Ephesians 4:19
What does Ephesians 4:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Ephesians 4:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ephesians 4:19 means
The moral result of hardened hearts is loss of sensitivity—“being past feeling.” Conscience grows calloused. From there, people give themselves over to sensuality, making impurity their trade, and pursue it with greediness—never satisfied, always craving more. Sin’s logic is escalation: what once shocked now seems normal. This verse warns that unchecked desires enslave. The Christian, having been made alive to God, must not drift back into this deadened state. The gospel restores true sensitivity—sorrow over sin and joy in holiness. Believers are called to resist surrendering themselves to passions and instead yield themselves to God for righteousness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who having no more power of feeling, have given themselves up to evil passions, to do all unclean things with overmuch desire.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who, having ceased to feel, themselves did give up to the lasciviousness, for the working of all uncleanness in greediness;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who despairing have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who having cast off all feeling, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greedy unsatisfied lust.
Context
Completing the portrait of the old life (verses 17–19), this verse describes the behavioral spiral that flows from inner darkness: numbness leading to unrestrained impurity and greed. With the contrast starkly drawn, verse 20 will pivot—“But ye did not so learn Christ.” The next verses will explain the Christian’s new school: hearing Christ, being taught in Him, putting off the old self, being renewed, and putting on the new self (verses 20–24).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 4:3
For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:
- 2 Peter 2:12
But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
- Jude 1:11
Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.
- Ephesians 4:17
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,
- Romans 1:24
Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:
- Job 15:16
How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!
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