Devine Scripture

Ephesians 5:9

What does Ephesians 5:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 5:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 5:9 means

Light bears fruit, and Paul names its qualities: “goodness and righteousness and truth.” These are not abstract ideals but concrete outcomes in behavior, justice, and honesty. Goodness reflects God’s benevolent heart, righteousness aligns life with His standards, and truth rejects deceit in speech and conduct. This triad helps believers evaluate claims of spirituality: light is known by its fruit. If our choices increase goodness, align with righteousness, and display truth, we are walking in the light. The Spirit cultivates these traits in those who are “light in the Lord,” distinguishing them from the barren works of darkness. Fruit, unlike mere resolutions, shows genuine transformation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

KJV

King James Version · 1611

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

(Because the fruit of the light is in all righteousness and in everything which is good and true),

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for the fruit of the Spirit <FI>is<Fi> in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

(for the fruit of the light [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth,)

Context

Having called believers to walk as children of light (v. 8), Paul clarifies what that looks like: the light’s fruit is goodness, righteousness, and truth. This prepares for verse 10’s call to test and approve what pleases the Lord, and for verse 11’s command to refuse fellowship with dark works and instead reprove them. The sequence shows how positive character and moral discernment belong together. Fruit provides a criterion for discernment; Christians do not guess in the dark but evaluate by the qualities light produces.

v.8for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light

v.9This passage

v.10proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

Cross references

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

  • 3 John 1:11

    Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

  • Philippians 1:11

    being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

  • Psalms 16:2

    O my soul, thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou art my Lord: I have no good beyond thee.

  • 1 Timothy 6:11

    But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

  • Hebrews 1:8

    but of the Sonhe saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

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