Devine Scripture

Ephesians 4:17

What does Ephesians 4:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 4:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 4:17 means

Paul testifies “in the Lord” with solemn authority: believers must no longer live like the Gentiles around them. Their former lifestyle was marked by the futility of mind—aimless, empty thinking that cannot arrive at God’s truth or produce righteousness. This is not an insult to intelligence but a judgment on godless reasoning that leaves God out. To be called by God means a decisive break with the old walk. Christians inhabit the same world but follow a different path, shaped by revelation, hope, and the Spirit. The gospel transforms not only behavior but the inner logic and goals of life, replacing vanity with purpose in Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

This, then, I say, and I testify in the Lord; ye are no more to walk, as also the other nations walk, in the vanity of their mind,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

This I say therefore, and testify in [the] Lord, that ye should no longer walk as [the rest of] the nations walk in [the] vanity of their mind,

Context

After painting the church’s growth under Christ (verses 11–16), Paul turns to the ethical implications. Verses 17–19 describe the old pagan way in stark terms—futility, darkness, alienation, hardness, sensuality. Verses 20–24 will contrast this with learning Christ and putting on the new self. The exhortation in verse 17 sets up the contrast: believers must break with their former walk, preparing the ground for the positive instruction about renewal and new creation living.

v.16from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

v.17This passage

v.18being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 2:1

    And youdid he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

  • 2 Peter 2:18

    For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;

  • Jeremiah 42:19

    Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah, Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have testified unto you this day.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9

    Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

  • Acts 18:5

    But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

  • Ephesians 4:22

    that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

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