Ephesians 5:11

Amplified Bible

Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Have no part in the things that people in darkness do, which produce nothing good. Instead, tell everyone how wrong those things are.

Revised Standard Version
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and have no fellishippe with the vnfrutfull workes of dercknes: but rather rebuke them.

Hebrew Names Version
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

New American Standard Bible
Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

New Century Version
Have nothing to do with the things done in darkness, which are not worth anything. But show that they are wrong.

Update Bible Version
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;

Webster's Bible Translation
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

English Standard Version
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

World English Bible
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Weymouth's New Testament
Have nothing to do with the barren unprofitable deeds of darkness, but, instead of that, set your faces against them;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And nyle ye comyne to vnfruytouse werkis of derknessis; but more repreue ye.

English Revised Version
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;

Berean Standard Bible
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Contemporary English Version
Don't take part in doing those worthless things that are done in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are.

American Standard Version
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;

Bible in Basic English
And have no company with the works of the dark, which give no fruit, but make their true quality clear;

Complete Jewish Bible
Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them,

Darby Translation
and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove [them],

International Standard Version
and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. Instead, expose them for what they are.Leviticus 19:17; Romans 6:21; 13:12; 1 Corinthians 5:9,11; 10:20; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Galatians 6:8; 1 Corinthians 5:9,11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14; 1 Timothy 5:20;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And have no communion with the works of darkness, which have no fruits, but reprove them.

Murdock Translation
And have no commerce with the works of darkness which are unfruitful, but reprove them.

King James Version (1611)
And haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse, but rather reproue them.

New Living Translation
Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

New Life Bible
Have nothing to do with the bad things done in darkness. Instead, show that these things are wrong.

New Revised Standard
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And haue no fellowship with ye vnfruitfull works of darknes, but euen reproue them rather.

George Lamsa Translation
Have no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather condemn them.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And be not joining in fellowship in the unfruitful works of darkness, but, rather, be even administering reproof;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather reprove them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And haue no felowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse, but rather euen rebuke them.

Good News Translation
Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light.

Christian Standard Bible®
Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.

King James Version
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Lexham English Bible
And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose them.

Literal Translation
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them .

Young's Literal Translation
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and haue no fellishippe with ye vnfrutefull workes of darknes, but rather rebuke the.

Mace New Testament (1729)
and be not accomplices in the fruitless practices of vice; on the contrary, condemn them.

THE MESSAGE
Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

New English Translation
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

New King James Version
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't waste your energy on the things that will destroy you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

Legacy Standard Bible
And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.

Contextual Overview

³But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. ⁴Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. ⁵For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. ⁷So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. ⁸For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] ⁹(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. ¹¹Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];¹²for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

no: Ephesians 5:7, Genesis 49:5-7, Psalms 1:1, Psalms 1:2, Psalms 26:4, Psalms 26:5, Psalms 94:20, Psalms 94:21, Proverbs 4:14, Proverbs 4:15, Proverbs 9:6, Jeremiah 15:17, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, 1 Corinthians 10:20, 1 Corinthians 10:21, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:5, 2 Timothy 3:5, 2 John 1:10, 2 John 1:11, Revelation 18:4

unfruitful: Proverbs 1:31, Isaiah 3:10, Isaiah 3:11, Romans 6:21, Galatians 6:8

works: Ephesians 4:22, Job 24:13-17, John 3:19-21, Romans 1:22-32, Romans 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:7

but: Genesis 20:16, Leviticus 19:17, Psalms 141:5, Proverbs 9:7, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:12, Proverbs 19:25, Proverbs 25:12, Proverbs 29:1, Isaiah 29:21, Matthew 18:15, Luke 3:19, 1 Timothy 5:20, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 2:15

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:8 - they are unclean Leviticus 11:24 - General Leviticus 15:4 - be unclean Deuteronomy 20:18 - General Joshua 6:18 - in any wise Joshua 23:7 - That ye come Judges 6:31 - Will ye plead 1 Kings 13:9 - Eat no bread 1 Kings 22:4 - I am as thou 2 Chronicles 18:3 - I am as thou 2 Chronicles 19:2 - Shouldest Job 24:16 - they know Psalms 50:18 - consentedst Proverbs 1:10 - General Proverbs 5:8 - General Proverbs 7:9 - the twilight Proverbs 14:7 - General Proverbs 24:19 - Fret Proverbs 28:4 - but Isaiah 33:15 - stoppeth Isaiah 52:11 - touch Jeremiah 16:8 - General Hosea 4:15 - yet Matthew 18:17 - a heathen Luke 15:15 - to feed Luke 23:40 - rebuked John 18:18 - Peter 2 Corinthians 7:11 - clearing 1 Timothy 5:22 - neither 2 Timothy 3:16 - for reproof

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,.... It is not said with the workers of darkness, or with the men of the world, who are in darkness, and are darkness itself; to have fellowship with them in a civil way, or to dwell among them, is not prohibited; it is allowed of, and countenanced by the greatest examples; and especially it is lawful and right, when there is any prospect of doing good to the souls of men; and even when natural right, relation, and necessity require it; and indeed, the contrary is impracticable: conversation with them in things sinful and superstitious should be abstained from; and when it tends to draw off the soul from Christ and his interest, and is infectious; and when weak ones are offended, and sinners are hereby hardened and confirmed in sin; and the name of God is blasphemed, and the Gospel is evil spoken of: but fellowship is not to be maintained "with the works of darkness"; which are sins, so called, because they are opposite to light; to the light of nature, to the light of the divine word, both law and Gospel, to the light of grace, to God the fountain of light, and to Christ the light of the world; and because the source and spring of them are the original darkness of the mind, and Satan the prince of darkness; and because they are generally committed in the dark; and because the effect and consequence of them is utter darkness, and blackness of darkness: and these are "unfruitful"; they are of no profit and advantage, they bring forth no fruit, unless it be guilt, fear, shame, corruption, and death; wherefore no fellowship should be had with them, by committing the same, by assisting in them, by consenting to them, by approving of them, by receiving any worldly advantage from them, and by winking and conniving at them: it is contrary to the character of saints to have fellowship with such, as the apostle says, 2 Corinthians 6:14, where he gives the mystical explanation of the law, in Deuteronomy 22:10; agreeably to which, and to the passage here, is the sense of a Jewish commentators l who upon it observes, that that law

"intimates that a righteous man, שלא ישתתף, "should have no fellowship" with a wicked man;''

this is to be unequally yoked, signified by the ox and the ass ploughing together:

but rather reprove [them]; both by words and by deeds, by an agreeable life and conversation, which last seems to be the design of the apostle here; because it is not a brother, but such who are in darkness, and live in works of darkness; yea, not sinners, but sins are to be reproved, which can be done no other way; nor are all saints proper to reprove verbally, nor are they qualified for it; but all should, and may by facts; and the light discovers darkness, by its own splendour; and this appears from the apostle's reasoning in the next words.

l Baal Hatturira in Deut. xxii. 10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And have no fellowship - See the sentiment here expressed fully explained in the notes on 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

The unfruitful works - The deeds of darkness that produce no “benefit” to the body or the soul. The word “unfruitful” is used here in contrast with the “fruit of the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:9.

But rather reprove them - By your life, your conversation, and all your influence. This is the business of Christians. Their lives should be a standing rebuke of a sinful world, and they should be ever ready to express their disapprobation of its wickedness in every form.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. Have no fellowship — Have no religious connection whatever with heathens or their worship.

Unfruitful works of darkness — Probably alluding to the mysteries among the heathens, and the different lustrations and rites through which the initiated went in the caves and dark recesses where these mysteries were celebrated; all which he denominates works of darkness, because they were destitute of true wisdom; and unfruitful works, because they were of no use to mankind; the initiated being obliged, on pain of death, to keep secret what they had seen, heard, and done: hence they were called απορρητα μυστηρια, unspeakable mysteries-things that were not to be divulged. That the apostle may refer to magic and incantations is also probable, for to these the Ephesians were greatly addicted. See the proofs in Clarke's notes on "Acts 19:19".

Rather reprove them. — Bear a testimony against them; convince them that they are wrong; confute them in their vain reasons; reprove them for their vices, which are flagrant, while pretending to superior illumination. All these meanings has the Greek word ελεγχω, which we generally render to convince or reprove.