Ephesians 5:8

Amplified Bible

For 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]

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light.

Revised Standard Version
for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye were once dercknes but are now light in the Lorde. Walke as chyldren of light.

Hebrew Names Version
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

New American Standard Bible
for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

New Century Version
In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light.

Update Bible Version
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light,

Webster's Bible Translation
For ye were sometime darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light;

English Standard Version
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

World English Bible
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For ye were once darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord:

Weymouth's New Testament
There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For ye weren sum tyme derknessis, but now `ye ben liyt in the Lord. Walke ye as the sones of liyt.

English Revised Version
For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light

Berean Standard Bible
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

Contemporary English Version
You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light

American Standard Version
for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light

Bible in Basic English
For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light

Complete Jewish Bible
For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light,

Darby Translation
for ye were once darkness, but now light in [the] Lord; walk as children of light,

International Standard Version
For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16; Luke 16:8; John 8:12; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:6; Ephesians 2:11-12; 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 2:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For you were before darkness, but now you are light in our Lord. As the sons of light, then, so walk.

Murdock Translation
For ye were heretofore darkness, but now are ye light in our Lord: therefore, as the children of light, so walk ye.

King James Version (1611)
For yee were sometimes darkenesse, but now are yee light in the Lord: walke as children of light,

New Living Translation
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

New Life Bible
At one time you lived in darkness. Now you are living in the light that comes from the Lord. Live as children who have the light of the Lord in them.

New Revised Standard
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—

Geneva Bible (1587)
For ye were once darkenesse, but are nowe light in the Lord: walke as children of light,

George Lamsa Translation
For previously you were ignorant, but now you have been enlightened by our LORD, and should live therefore like children of light.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For ye were, at one time, darkness, but, now, are ye light in the Lord, - as children of light, be walking,

Douay-Rheims Bible
For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For ye were sometimes darknesse: but nowe are ye lyght in the Lorde. Walke as chyldren of lyght.

Good News Translation
You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light,

Christian Standard Bible®
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light—

King James Version
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Lexham English Bible
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light

Literal Translation
for you then were darkness, but are now light in the Lord; walk as children of light.

Young's Literal Translation
for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For sometyme ye were darknesse, but now are ye lighte in the LORDE. Walke as the children of lighte.

Mace New Testament (1729)
you were heretofore altogether in the dark, but now being enlightned by the Lord, behave as children of light:

THE MESSAGE
You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

New English Translation
for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light—

New King James Version
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Simplified Cowboy Version
You were once just like them, but now you live in the light, not the darkness.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

Legacy Standard Bible
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

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

ye were: Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 4:18, Ephesians 6:12, Psalms 74:20, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah 60:2, Jeremiah 13:16, Matthew 4:16, Luke 1:79, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:18, Romans 1:21, Romans 2:19, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Colossians 1:13, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 2:8

but: Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 42:7, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 49:9, Isaiah 60:1, Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:19, Isaiah 60:20, John 1:4, John 1:5, John 1:9, John 8:12, John 12:46, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, 1 John 2:9-11

walk: Ephesians 5:2, Isaiah 2:5, Luke 16:8, John 12:36, Galatians 5:25, 1 Peter 2:9-11, 1 John 1:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:3 - Let Leviticus 24:2 - the lamps Deuteronomy 27:9 - this day Job 29:3 - by his light Psalms 56:13 - the light Psalms 107:14 - brought Psalms 147:20 - not dealt so Ecclesiastes 2:13 - light Song of Solomon 2:11 - General Isaiah 25:7 - he will Isaiah 44:9 - their own Zechariah 14:6 - not Malachi 4:2 - the Sun Matthew 5:14 - the light Matthew 5:16 - your light Matthew 6:23 - thine Luke 4:18 - and John 12:35 - Walk Romans 6:4 - even Romans 13:13 - us 1 Corinthians 6:11 - such Ephesians 1:18 - eyes Philippians 2:15 - ye shine 1 Thessalonians 2:12 - walk 1 Thessalonians 5:5 - General 1 Thessalonians 5:8 - who 1 Peter 4:2 - no 2 Peter 1:19 - a light 2 John 1:4 - walking

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For ye were sometimes darkness,.... Not only dark, but darkness itself; exceeding blind, dark, and ignorant, respecting spiritual things; so the Gentiles were wont to be called by the Jews, הושך, "darkness" k itself; of this darkness,

:-.

But now [are ye] light in the Lord; either in, or by the Lord Jesus Christ, the light of men, from whom all spiritual light comes; or by the Lord the Spirit, by whom the eyes of their understandings were enlightened, to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, in heart and life; the insufficiency of their own righteousness and moral virtues, to justify them before God; and the true and right way of righteousness, life and salvation by Christ; and to have some light into the several doctrines of the Gospel, and even a glimpse of the invisible glories and realities of another world: and this light is so great, that they are not only said to be enlightened, but to be light itself; and this they have not of, and from themselves, but the Lord; and therefore should

walk as children of light; not in sins, which are works of darkness, but in faith, truth, and holiness.

k Tzeror Hammor, fol. 1. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Ephesians 2:11-12 notes; 1 Corinthians 6:11 note. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the same abominations.

But now are ye light in the Lord - Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that they ought, therefore, to forsake them.

Walk as children of light - see the notes on Matthew 1:1, on the use of the word “son,” or “children.” The meaning here is, that they should live as became those who had been enlightened to see the evil of sin, and the beauty of virtue and religion; compare John 12:36, where the same phrase occurs.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. For ye were sometimes (ποτε, formerly) darkness — While ye lived in darkness, ye lived in these crimes.

But now are ye light in the Lord] When ye were in heathenish darkness ye served divers lusts and pleasures, but now ye have the light-the wisdom and teaching which come from God; therefore walk as children of the light-let the world see that ye are not slaves to the flesh, but free, willing, rational servants of the Most High; not brutish followers of devil gods.