Devine Scripture

Ephesians 5:2

What does Ephesians 5:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 5:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 5:2 means

Christian love is active, costly, and patterned after Christ. He “loved you, and gave himself up for us,” presenting His life to God as a pleasing sacrifice. This recalls the sacrificial language of the Old Testament—an offering that delights God—not because of mere ritual, but because it expresses perfect obedience and love. Here the cross is central: Christ’s self-giving defines how we are to walk. Love is not mere sentiment; it places others’ good before personal comfort and aims at God’s honor. When believers love like this, their lives become, in a secondary sense, a sweet aroma to God, reflecting Christ’s once-for-all offering and the heart of the gospel.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and walk in love, even as the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice toGod for a sweet-smelling savour.

Context

After calling believers to imitate God as beloved children (v. 1), Paul immediately specifies the chief imitation: walk in love modeled by Christ’s sacrificial death. This sets the positive tone for Christian ethics before he turns to prohibitions. Verses 3–6 will contrast this Christ-shaped love with immorality, impurity, and covetousness—behaviors utterly out of place for saints. The juxtaposition clarifies that Christian love is holy, not permissive; it gives, rather than takes. Keeping Christ’s offering in view prepares readers to understand why the following sins are incompatible with life in the kingdom of Christ and God.

v.1Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

v.2This passage

v.3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

Cross references

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

  • 1 Timothy 2:6

    who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to be borne in its own times;

  • Hebrews 9:23

    It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

  • Leviticus 1:9

    but its inwards and its legs shall he wash with water. And the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:9

    But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

  • Revelation 5:9

    And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

  • Romans 4:25

    who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

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