare and unity of every Christian society. That God never prohibits any thing that is useful to us, is an unshaken truth. And that he never commands what has not the most pointed relation to our present and eternal welfare, is not less so. How is it, then, that we do not glory in his commandments and rejoice in his prohibitions? If the gratification of our fleshly propensities could do us good, that gratification had never been forbidden. God plants thorns in the way that would lead us to death and perdition.

2. From the provision which God has made for the soul's salvation, we may see the nature, and in some sense the extent, of the salvation provided. Much on this subject has been said in the preceding chapter, and the same subject is continued here. God requires that the Church shall be holy, so that it may be a proper habitation for himself; and he requires that each believer should be holy, and that he should, under the influences of his grace, arrive at the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ! Ephesians 4:13. This is astonishing; but God is able to make all grace abound towards us.

3. It is the will of God that Christians should be well instructed; that they should become wise and intelligent; and have their understandings well cultivated and improved. Sound learning is of great worth, even in religion; the wisest and best instructed Christians are the most steady, and may be the most useful. If a man be a child in knowledge, he is likely to be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine; and often lies at the mercy of interested, designing men: the more knowledge he has, the more safe is his state. If our circumstances be such that we have few means of improvement, we should turn them to the best account. "Partial knowledge is better than total ignorance; he who cannot get all he may wish, must take heed to acquire all that he can." If total ignorance be a bad and dangerous thing, every degree of knowledge lessens both the evil and the danger. It must never be forgotten that the Holy Scriptures themselves are capable of making men wise unto salvation, if read and studied with faith in Christ.

4. Union among the followers of Christ is strongly recommended. How can spiritual brethren fall out by the way? Have they not all one Father, all one Head? Do they not form one body, and are they not all members of each other? Would it not be monstrous to see the nails pulling out the eyes, the hands tearing off the flesh from the body, the teeth biting out the tongue, c., c.? And is it less so to see the members of a Christian society bite and devour each other, till they are consumed one of another? Every member of the mystical body of Christ should labour for the comfort and edification of the whole, and the honour of the Head. He that would live a quiet life, and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, must be as backward to take offence as to give it. Would all act on this plan (and surely it is as rational as it is Christian) we should soon have glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will among men.

5. A roughness of manners is to some unavoidable it is partly owing to the peculiar texture of their mind, and partly to their education. But there are others who glory in, and endeavour to cultivate, this ungentle disposition under this is often concealed a great degree of spiritual pride, and perhaps some malignity; for they think that this roughness gives them a right to say grating, harsh, and severe things. They should be taught another lesson; and if they will not demean themselves as they ought, they should be left to themselves, and no man should associate with them. They are not Christians, and they act beneath the character of men.