Devine Scripture

Ephesians 4:30

What does Ephesians 4:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 4:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 4:30 means

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. He is personal and present, indwelling believers and binding them to Christ. Relational sins—lying, anger, bitterness, destructive speech—cause Him sorrow because they contradict His holy work. Remember, you were sealed in Him “unto the day of redemption.” God’s Spirit marks you as His own and guarantees your future salvation. This assurance is not a license to sin but a powerful motive to holiness: live in a way that delights, not grieves, the One who has secured you for glory. The seal speaks both of ownership and protection until the final deliverance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And do not give grief to the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were marked for the day of salvation.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and make not sorrowful the Holy Spirit of God, in which ye were sealed to a day of redemption.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit ofGod, with which ye have been sealed for [the] day of redemption.

Context

Following the exhortation about edifying speech (verse 29), this verse provides a profound motive: the Holy Spirit is grieved by sinful conduct, and He has sealed believers for the coming redemption. It connects ethics to the indwelling presence and saving plan of God. Verses 31–32 will then specify relational vices to put away and virtues to cultivate—kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness—culminating the chapter’s practical section with a gospel pattern.

v.29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.

v.30This passage

v.31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:

Cross references

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

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:19

    Quench not the Spirit;

  • Romans 8:11

    But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

  • Judges 10:16

    And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

  • Isaiah 7:13

    And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?

  • Hebrews 3:10

    Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;

  • Ezekiel 16:43

    Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring thy way upon thy head, saith the Lord Jehovah: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness with all thine abominations.

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